1 - JANUARY 2012 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:07 pm

Angus Bird Sightings for JANUARY 2012

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:36 pm

Hi all, first of all a big apology for the website being down over the last week. Sadly nothing I could do about it.

The company whom hosts the website had problems with their servers. Which meant that we had to patiently wait whilst there maintenance team sorted out.
Believe me I have been on there case through various channels to get it sorted and it seems this is the quickest they could manage. Will post there more detailed reasons below.
Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience. Needless to say that come renewal time I may be looking for a new host....
Feel free to post any sightings that you may have had in January over the last 17 days. Doesn't matter if its 2 week old news. Just good to have the records here.
Thanks for your patience and as always your support of this forum,

Best Wishes, Mark Caunt (site admin)

The technical answer from my web providers...

The server that your account is held on is set up with a RAID 1 array and one of the drives failed. The RAID 1 array also failed and this
delayed the restoration or the drive. The server is now back online with new hardware.

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:46 pm

Shame,you've missed flamingos and albatrosses and 2 dodos on lunan beach in the past few days(no problem Mark,nice that the sites back again)

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:48 pm

Shame,you've missed flamingos and albatrosses and 2 dodos on lunan beach in the past few days(no problem Mark,nice that the sites back again)

LOL. Seems I did miss a lot! I only had a Great Auk to report...

Ian Bell · Post by **Ian Bell** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:11 pm

Black Redstart still at the Chicken Coop at Lunan Bay on Sunday 15th.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:06 pm

6 Waxwings feeding on berry bushes in Kirriemuir. Near the top of the Glengate at the junction with Orchard Brae..for at least 4th day.
Also Barn Owl tonight at Logie Crossroads on Kirriemuir to Glamis road.

barry shaw · Post by **barry shaw** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:09 pm

Good to see the forum back to full working order.

barry shaw · Post by **barry shaw** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:19 pm

I know some are not a fan of falconry but I thought I would put this post up,heard on radio Tay that a guy lost a peregrine falcon last week on the northen outskirts of Dundee just behind the fintry housing estate,think he was doing pest control it had the leather straps,bells and transmitter on,Any one seeing it is urged to get intouch with Tay fm.

richardblackburn · Post by **richardblackburn** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:19 pm

Forfar Loch and Balgavies Loch - 17th Jan

Forfar Loch
Loads of greylag geese with a single pink footed goose. Loads of the usual moorhens, coots, mallard, herring and black headed gulls, chaffinches, blue, coal and great tits. Also saw greenfinch, siskin, mute swan, a goosander, a single long tailed tit, a song thrush, a treecreeper, bullfinches and a single kingfisher.

Balgavies Loch
Very little there. Loads of blue, coal and great tits at the feeders. Also a single GS woodpecker, chaffinches and robins. Slightly off topic, but there were 4 red squirrels at the feeders too!

Gordon Anderson · Post by **Gordon Anderson** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:42 am

Barn owl in flight and Long Eared owl on fence on A92 near upper Dysart. Barn Owl on farm road from Kirkton (Arbroath) to Colliston/Letham Grange Rd. Both sightings after ADBC bird club meeting tonight between 21.30 and 21.50hrs.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:10 am

18/01/2012 13th Condor East 626 430 first ever record of Goshawk on trees at small pond Kirkton rd end. Short Eared Owls still around. gliding school disturbed a few on sunday. 17th Jan Easthaven Grey Plover feeding on shore left of railway bridge opposite last house.

stevendoig · Post by **stevendoig** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:39 pm

forfar loch this afternoon

3 white fronts amongst the greylags.

short eared owl showing very well hunting over grass at the west end.

at least twenty bullfinch by the caravan site.

50+ goosander

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:14 pm

1st-winter/juv Kumlien's tyype Gull in the roost just to the west of Sailing Club this evening, though no sign of any of the three 1st-w and adult Iceland that were there on Sunday night. Strangely, there were no white-wingers at all there Tues night, despite large nos gulls.Cheers, SRG

Dave Adam · Post by **Dave Adam** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:43 pm

Pair of W T Eagles in Angus glen, roosting on cliff. One observed is adult with white tail. Video of flights overhead.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:55 pm

6 waxwings feeding on berry bushes at junction of Woodend Drive and Cortachy Rd, Kirriemuir. They fly up into the big trees opposite.
Fieldfares & Redwings in grass field just south of Kirriemuir on Glamis Rd.
Barn Owl again last night south of Kirriemuir on same road as above.

barry shaw · Post by **barry shaw** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:17 pm

Has anyone seen the european eagle owl that's taken up residence in the coldside area of Dundee,picture in the evening telegraph tonight shows that it's healthy and the guy says it's been there for a while,surely can't be a wild bird..

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:34 pm

Not many gulls in the evening roost but a juv/1st-winter Iceland Gull from the hide approx 4.40pm, SRG

Clive McKay · Post by **Clive McKay** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:51 pm

Dear all

Just a Happy New Year reminder to keep your eyes peeled for birds with colour-rings - geese, gulls, swans, shags, cormorants, twite. There's an interesting update on some resightings of birds ringed by Grampian ringing group here: http://grampianringing.blogspot.com/

Cheers

Clive

John Ogilvie · Post by **John Ogilvie** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:18 pm

Peregrine still present on Brechin round tower 4.00p.m. today feeding on pigeon

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:00 pm

Drake Smew, Pintail, Goosanders and both European White-fronted Geese and the single Greenland White-fronted Goose at Kinnordy Loch this afternoon at 4pm.

