22 - OCTOBER 2011 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 7:41 am

Angus Bird Sightings for OCTOBER 2011

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 2:40 pm

OCTOBER 1st 2011-- 10-30am. BRAMBLING 1 ( FIRST OF AUTUMN) - BLACKCAPS 2 both Males) GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 1 TREE SPARROWS 2 - SONG THRUSH 1 BUZZARDS 1-- Saw 18 Species in total in Den

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:35 am

02/10/2011 Arbroath Gayfield 5 Wheatears passing through 10 am

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:48 pm

October 2nd. 11-30am BAR TAILED GODWIT 294 -- 220 GOLDEN PLOVER 20 SANDERLING -

Above all seen at Monifieth Bay Opposite Sea View Caravan Park Monifieht at Low Tide

DK · Post by DK » Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:42 pm

170 juvenile Gannets and 6 adult birds moving "down" the coast passed Elliot Links, Arbroath between 11:30 and 14:30 today.

Barry Farquharson · Post by **Barry Farquharson** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:38 pm

October 3rd.

Out for the day with Joan Farrell. Started at Loch of Kinnordy where a Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff were the highlights. Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Shoveler and Gadwall out on the loch and a large flock of lapwing flew around a bit.

Next stop was Forfar Loch where a female Scaup was easily spotted in among the Tufties near the Leisure Centre. A small flock of Canada Geese were a bit further round to the north, and when we got closer a Pintail was seen in amongst them. Still 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes plus a few adults around. At least 30 Little Grebes (most I've ever seen in one place) was a bit unexpected. A small mixed flock of Siskin and Redpoll were in the trees near the wooden viewing platform and a mixed flock of tits including double figures of Long Tailed Tits flew through. 2 Magpies were seen and a couple of Lesser Black Backed Gulls were still around as well.

Next stop was Murton where Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Lapwing and Coot were seen.

Balgavies Loch had a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders but not too much else, although a flock of Geese were at the eastern end but were only noticed in passing (may have been Greylag).

Montreathmont Forest produced at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 1 Green Woodpecker. 3 Siskins and Blue, Great and Coal Tits were on the feeders at the hide, plus Chaffinch. Jay was heard, and a smallish group of Crossbills were briefly seen near the road end of the track.

The single Whooper swan was still at a rather windy Lurgies, as was a Greenshank and a flock of Dunlin. Redshank and Lapwing were also seen in large numbers and 37 Canada Geese were also around, a few Knot were also in with the Redshanks.
A few small groups of Pink Feet flew over.

Final stop of the day was at Arbroath where Oystercatcher, Curlew, Turnstone, Kittiwake, Gannet and a distant (Red Throated?) Diver were seen.

simonbusuttil · Post by **simonbusuttil** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:27 am

A second day of steady southerly passage over Montrose. Meadow pipits and the odd grey wagtail yesterday. More mipits today and 35 crossbills observed on 15 mins - the benefits of a late train.

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:33 am

Bob McCurley and Jon Cook had a Ringtail Harrier (probable Pallid) at 2:30pm from the Redcastle hide, going west towards Ethie Haven.

Grant Balfour · Post by **Grant Balfour** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:47 am

Seaton of Usan (18:00-18:30)

A short stop at Seaton of Usan before heading off to a meeting:
Barnacle Goose - 23 in one flock, flying south
Great Skua -2 harrassing a Black-headed Gull
Sparrowhawk -1
Gannet -14 feeding (all juveniles), Sandwich Tern, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Velvet Scoter, Cormorant, etc...

DK · Post by DK » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:00 am

Magpie in Arbirlot, 8:30 this morning.

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:45 pm

October 5th 11am GREY PLOVER 51 At Monifieth Bay NO 505315 Never seen so many here before.
Opposite Sea View Caravan Park

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:25 am

05/10/2011 Arbroath near Hatton water works. Found a Wheater feeding on a dead rabbit. Saw it take 2 pieces and swallow them. Have never seen this before has anyone else please??

simonbusuttil · Post by **simonbusuttil** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:31 pm

A 75 min seawatch this morning at Usan produced the following;

60 red-throated divers heading south
3 Arctic and 1 Bonxie
15 Canada geese also south
several hundred meadow pipits - all heading south including many out at sea. One of these was taken by an accompanying merlin (heading south ca 400m offshore) which hardly broke its progress to take one and continue

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:15 pm

October 6th. 1300hrs. MEDITTERAMEAN GULLS 2 Adults Winter plumage
Seen from ADBC Hide at Lunan Bay by Bob- Graham -and Jon -- also on passage >South - 20 /WHOOPER SWAN - 200 PINFFEET - and 10 GREYLAGS - RED BREASTED MERGANSER 1 Female - EIDER 6 - KITTIWAKES 4

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:31 pm

October 6th. 1300hrs, LONG TAILED DUCK 3 - Omitted from previous posting First of Autumn L/Bay

October 56th. 10-30am CHIFFCHAFF 2 At West Seaton Farm Arbroath

October 6th 11-15am BRAMBLING 1 BLACKCAP 1 At Auchmithie Village garden

DK · Post by DK » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:59 am

Mickey Mellon wrote:05/10/2011 Arbroath near Hatton water works. Found a Wheater feeding on a dead rabbit. Saw it take 2 pieces and swallow them. Have never seen this before has anyone else please??

I have seen them have a bit of a dig in rabbit/sheep carcasses for beetles and insect larvae.

Roy Adamson · Post by **Roy Adamson** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:37 pm

First sightings for a couple of years of both Blackcaps and Goldcrests in our garden today.

