2 - FEBRUARY 2010 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:19 pm

Angus Bird Sightings for FEBRUARY 2010

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:16 pm

01/02/2010 Elliot 618388 across railway line from golf club 1 Little Grebe, 1 Woodcock,
1 Jack Snipe and 16 Common Snipe. With the thaw wellies are advisable in walking in the reed beds, some areas still flooded

John Paul Allon · Post by **John Paul Allon** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:49 pm

Mark you may wish to move this, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose has taken up residence at Inverbervie Caravan Park and is offering superb close up views. It arrived yesterday morning and is happily feeding alongside our local Mallard gang on the touring site grass. If cars, dogs or duck feeders appear then it takes to the river until the coast is clear. Goosander, Goldeneye and Red-throated Diver are also present. A large flock of Brambling was also at Benholm Mill yesterday at 11am.
John Paul

Hannah Morton · Post by **Hannah Morton** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:03 pm

Around 80 - 90 Whoopers are now using the reserve as well as the surrounding farmland, and a small greylag roost has also returned in the last few days, with a couple of hundred present this morning.
Barn owl and Short eared owl both been sighted nearby in the last week also

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:10 pm

Kinnordy Loch. 2pm
Bittern feeding out in open at swamp hide, caught an eel and continued fishing for approx 20mins.
Loch still has a lot of ice, swamp end where most of the birds are at present.
Other birds were ;
8 fieldfare,83 whooper swans, approx 140 greylag geese, siskins, wigeon,teal, goosander, GS woodpecker.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:59 pm

07/02/2010 Pargrove Cremetorium tetrad 64E. Doing the 2nd winter count had n ormal stuff including 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers that were on top of two treed about 10 yards apart and chinking at each other. One was a male the other could only see front. Not heard this before has anyone else ?? Went back to the basin observatory and on a log in the distance was a Juv Sea Eagle. Tetrad total was only 18 but weather did not help

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:53 pm

Feb. 7th . 12 Noon WHITE TAILED SEA EAGLE Viewed from Montrose Basin Wildlife Visitors Centre

This Bird was first reported from the nearby South Esk Estate and is bearing a Greenish / Blue Tag on each wing with the number " 0 " on each tag. Any further sightings please post to this Website . This todays sighting on the Basin , first discovered by Volunteer Andy Love , will be reported to Claire Smith of the RSPB / SNH / Forrestry Commission Release Scheme

DMKS · Post by **DMKS** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:16 pm

White-tailed sea eagle present on Sandbank to the right of visitor centre this morning at 10:00. Being mobbed by Gulls and Crows before flying off in the direction of The Lurgies.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:02 pm

Hi All,
I've been asked, by Caroline, the manager at SWT Montrose, to let everyone know; there's a digiscoping course taking place there on March 24, from 10.30 until 17.00. Costs are Â£4.00 per adult; Â£3.50 per child and Family group Â£7.50. Free to SWT members.
'An ideal opportunity to get expert advice on how to operate digiscoping equipment from the Viking Optical Representative.'
'A wide range of equipment on sale and the opportunity to test before you buy'.
This looks like an opportunity to learn how to produce the type of pictures which we know and enjoy, from more experienced photographers within our club.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:05 pm

Hi All,
Just had it confirmed from Caroline: the digiscoping course is ALSO free to ADBC members!

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:43 pm

Feb. 8th. 1600hrs. WHITE TAILED SEA EAGLE IMM. Seen on Lurgies Montrose Basin by Bob amd Jon

It sat in Tree on Lurgies long enough to get a pic. of it , then it flew towards Slunks area and we completely lost it

K Hall · Post by **K Hall** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:35 pm

Flock of about 15 Oystercatchers today at Forfar Loch. Nice to see them back inland again.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:00 pm

11 feb 2010 Elliot grid 618388 Snipe 8, Reed Bunting 1, Crows 3, Blue Tit 1, Stonechat 1 male, Mallard pair,Little Grebe 1, coast side, Cormorants 3, Ringed Plover 4, Sanderling 5, Red B. Merganser 1 male, Oyster Cat. 1, GreySeals were busy at sea accompanied by numerous Herring Gulls, Black Headed Gulls and Eiders

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:39 pm

12/02/2010 Condor West grid 616439 Blackbird 3, Woodpigeon 9, Chaffinch 10, Blue Tit 10,Great Tit 2, Crows 9, Greenfinch 11, Linnet 12, Robin 3, Twite 17 (first ever record of this species on Condor), Fieldfare 11, Herring Gull 7, Kestrel 1, Sky Lark 2. Also Red Squirrels quite active. On Condor West on the airfield 17 Roe deer

Barry Farquharson · Post by **Barry Farquharson** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:16 pm

Forfar Loch 13/2/10
Kingfisher, Scaup (2 drakes and a duck) and Great Crested Grebe. Lots of Pochard around too.