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:27 pm

Just a single 1st winter/juv Iceland Gull in the roost off the sailing club tonight.
Earlier, there was a single Tundra Bean Goose in the Pink-foot flock on the north side of the main road through Padanaram, SRG

joncook · Post by **joncook** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:35 pm

Female Black Redstart still in chicken coup area behind Lunan Bay hide early afternoon, but mobile & nervous.
Jon

stevendoig · Post by **stevendoig** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:38 pm

re ringed birds. I see starlings form my shop in Montrose high street every day with rings on, never quick enough to make out details, but they are not hard to find!

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:05 am

Barn Owl on the A94 on the outskirts of Glamis,sat on a fence post at 22.15 tonight

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:00 pm

Jan 22nd. 3-50pm ADULT ICELAND GULL At Ferry Den - per Rob Noble Nesbitt -- Also he was told of a GLAUCOUS GULL in same Ferry Den area yesterday by a local observer

Jan 22nd 2pm LITTLE GULL 1 From Lunan Bay Hide - plus 5 VELVET SCOTER - 17 RED BREASTED MERGANSERS - Plus BLACK REDSTART still present near Chicken Coups on way to hide .

Grant Balfour · Post by **Grant Balfour** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:32 am

Single Black Swan hanging around with the Mute Swans at the Millburn from about 10am until 10:15 on Sunday 22nd. It flew off west with 5 Mutes to a nearby field.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:28 am

23/01/2012 0730. It may be cold and frosty but it was nice to hear Great Spotted Woodpeckers tapping on the trees at Letham Grange in 2 different places

DK · Post by DK » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:31 pm

Off Elliot Links Arbroath today 80+ Little Grebes, 3x Long-tailed Ducks (male) and many small groups of Razorbills moving in/through.

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:22 pm

Apologies of slight off topic post but might interest some.
There was a nice view of the Aurora last night (Sun 22nd Jan) looking North from Auchmithie.
Meant to be clear skies tonight so might be worth a look.

Alan Mowat · Post by **Alan Mowat** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:24 pm

Eagle Owl

Eagle owl seen at the side of the road between Fettercairn and Edzell, near Tillytogils farm today 23/1/12.
Seen by 2 of us.

balbridie · Post by **balbridie** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:19 pm

amowat wrote:Eagle Owl

Eagle owl seen at the side of the road between Fettercairn and Edzell, near Tillytogils farm today 23/1/12.
Seen by 2 of us.

Can you tell me what time it was seen please? Also excuse pedantry but bird would have been in Aberdeenshire, the border being the N Esk.

Cheers
Ian Middleton

simonbusuttil · Post by **simonbusuttil** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:29 pm

Went out to see the aurora last night - not very impressive at all for me at all - but two barn owls, a tawny owl and a pair of long-eared owls duetting from a plantation in the Caturthon area (near Edzell) last night at ca 1030.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:29 am

25 jan 2012 Keptie pond Arbroath. There are now 9 Swans on this small pond. The resident female has found a new mate
after losing her other one last year. There are 3 interlopers from Tayport harbour with Green rings which I have checked out. One of the interlopers is a Cygnet and is keeping a distance from the parents. The other 4 interlopers, 2 have paired up and the other 2 are being chased all over the pond. It is starting to liven up so its going to be interesting once spring gets near near.

Gordon Anderson · Post by **Gordon Anderson** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:58 pm

Responded to telecall from G.Addison who had adult Glaucous Gull in view at Montrose harbour just before noon. Bird briefly came over to Ferryden side and was photographed.

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 6:10 pm

[quote="amowat"]Eagle Owl

Eagle owl seen at the side of the road between Fettercairn and Edzell, near Tillytogils farm today 23/1/12.
Seen by 2 of us.[/quote]

I am really concerned about these birds,if they take up residence they kill all the other raptors,seen as competition.They've been known to kill Harriers,Buzzards and Goshawks in areas where they occur naturally.If these have spread from the breeding birds down in Yorkshire it is a worry.

barry shaw · Post by **barry shaw** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:55 pm

Chris the dundee eagle owl may have already met it's demise, it's not been seen for a while now,unless it's the one that was spotted up the glens way.

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:42 pm

This was put out on the Aberdeen (?) yahoo news group...

The Eagle Owl sp. (NB I say 'sp.' because I haven't looked up the books to work out what species it is yet) was calling its head off and looking impressive sat on a Dundee gable-end this evening.

So I suspect it is a different bird to the one reported near Fettercairn recently. (Unless it zapped up there then came pinging back to exactly the same spot in Dundee...).

Matt Slaymaker · Post by **Matt Slaymaker** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:39 am

Mark et al
Yes: it is either still there or has returned. A local falconer is, I am told, avidly trying to (re-?) capture it by hand. He'd better watch out for those 'weaponised' feet...
Rgds
Chris

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:40 am

26/01/2012 (sorry im late) Elliot greenkeepers shed 3 Grey Wagtails 2 Adults 1 Juv

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:20 pm

28 Jan 2012 To all members for guidance. The A92 at Arbroath from Red Lion Caravan Park up to the railway bridge
will be closed from the 6th Feb for 8 weeks. You can bypass by turning left a Macdonalds up Westway turn left at the top and right at the traffice lights will take you to the roundabout at Morrisons regards Mickey