7 - JULY 2012 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:21 pm

Angus Bird Sightings for JULY 2012

Roy Adamson · Post by **Roy Adamson** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:27 pm

Single female blackcap at Newmill 4pm

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:36 pm

Drake Surf Scoter present close inshore this evening, 1st July, in the Eider flock off Monifieth Beach 4.45pm, viewable from the sentry box along the boundary fence of Barry Buddon MOD. It appeared to be the only Scoter in the Eider flock.Also c.20 Little Gulls there.
Earlier, approx 15 Little Gulls off West Haven, cheers, SRG

joncook · Post by **joncook** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:01 pm

Drake Surf Scoter present again at Monifieth football pitch/Barry Buddon this afternoon between 3 & 4pm. Drifted in from the Dundee direction as the tide rose and wound up preening close into the shore just inside the camp boundary at high tide. Also 30+ Little Gulls.
Jon

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:25 pm

July 3rd, 1350 hrs. LITTLE EGRET still present on Lurgies at high tide in company with 26 COMMON SANDPIPERS all using the large dead tree washed up onshore on Right hand side - also 2 BARNACLES keeping them company

July 3rd. 1530hrs. SURF SCOTER Still present at same site keeping Eiders company ,also 30 LITTLE GULLS present

Stephen Appleton · Post by **Stephen Appleton** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:55 pm

Hi - I arrived later this afternoon approx. 4.30/5.00 and saw loads of Eider and many Goosander. I missed the Surf Scoter. Did I go far enough east I wonder. I parked in Monifieth and not knowing the area well walked the wrong way! Then returned, found the football pitch, but didn't have enough time to go much further. Do you walk along the beach or above the beach behind the dunes? Presumably the tide will be earlier tomorrow?
Thanks, Stephen

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:44 am

Hi Stephen You were in correct spot when you got to the Football Pitch ! In far Left hand corner of the Pitch you will see A Sentry's Box , with A Sentry on duty when Red Flags are flying . when public are not allowed to enter the Barry Buddon Training Estate . If Flags are down the public are allowed to enter the estate . View from the Sentry's Box ( On Football Pitch side of Courese ! ) and at high tide the Surf Scoter is showing reasonably close to shoreline . If Flags are down you may enter the training area to get a closer view from the Dune sysyem --
Good luck
Bob McCurley ( Angus and Dundee Bird Club )

Stephen Appleton · Post by **Stephen Appleton** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:54 am

Many thanks, Bob. I'll see if I can get out of the office again today!

DK · Post by DK » Wed Jul 04, 2012 5:02 pm

A pair of Merlin 1x adult and 1x juv hunting on Elliot Links all day today. Picked off several young Skylarks and a Reed Bunting. Frequently being mobbed by adult Skylarks and occasionaly taking refuge in the smaller stand of trees on the golfcourse.

joncook · Post by **joncook** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:43 pm

Surf Scoter present again today at 5pm, but further along on other side of Barry Burn towards lighthouse c NO518318. Appeared to come ashore with some of the Eider & was lost to sight. c30 Little Gulls still there also.
Jon

joncook · Post by **joncook** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:12 pm

[attachment=0]Avocet_sml_P1360312.jpg[/attachment]

Avocet found by Graham Smith at noon still present until about 4pm when it flew east & was lost to sight. Very mobile, but staying within about 500yds either side of the West Haven car park. At one point set down on the water with a group of Black-headed Gulls - most confusing.
Jon

Photo in Photographs section as it wont seem to display here.

Roy Adamson · Post by **Roy Adamson** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:53 am

Kingfisher fishing the Keilor burn at 7am. Also juv grey wagtail

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:24 pm

06/07/2012 Got the text about Avocet while I was down south and hoped it would stay around. It did and I found it at Westhaven this morning. Not seen one for many a year. tku grapevine

richardblackburn · Post by **richardblackburn** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:59 pm

Westhaven - 6th July (am)

Avocet was the only bird on the beach at low tide this morning.