Loch of Kinnordy
Goldcrest, Siskin, Long Tailed Tit and Shoveler and the usual suspects.

stevendoig · Post by **stevendoig** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:58 am

Single Waxwing in my garden this morning. (Whitehills Forfar)

Hanging about in big trees in park next to me at the moment (The park with the strange mounds if anyones local and wants a look!)

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 4:13 pm

14 Feb 2010, Elliot to Boulzie Hill WeBcount stretch got date mixed up so did the walk anyway.
Elliot 18 Sanderling, 18 Knot, 8 Snipe, Gayfield 18 Curlew, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Cormorants 8, Eider 4, Red Throated Diver 1, Pied wag 2, Harbour high tide now, on wall 35 Sanderling, 24 Purple Sandpipers, 26 Turnstone, 25 Redshank, 3 Cygnets and the residential Grey Lag Goose, Then on to Boulzie Hill at Victoria Park nothing but Herring, Blackheaded, Great Black Back and Lesser Black Back gulls

Dave Adam · Post by **Dave Adam** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:37 pm

Red Kite x 1, Raven x 6 ~ 14/2/10

PS. (Goshawk over Brechin ~ 10/2/10)

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:44 pm

Bittern showing well in front of an audience at Kinnordy Loch this afternoon, repeatedly coming out into the open in front of the Gullery hide.
Large amount of Whooper swans roosting at the loch ( 80+)
Single Tree Sparrow spotted today as well as GS woodpecker, teal, shoveller, long-tailed tits,siskins & bullfinches.
Garden birds today included; goldfinch,greenfinch,siskin,coal tit,yellowhammer,song thrush.
large mixed flock of winter thrushes, redpoll, yellowhammers,linnets & finches at Leckaway outside Forfar this afternoon.
Other birds were; 2 kestrel at Powmyre, Grey Wagtail at Monikie, Dipper at Kingoldrum.

Barry Farquharson · Post by **Barry Farquharson** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:29 am

After Monikie/Crombie ADBC outing (Stock Dove and Grey Wagtail added to my year list), headed down to Craigmill Den. Not a huge amount around. A couple of Dippers (one with an injured leg), a couple of Buzzards and a mixed flock of finches and buntings (Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer) in the field to the north of the road at the top end.

A few photos from today on my flickr page...
www.flickr.com/stonefaction

barry shaw · Post by **barry shaw** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:39 pm

stonefaction just had a look at some of your pictures have to say i think there stunning,like the one of the kestrel hovering,thanks for sharing

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:37 pm

18/02/2010 Condor West grid 616 439 0630 Tawny Owl calling from trees

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:36 am

Date & Time: Wednesday 17th February 2010 - 10:30am
Species: Waxwing, Bullfinch
Details: A single Waxwing down Lilybank Crescent, Forfar, Wednesday morning at 10:30.
On the aerial of number 70.
Also noticing good numbers of Bullfinches at the moment. I saw a notable (?) count of 16 birds (males and females) in the garden of Jubilee Court Residential Home, Letham last week.
Another 5 in Hillside road, Forfar and 2 on Lochside road, Forfar this week also.

Barry Farquharson · Post by **Barry Farquharson** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:16 pm

Wee walk in the sunshine today from Kirkton of Auchterhouse up and round Auchterhouse Hill produced a wee flock of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch and Chaffinch in the trees at the start of the path, then a couple of Ravens flew off the hill westward. Spotted a couple of Red Grouse further up, and a small flock of Bullfinches in the trees at the top of the hill.

jcooper · Post by **jcooper** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:02 pm

Has anyone ever seen a goshawk over Barry Buddon? I'm sure I saw one today - first looked a bit buzzard-like, but not quite right in the wing beats, then I wondered if it was a sparrowhawk, but again, not quite right and larger than fem. I have looked at the book and the Bird Guide DVD and the flying goshawk does look right. I have watched buzzards and sparrowhawks many times, and I'm sure it wasn't either. I didn't know whether to report or not as I'm not positive, but thought is was important enough to say.

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:37 pm

Feb. 21st 9-15am. CROSSBILLS 2 (Male and Female) at start of ride going down to hide at Montreathmont Forest.
SISKINS, REDPOLLS and 7 CROSSBILLS also seen in Polmood part of forest today (Per report by Dave Porteous).
Feeders all filled up at feeding station by Graham and I.

Feb. 21st 12noon WATER RAIL 1 at start of Lurgies Walk Montrose /Basin on left hand side.

Feb 21st On WeBS count today at Lunan Bay: Highlights were -- GOLDEN PLOVER 60, LONGTAILED DUCK 16, GOLDENEYE 1, RED THROATED DIVER 6 & COMMON SCOTER 49.

