5a - NOVEMBER 2006 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

[Ian Ford]

Present again from 1550 hrs in front of Lunan Bay hide Mon. 20th Nov.Seen by Ian Ford,Hugh Bell and Andy Gibb.

[Dave Adam]

20/11/06 6.30pm Hillside to Dubton road at old railway embankment lit by street lights. Smart thinking Barn Owl using street lighting in a rural area.

[Eric McCabe]

Today, amongst the gulls late morning an Arctic Tern appeared. A pretty late record.

[HarryB]

A pale-bellied Brent Goose has been found by Neil Michell at Rossie Spit, (south-east corner Montrose Basin) this afternoon at 15.15.

[Ken Hall]

Flock of 2000 Chaffinches on road to Balintore, 200m from crossroads at north end of Lintrathen. They were feeding in a stubble field on west side of the road, and flew across into trees every time a vehicle came along. I counted them both by the 10, 50, 100 method, and also by measuring the area of ground occupied by the flock (50m x 40m) and counting at least 1 bird per square metre. I've done land surveying work, so this method came naturally to me. It was a fantastic sight. No Bramblings among them as far as I could tell.

[Bob McCurley]

Thurs. Nov . 23rd. 1530 hrs. MED. GULL. ADULT WINTER PLUMAGE

At Stannergate Gull roost at Grid Ref. N.O. 436308 in company with 150 Black Headed Gulls --

MED. GULL Adult Winter Plumage also at Redcastle Hide Lunan Bay On Wed. Nov. 22nd. ------- Once a rarity they are becoming quite regular in Angus .

[Clive McKay]

Friday 24 November, Pitmudie, Lintrathen

Ken Hall's huge flock of Chffinches present in same field. 2,000 seems like a sound estimate. Digital photos of flock in flight revealed about 1 Brambling:100 Chaffinches, so maybe 20 in all!

[HarryB]

This afternoon, at Loch of Kinnordy, per Bob McCurley 1 Red-head Smew
Bonaparte's Gull at 686532 at the Rossie turn off from A92. Feeding with Black-headed, Mew and Herring Gulls at the flood pool.
Bird flew off when scared by two trail bikers and flew towards Lunan Bay.
This important bird was not notified on the grapevines for two reasons:
1) It flew off
2) The bird is clearly frequenting this area, but mobile and if the grapevine had been started, it would have required to be cancelled within two minutes of the bird being seen.
Look for a small gull about the size of a Black-headed (or smaller), with a black bill, grey nape on the neck and a fine black line on leading and trailing edges of wing.
If you knew all of this, I apologise, but if you didn't, those are the basic features of this winter-plumaged bird

[Alan Leitch]

Loch of Kinnordy

Kingfisher (1) 20th & 23rd
Siskin (90+) Feeding on Alders around footpaths
Bullfinch (13) 25th
Gadwall (34)
Smew (Single Red-head) 26th
Whooper Swan (46)
Goldeneye (60)
Pochard (1)
Tufted Duck (12)
Goosander (9)
Moorhen (6)
Shoveler (7)

Lintrathen - 25th
Smew (Single Red-head) - Has this bird moved to Kinnordy or is it a new bird?

[Nicola Main]

Monday 27th Nov 10.00am

50+ Fieldfares at western end of Carnoustie High School playing fields.
1 Woodcock in lower part of Shanwell Wood, flushed by dog.
10+ Brambling amongst flock of 100+ Chaffinches in neighbouring field.

[HarryB]

Today, in the 'sacrificial' field near the Wigeon Hide at Montrose Basin, there were approx 130 Whooper Swans. This is now at a nationally important level. An attempt will be made to give a more accurate figure as soon as possible.
Information supplied by Neil Mitchell, Field Manager at SWT Centre Montrose

[Bob McCurley]

27th. NOV. 1030a,m. CORN BUNTINGS 7 AT CAULDCOTS FARM GRID REF, N.O. 653476 also present 21 FIELDFARES

NOV. 27TH. at ARBROATH 1350hrs. MED. GULLS 1 on grassy area opposite the Bell Rock restaurant , adult winter -- and MED GULL also ausual spot behind 10 Pin Bowlimg alley , again Adult Winter , both in company with Black Headed Gulls .

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: MONDAY 27th November 2006 - 1:45pm
Species: Ring Billed Gull
Location: Birdguides reporting adult Ring Billed Gull showing well on north pond of Monikie Country Park, Angus.

[HarryB]

An up-date on the Whooper Swan count.
Birds were videoed in 'heads up' posture and final count (from video) was, 144 Whooper Swans. These birds were counted in the 'sacrificial field' which is used to divert the birds away from winter crops.
The field is easily viewable from the Wigeon hide, but please be careful as you walk past the birds, to the hide, as we don't want them to scatter all over the adjacent farmland.

[Gordon Anderson]

DATE and TIME - Sunday 26th November 0850hrs
2 Jays seen on the Kinnaird Estate boundary wall on the back road between Farnell and Brechin.