Lurgies (pm)
2 barnacle geese on Miss Erskine's bank at high tide along with common sandpipers and redshank (may have seen the spotted one but unsure). Was very windy so didn't stay long.

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:48 pm

Avocet still West Haven beach, 5pm.
Drake Surf Scoter still off Monifieth Beach, 6pm, viewable from the sentry box on the MOD boundary fence, also 130+ Little Gulls off there, SRG

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:47 pm

Seems there is still an issue uploading and viewing attachment photos to this part of the forum.

For the time being please just post in the photo section which is working fine as Jon did with his Avocet.
Thanks

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:37 pm

09/10/2012 10.00am Quiet walk around East Haven. Songthrush, Bluetit, Oyster Catcher, Eider, Curlew, Grey Heron, Starling, Herring gull, House Sparrow, Cormorant, Blackbird, Blackheaded gull, Sedge, " adults taking food into separate locations, Gannets, Linnet, Skylark, Woodpigeon, Pied Wag juv, Swallow, Yellowhammer, Goldfinches taking food into different locations, Reed Bunting, collared dove, Sandwich Terns, Crow, Buzzard

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:10 pm

10/07/2012 Elliot Skylarks taking food to nest in various locations, Ringed Plovers being agitated by dog walkers near their nests, Male Reed Bungtings still calling in quite a few areas, Lots of Black Headed gulls on the beach, Sedge being agitated near nest areas, 1 Great Black Back gulls among the black Headed gulls, Meadow Pipits parachuting over reed beds. Other normal stuff around singing and food hunting

simonbusuttil · Post by **simonbusuttil** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:23 pm

Thousands of birds in the central section of Montrose Bay this evening. The flat grey sea helped counts. 280 Red-breasted mergansers, 20 goosander, 28 common scoter, a surprising 38 red-throated diver, 200 gannet and about 60 manxies plunge diving in among many many hundreds of various gulls and auks. ca 120 common terns and 30 Sandwich but no Arctic terns present. Bottle-nosed dolphins joined the feeding frenzies. Very pleasant (and wet)

simonbusuttil · Post by **simonbusuttil** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:45 pm

A pomarine skua flew north at Fishtown of Usan tonight. Also 1 puffin among several hundred guillemots on the sea (but few razorbills), 85 common scoter south, 13 m,anxies north, 1 whimbrel south and 200 gannets feeding offshore

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:10 pm

14/07/2012 0900, Arbroath. Check from bowling alley to Victoria park at start of cliffs but no sign of Med Gull. Counted 84 Sandwich Terns, 8 Redshank, 1 Turnstone and about 150 Black Headed Gulls. Will check again later.

Dave Adam · Post by **Dave Adam** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:28 am

A few Whinchats at the Inchgrundle end of Loch Lee, few Wheatears, some Ring Ouzels dotted around Glen Lee, Goldcrests in Lee plantation, 3 Kestrel at various locales - no signs of Peregrine or Raven or Eagle but did find some feathers from probably an immature latter. 1 Red Grouse put up in an 10 mile hill walk, 2 C.Buzzard, 1 Willow Warbler singing, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Curlew and 2 Carrion Crows - rare here!
Feel that the cold/wet spring - summer has had an effect on breeding up here.
1 Common Lizard with missing tail, 1 Common Frog, 1 Mountain Hare and 1 Red deer hind with yearling.
Flora showing included Bell Heather, Starry Saxifrage, Butterwort, Mountain Everlasting, Thyme, Heath Spotted Orchid, Bog Asphodel, Golden Rod and an unusual, yellowish flowered Honeysuckle.

Barry Farquharson · Post by **Barry Farquharson** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:17 am

14th July Saturday

Balmossie - One Great Skua (with a central tail projection making it look "different") flew in from the west above the shoreline, circled twice then headed over the houses to the northeast. Photos here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=235413 A first sighting in Dundee for me.