Ian Hay · Post by **Ian Hay** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:44 am

10+ Black Grouse Lekking in an Angus Glen. Not the usual place so unsure if I should give more details

Ian

Grant Balfour · Post by **Grant Balfour** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:41 am

Loch mostly frozen over again with one pool across from the swamp hide.
Whoopers - 28 on the loch (another 56 in the field to the south of the reserve).
Shelduck (2),Oystercatcher (2) & Goosander (1).
Also - Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Coot, Greylag, Herring Gull, Common Gull.

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:14 pm

Date & Time: Tuesday 23rd February 2010 - 10:30am
Species: Waxwing
Details: x4 Waxwings seen very briefly down North Street, Forfar, opposite the junction of Service Road on Berry bushes beside Joiners hut.
They flew off over Service Road and in an Easterly direction. This has been a regular spot for Waxwings for a number of years and worth a look if you are ever passing at this time of year.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:16 pm

23 Feb 2010 RM Condor east grid 626430 even with very cold weather Rooks very busy on the 2 rookeries adding to nests or re building. Jack Snipe still present at pond area no sign of Common. A very nice edition today was 2 Woodcock, this is the first ever record of this species on the camp. Found 1 Buzzard dead and think it is one of the breeding pairs, if this is the case am down to 4 breeding pairs but will wait until season starts and see what happens

Ian Hay · Post by **Ian Hay** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:39 am

14+ Male Black Grouse at the lek yesterday morning, also singing male Crossbill on the top of a large pine with amusingly female a chaffinch looking up at it from the branch below.

Ian

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:13 pm

Feb. 24th. 11-30am. GANNETS 4 ( 2 Ads. 2 Juvs. )
First of Year for Bob and Jon----- Also seen RED BREASTED MERGANSERS 2 LONGTAILED DUCK 4
COMMON SCOTER 12 EIDER 1 SANDERLING 8 OYSTERCATCHER 5 PLUS 4 GULL SPECIES -

FEB. 24th. 10-15am. CORN BUNTINGS 60 at Boghead Farm

burnie · Post by **burnie** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:56 pm

Fulmars sitting on nest ledges at Auchmithie and showing signs of displaying,doubt they were sat on anything other than their bottoms just yet.
Several Gannets out to sea,plus Guilliemots and Razorbills sat on the sea,didn't have my telescope as was fishing,but possible either Auks or Puffins flying by well off shore just before the light went.

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:08 pm

Date & Time: Friday 26th February 2010 - 1:30pm
Species: Waxwing
Details: x5 Waxwings seen again down North Street, Forfar, opposite the junction of Service Road on Berry bushes beside Joiners hut.
Also check the first tree in Service Road as they perch in this tree before and after flying down multiple times to feed on the North Street berry bushes.

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:04 pm

Feb. 27th 1350pm. ICELAND GULL 1st. Winter AT CLATTO RESEVOIR N.O. 368346
Feb. 27th. 1350pm. LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS 2 ( First this year )

AGV. message from Mark received and followed up produced a nice bird. -- Who found it ?)

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:38 pm

Feb. 27th WAXWINGS 10 At Arbroath , reported to me by Ben Herschell at 4-40pm.

Ben saw them just off the main road , coming into Arbroath from Montrose , just past the Shell garage on Left , then past the cemetry , and then the Leasiure Centre . in that area feeding on Cotoneaster Tree.

Barry Farquharson · Post by **Barry Farquharson** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:04 pm

Beaten to the post with the Iceland Gull, but twas me what found it, Bob.

Headed down to Camperdown Park afterwards and got a Jay feeding on the ground. Unfortunately we were blocking the road and had to move before I got a decent photo of it. Also a sizable flock of Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Redwing. Treecreeper also seen there.

Flock of 200 or so Knot at Barry Buddon and probably as many Bar Tailed Godwits. Kestrel and 2 Magpies also seen.

Then the third new bird for the year for us at Monifieth - a Lesser Black Backed Gull at the mouth of the burn (not sure how we failed to see them at Clatto - maybe distracted by the Iceland Gull).
All in all a pretty good day considering we were undecided where to go when we left the house.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:32 pm

5 waxwings still feeding in North St. next to Pat Kilbanes joiners workshop opposite Service Road. 11.15 am.
Male Brambling in garden this morning, also Yellowhammer,Greenfinch,Siskin, 11 Goldfinch,Dunnock.
Barn Owl last night at 9pm between Logie crossroads and Auchendorie farm outside Kirriemuir , also Woodcock at Powmyre farm on same road.

stevendoig · Post by **stevendoig** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:10 pm

5 Waxwing in park beside my garden again. Ivy Road/Tce (Whitehills, Forfar), sitting at the top of large conifer.

There for an hour and have only just flew off towards Lunanhead

joncook · Post by **joncook** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:00 pm

3.00pm 1 Waxwing remaining on Cotoneaster opposite entrance to Saltire Leisure Centre, Montrose Road, Arbroath
See picture section
Jon