12a - JANUARY to DECEMBER 2012 BIRD SIGHTINGS (NON ANGUS)

[Mark Caunt]

Out of Angus Bird Sightings for JANUARY to DECEMBER 2012

[Andy Nicholson]

Saw Sea Eagle flying west over strawberry fields west of Port Allen nr Errol. It was at about 30m above the field you could hear the wing beats and see the silohuette of the tag. Then its size was brought home when it was mobbed by a "wee" buzzard

[gus guthrie]

Great Grey Shrike at Raemoir Fishery, near Banchory....very obliging bird , we got to 50 metres and it sits on the wires...lot of fishermen there but access is no problem to birders. Has apparently been there since December. Stopped in there after Peterhead Harbour...lots of White-winged gulls in view...Iceland, Glaucous and a Kumliens at one point too.

[burnie]

Close to the Glen Shee ski centre,large numbers of Red Grouse and a Golden Eagle trying to catch one,plus Raven.

[gus guthrie]

Spotted Redshank showing well from the Eden Estuary hide at Guardbridge this afternoon.

[Gordon Anderson]

Sunday 26th at 20.15hrs. Got excellent views of two different Barn Owls about one mile apart hunting the roadside verges. First one near the big lay-bye above Johnshaven and the second near the Den of Finella.

[gus guthrie]

had a day birding with friends in Ayrshire.

Rosy Starling..Muirhead,Troon
Black Guillemot .....Troon
Nuthatch .... Rozelle park
Pectoral Sandpiper .....Dundonald camp
Ring-Necked Duck ..Broadwood Flash
Ring-Billed Gull .. Barassie, Troon

[Mark Caunt]

Nice day out Gus! ;o)

[burnie]

Cracking Short Eared Owl sat on a post then hunting near St Cyrus area.

[gus guthrie]

Chiffchaff & Siberian Chiffchaff showing very well at Ross Plantation in Dalgety Bay. They favour the bottom end, near to the Boatyard.
well worth a visit there, really close views of waders as well.

[gus guthrie]

A day birdwatching up the north-East coast produced Greater Yellowlegs & Bittern at Strathbeg, Great Northern Diver & Sandwich Tern at Rattray Head, Scaup at Forvie, Iceland Gulls at Peterhead and Purple Sandpipers at Aberdeen along with very showy Dolphins.

[burnie]

Spent the last day of March up Glen Quaich,past Loch Freuchie over to Kenmore in Perthshire,the road was rather busy with cars,so you had to get away from the traffic to find the wildlife.Started and ended with 3 Red Kites over Amulree,large numbers of Greylags at the Loch,good numbers of Lapwings and a few Curlews displaying.Raven on a dead rabbit,Buzzards circling overhead.A dozen or more Red Grouse seen,but no Black Cocks(it was a bit late in the day).A hike over the hills on the Bolfracks Estate got me two fleeting glimpses of a Hen Capercaillie.5 Repoll in amongst some Chaffinchs and 2 Sand Martins,Common Lizard also seen.

[gus guthrie]

Green Sandpiper at Angle Park Quarry today at 4pm.

[gus guthrie]

2 Dotterel showing really well today at Carnbee in fife. In newly sown pea field above reservoir....can be watched easily from the road.
An extremely rare bird in fife i,m told.
Surf scoter amongst Scoter flock at Ruddon;s Point as well as a nice Black-throated Diver.
A very early start to the day took us down to Gilmourton in Clyde to see the Blue-Winged Teal which has been there all week....stunning Drake bird, well worth the trip.

[gus guthrie]

2 black-throated divers, 2 red-throated divers and 3 sandwich terns at St. Cyrus beach 2.30pm today.

[joncook]

Drake Blue-winged Teal on Levenmouth Pools this afternoon, viewed from the hide, map here:
http://www.lochlevenheritagetrail.co.uk/LLHT_map.pdf

Jon

[Neil Young]

First swift of the year for me today in Dunkeld.

[gus guthrie]

Aberdeenshire today;
Ythan estuary...Greater Yellowlegs, King Eider, Little Tern, Osprey & 2 Avocets.
Collieston...2 Common Cranes
Strathbeg.... Wood Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit

[gus guthrie]

Killiecrankie......Soldier's Leap.
Loads of Wood Warblers there just now , most i,ve seen and easily seen as the leaves are not all out yet. Best views were from the car park !
Also had 3 male Pied Flycatchers showing well on the way down to the leap.

[gus guthrie]

had a trip down to Torness power station in East Lothian today to see Yellow Wagtails. Had 3 birds on the fences near the plant. beautiful birds.

[Gail Clark]

Hawfinch sighting 14th May 2012 in South Aberdeenshire

I realise I am a bit late in recording this, but I only registered with this site a few days ago and feel it might be note worthy.

I had a Hawfinch feeding on my bird table!! He hung about for a day or two then I never saw him again. He could have hung around longer but the leaves on the trees came out and I couldn't see anything in the trees anymore.

Sorry about the picture quality but I had to zoom in quite a lot. The bird was tricky to photography as it kept hiding behind the branches.

[HarryB]

Received this message from RSPB Starnafin Farm today:
Tuesday 24/07/12
An incredible 321 Black tailed godwits on the Low Ground this afternoon.
(the area in front of the Tower Pool hide). This is the highest number
we have ever had on the reserve. The peak count previously was 110 in
July 2010. (I wouldn't be surprised if more drop in before the end of
the day)

Plus 41 Golden plover, 2 Greenshank, 8 Dunlin., 200+ lapwing. This
morning the curlew flock was a around 200, plus the odd whimbrel.
Per Vicky Anderson (Warden)

[Gail Clark]

Hi looking for some help here. Took this picture of what I think is a Willow Warbler but..... I am unsure!! Any advice or comments welcome!!

[attachment=0]Chifchaff IMG_ cr 0911.jpg[/attachment]

Was taken on the boundry of my garden in large Beech trees.

[joncook]

Hi Gail, I would agree, looks like a Willow Warbler. The pale legs rule out Chiffchaff and the eye stripe rules out garden Warbler.
Jon

[gus guthrie]

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler showing well at Kilminning in Fife. Down near the bottom park,near the old toilet blocks in a big group of rosehip bushes......it's pretty vocal and pops out from time to time.

[gus guthrie]

2 Radde's Warblers, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Barred Warbler and Black Redstart at Kilminning & Balcomie today.

[gus guthrie]

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Radde's Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher,Chiffchaff & female Merlin all at Kilminning today.

[gus guthrie]

at least 3 Ring Ouzels in the cornyard at Pitnamoon Farm,Laurencekirk today at lunchtime......a bit wary but super views.

[Gail Clark]

Waxwings.

Came across a flock of about 20 Waxwings while out walking on Monday 12th November.

Here are a few pics.

[Ken Grant]

flock of about 50-60 waxwngs in garden of first house past the cemetery on Perth side of Blairgowrie to Perth road , been there last couple of days

[Ken Grant]

[attachment=0]coffee owls.jpg[/attachment]

[gus guthrie]

36 snow buntings at the Glenshee Ski Centre carpark this afternoon.