Monifieth/Barry Buddon - Little Gull flock appeared to be present near burn outflow but heat haze shimmer made it hard to be absolutely 100%.

Westhaven - No sign of Avocet, but Common Terns (and a few Arctics) around in decent numbers. 2 Common Sandpipers at the mouth of the burn. Stock Dove flew over.

Arbroath - A single Puffin off the cliffs, with Guillemots and Razorbills also around in low numbers. 2 Kittiwakes on the rocks with Sandwich Terns and gulls.

Auchmithie - 23 Puffins on the water and a Corn Bunting singing to the north of the car park on wires. Family group of at least 6 Whitethroats in the wee hollow on the left halfway down the track to the beach. Also a male Blackcap.

Lunan Bay - Good numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills out in the bay. 20 or so Common Scoter also. Lots of Kittiwakes with the gull flock on the beach.

Montrose Basin - A Black Swan on the north side of the basin with lots of Mutes. 7 Pink Footed Geese quite distant from the centre. Lapwing in front of centre. Also a couple of Bar Tailed Godwits.

Lurgies - Little Egret feeding in a channel. 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Barnacle Geese (1 with an obvious damaged wing), 1 Whimbrel, 2 Teal. We'd spoken to a couple at the gate by the car park who said it was very quiet. Glad to see they were a wee bit inaccurate.

Balgavies. Osprey pair sat together on dead tree with youngster in nest. 2 Grey Herons at nest on fallen tree to the left of the hide. Around 100 Greylags on the water and a single female Goldeneye. Blackcap just in front of hide, also very brief sighting of what may have been a Mink, sleek black head appeared out of the undergrowth below the hide window but spotted me and immediately pulled back into cover. 4 young Moorhens on the lilys with an adult.

81 species seen in total, which considering July is supposed to be a quiet month, isn't too bad. A Magpie flew over the dual carriageway near the truck place on the way back to Dundee from Forfar.

Clive McKay · Post by **Clive McKay** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:27 pm

Dear all

Just getting our local Osprey info together, and this year we have nine pairs active in Angus. No nests blown out this year. Found a "new" site only this morning - a replacement for a nearby site which hadn't been used this year. For those monitoring nests - now onwards is a good time to get an idea of how many large chicks are in the nest (from a distance of course!) prior to fledging.

Amazingly we only have two known nests east of Forfar - surely there must be others somewhere near the South Esk, North Esk, Brechin etc? And nothing in Glen Prosen, Glen Clova, Glen Ogil, Glen Esk... unless you know otherwise!

Forfar Loch - 2 Common Sands at lunch time

Cheers

Clive

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:57 pm

July 15th, 9-20am LITTLE PLOVER Seen on Lurgies Montrose Basin opposite Miss Erskines Bank - plus LITTLE EGRET in same area - plus 10 COMMON SANDPIPERS - 6 GREENSHANKS - I SNIPE , I OSPREY -

July 15th 11- 50am LUNAN BAY - SURF SCOTER Male - Seen by Bob - Graham & Keith from ADBC Hide looking in direction of Boddin Point , quite close in - keeping company with approx. 150 mixed flock of VELVET SCOTER and COMMON SCOTER - also on shoreline a single SANDERLING - plus WHIMBREL 1 - plus TEAL 2 plus RED THROATED DIVERS 3

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:24 pm

Drake Surf Scoter still present this afternoon, in the Eider flock off Monifieth Beach 3.30pm, viewable from the sentry box along the boundary fence of Barry Buddon MOD though quite distant, mainly due to the power kiters flying all around the bay . Again, it appeared to be the only Scoter in the Eider flock. Also c.40 Little Gulls there, and 1 Whimbrel. SRG

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:56 pm

JULY 16TH 1550HRS MEDITERRANEAN GULL ADULT - Seen on Foreshore at 10 Pin Bowling Alley Arbroath- -- Behind Jumping Joe'ys Childrens Indoor Play Club ) Arbroath - Adult with Black Head beginning to moult, in company with 3 Black Headed Gulls when we saw it .

