Sunday 17 March 2024

Urban and Harbour Birds

   
Just some wildlife that can be seen within Arbroath without the need for a scope, binoculars or by sitting in a cold bird hide. 
The frogs are very wary just now, but they seem to lose that over time and I can sometimes sit beside them within touching distance. 
The Vixen is the same one that's been coming all winter, she's bulked up, and with a long coat, and looks pregnant.
The frogs at Keptie Pond were having a hard time with three male Goosanders still around, and one actively taking frogs, unfortunately it was on the far side or the pond.
Just two Long-tailed Ducks at the harbour on a windy day, I'm still waiting to see a Red-throated Diver come in, but it's unlikely I'll get up early enough in the morning before the fishermen disturb one as they leave to attend their creels.


Frogs return to my garden pond, click here      Presumed Vixen still a constant visitor in my garden      Forgot to post this Dipper at Arbroath Harbour



Goosander drake



Two on the man-made island




And this one hunting frogs on the far bank




The Tufted Duck drakes are in prime condition












Still around 20 Wigeon on the pond





Moorhen, some squabbling going with others but not as much agro as the Coots





Mallard drake, seems to have a blue cast off the water reflecting the sky




The rehabilitated immature Eider drake obliged by standing up to allow me to confirm he was in fact the rescued bird from the Ythan, the ring is green HX



It's usual pose and position at high tide




Just the two Long-tailed Ducks seen on 13/3/2024, this adult male




And this immature male




Around 35 Purple Sandpipers were sitting out the high tide





The Frogs have arrived in my garden pond, I counted 15 on 13/3/2024 and the same number today, Saturday



Tuesday 12 March 2024

Ghost Gear and Godwit

   
A late Webs count at East Haven, it should have been Sunday. A check at Arbroath Harbour and three Long-tailed Ducks remain, and a view confirming the young drake Eider is the rescued bird already the subject of a previous post.

A closer than normal video of a Bar-tailed Godwit feeding in redistributed sand at East Haven, click here



A Bar-tailed Godwit seen and filmed on my Webs count at East Haven, two days late due to other commitments and weather. It was one of seven, previously an eighth bird had at least one broken leg, no sign of it.....






A collection of "ghost gear" collected from East Haven beach, and probably a very small percentage of the lost gear tangled and lying on the sea bed, still fishing and killing wildlife









This is the first time I've been able to see for sure, that this Eider is the one I found in Arbroath Harbour on 15/12/2023 which had been rescued after a dog attack at the Ythan Estuary, then rehabilitated, and released. It has remained in the harbour since, and today was the first time it appeared with a female. The ring is green HX on the left leg and a metal ring on the right, ringed at New Arc Wildlife Rescue, Auchnagatt




One day the young male above will grow into an adult drake like this one, also in the harbour




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