Allan Hall · Post by **Allan Hall** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:03 pm

Roundyhill, Several flocks of Redwings heading west today. Also meadow pipits still heading south.

DK · Post by DK » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:57 pm

Off Elliot Links today-

Great Northern Diver x1 (all Day)
Whooper Swans x4
Sandwich Tern x1
Red Throated Diver x1

First Fieldfares of the year at Arbirlot.

burnie · Post by **burnie** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:09 pm

Out in the Glens looking for the Red Deer rutt,bit early on Sunday,but did get a lovely view of two Golden Eagles.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:34 pm

Kinnordy Loch

Immature Great Crested Grebe on the loch today, an unusual bird to see here. Plenty Bullfinches, several Song Thrushes and Blackcaps at the elderberries with loads of Blackbirds.
Wildfowl on the loch included; Mallard,100+ Wigeon, Shoveller, Gadwall, Goosander, Teal, Tufties and a female Goldeneye.
Also 3 Snipe flew through. 3 Jays were close to the path at the drain-edge on the way back to Kirriemuir and a couple of Goldcrests were in the pines.

richardblackburn · Post by **richardblackburn** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:15 pm

Montrose Basin goose count today.

63,356 including one leucistic pinkfoot (not by me just passing on the news).

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:00 pm

12/10/2011 Elliot had my first ever sight today of a juv Kittiwake and I thought what a lovely looking bird

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:37 pm

13/10/2011 Condor east 626430 1 Jay. This is the first record of this species on the camp since records started nearly 11 years ago

DK · Post by DK » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:15 pm

Just off Elliot Links this afternoon (opposite the tank traps 14:00-15:00)

Juvenile Brent Geese x3
Red Breasted Merganser x12

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 8:57 pm

Single Redwing feeding with Blackbirds and Song Thrushes on elderberries at Kinnordy Loch carpark at 5pm. also a small flock of 15 Siskin and a male Blackcap still there.

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:41 pm

October 13th. 1350pm MERLIN 1 >S BARNACLE GEESE 20 > S LONGTAILED DUCK 12 RED THROATED DIVERS 6 RED BREASTED MERGANSERS 1 EIDER 6 SANDERLINGS 34 RINGED PLOVER 10
KITTIWAKES 50 ( MANY jUVS. )

OIctober 13th 1530pm BEAN GOOSE 1 ( Rossicus race ) From Montrose Basin Wild life Centre

Allan Hall · Post by **Allan Hall** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 11:51 am

On the Meigle Road west from the north end of Roundyhill. 3400 Pink-footed Geese plus 14 Whooper Swans.

Nicola Main · Post by **Nicola Main** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:57 pm

An unexpected sighting of a Magpie in our garden this lunchtime. Someone has said there is one hanging round Carnoustie but it paid me a special visit today ;)

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:31 pm

OCTOBER 14TH 11-45am MAGPIE 1 SEEN IN CRAIG MILL DEN - FIRST EVER AT THIS SITE FOR ME !

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:47 am

14/10/2011 Easthaven 20 Goosanders, 9 Barnacle Geese

DK · Post by DK » Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:02 am

14/10/11, Cuthlie Harbour-Prail Castle

Raven x2
Kestrel x4

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:27 pm

15/10/2011 Magpie still in Craigmill den also 2 Dippers and lots of Long Tailed tits

richardblackburn · Post by **richardblackburn** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:17 pm

Montreathmont - ~11:00am Saturday 15th Oct

Loads of coal tits, 4 GS woodpeckers, a Jay, siskin, wren, robins, a blue tit and great tits. Also, dunnock, chaffinches and blackbird (all at the hide). On the way out saw a treecreeper, coal tits and great tits near the car park.

burnie · Post by **burnie** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:20 pm

Kingfisher on the South Esk near Brechin .

simonbusuttil · Post by **simonbusuttil** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:38 pm

Usan today

Hundreds of kittiwakes feeding offshore all day. Plenty of skuas taking advantage - 5 great and 12 Arctic about including a small pale juv which had me going until I got home and ruled out long tailed - just a small pale Arctic. Velvet scoter and long tailed duck there. One barnacle goose on the basin

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:45 pm

October 15th. 11am. WATER RAIL 1 - 450 GOLDEN PLOVER Flying above Loch of Kinnordy +2 WHOOPERS

October 15th. 12-20pm . CROSS BILLS 12 On way to Lintrathen old Hide

October 15th 10am WHOOPER SWANS 50 At Auchindorie Pool , near Auchindorie Farm

October 15th. 1500hrs. KINGFISHER 1 (Community Centre end ) Forfar Loch + 3 MAGPIES

Above Highlights all observed when leading a Fife SOC Club outing today

richardblackburn · Post by **richardblackburn** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:55 pm

North Esk river - old salmon run
2 kingfishers, 2 dippers, several wrens and grey heron.

North Esk estuary
Loads of gulls, crows/rooks, the mute swan family and a few grey herons. A few cormorants too.

Nicola Main · Post by **Nicola Main** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:29 am

9.25am. Just saw a Merlin fly low over the garden. Direct flight with quick wing beats.

stevendoig · Post by **stevendoig** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:26 pm

FORFAR LOCH

Decent trip this morning. 43 species including

at least a dozen redwing
18 canada geese
1 whooper swan
1 great spotted woodpecker (rare at the loch)
Tawny owl in fir plantation getting harrassed by blackbirds
2 magpie
1 tree sparrow
2 pheasant a first for me at this location for some reason!
at least ten liiitle grebe, six great crested.
lots of finch flocks (mainly siskin and goldfinch)
3 male bullfinch.
only let down was wildfowl - plenty tufty and mallard, some gadwall and a single teal.