Trevor Harley · Post by **Trevor Harley** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:11 pm

Clive McKay wrote:Dear all

Just getting our local Osprey info together, and this year we have nine pairs active in Angus.

Clive

What happened to the Piperdam ospreys? I live nearby, and when we first moved here in 2003 they were present and nesting for the first few years. I haven't seen them there for some time though.

Colin Black · Post by **Colin Black** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:55 am

After a dull couple of hours gawking out the hide window at not much, then late afternoon three Ospreys fishing and all four Marsh Harriers male, female and both juveniles flying together put on a great display.

joncook · Post by **joncook** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:14 pm

Hi Trevor, I called in at Piperdam, from memory spring 2008, and was told by a member of staff that an Osprey had arrived that year, hung around for a day then gone. He reckoned the increased number of houses and greater activity had frightened them off. Havent been back since as I have had no word of the Ospreys returning.
Jon

Trevor Harley · Post by **Trevor Harley** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:00 pm

Yes, when I first moved here it was a loch with a few houses around. Now it is a housing estate with a loch in the middle. I wouldn't want to live there, so I don't blame the ospreys moving on. The golf course is pretty busy too.

I'm surprised there's not more on it, but the fishing and golf probably causes too much disturbance. Even the number of nesting sand martins seems down this year. The most exciting thing in a while was a pair of whooper swans lingering into May.

Mike Simmons · Post by **Mike Simmons** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:12 pm

Went to Glen Esk to look for Ring Ouzel - not the best idea in strong winds! But got fleeting glances at a previously good spot at the SW end of Loch Lee near the briddge. Also - several Spotted Flycatcher around Invermark, especially in church graveyard; group of 15+ Mistle Thrush; Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Greenfinch, Willow Warbler, etc.

Trevor Harley · Post by **Trevor Harley** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:04 pm

100+ little gulls at the mouth of the Pitairlie Burn in Carnoustie this morning, more than I ever remember before. And a few gannets and common tern offshore, but not much else.

What's the best parking place for Craigmill Den? I know it's not that far from East Haven, but I've hurt my foot and trying to reduce walking at the moment.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:09 pm

22 July 2012 Arbroath WeBS count this morning was very dull I until got to the bowling alley and had 5Little Gulls, 2 Ringed Plover, Med Gull, Dunlin. Oherwise the rest of the area covered was Sandwich Terns and large collection of gulls, Eider, Oyster Cats.

Mickey Mellon · Post by **Mickey Mellon** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:13 pm

Trevor, best way to Craigsmill den if coming on A92 turn off at East Haven turn, go along road until you come to a sharp left turn to East Haven, turn right there then first left and about 1mile down that road you come to the den with parking just past bridge on left, Enough for 3 cars. All the best Mickey.

richardblackburn · Post by **richardblackburn** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:35 am

25 July - Balgavies Loch (8pm).

Bit of a Christmas song going on yesterday.

3 moorhen chicks, 2 grey heron chicks and a ringed osprey chick in a tree.

Bob McCurley · Post by **Bob McCurley** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:54 pm

July 26th 10am MEDITTERANEAN GULL Adult At Foreshore of 10 Pin Bowling alley - Arbroath ( Foreshore of the Jumping Joey's Childrens Club , which is same as the 10 Pin Bowling Alley site )

July 26th 10-45am HONEY BUZZARD Going South - Seen opposite entrance to Ethie Mains Farm

July 26th. 12-15pm SOOTY SHEARWATER 1 only Seen from Angus and Dundee Bird Club Hide

srgreen · Post by **srgreen** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:16 pm

Thurs 26th July, 2.5 hours from 3.45pm. total of 318 Manxies north, 2 Bonxies north, c.40 Common Scoters north, SRG

Dave Adam · Post by **Dave Adam** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:25 pm

One Osprey moving South over Brechin.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:16 pm

Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, Osprey, Kingfisher, Black Swan and loads of midges !..........all at the Lurgies tonight.