Saturday, 20 September 2014
Otter!
During a mediocre late mig watch with none of the expected seabirds I noticed Black-headed Gulls and Magpies all focussed on one spot. What on earth could they have as a common interest? I skirted round to see if maybe there was an Owl or something in the trees. To my surprise the focus of their attention was an Otter feeding on the rocks - not a bad result and maybe my best vismig result of the year!
Friday, 12 September 2014
Ducking and Diving
Started this morning off witha flock of largish birds coming through the mist from the east. I hoped that they would turn towards me rather than away, and lo and behold 42 Red-throated Divers emerged in a flock, calling and circling before disappearing again. The place was swarming with Swallows, with a few House Martins thrown in. Additional cast included first autumn Mistle Thrush, a smallish portion of Mipits, and a nice species addition to the year list in the form of Tufted Ducks.
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Friday, 5 September 2014
Skuas at last
First skuas of the year finally - thought at first they were Long-tailed but I couldn't persist in the belief and accepted they were Arctics in the end. Nice numbers of Mipits and Grey Wags, with both ahead of their normal numbers (see charts).
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
Ducky day
Should have got out earlier this morning but we were waiting for a delivery at home. Mercifully my lovely wife waved me off with a "Don't be late" and waited while I headed for the watchpoint.
In still air, perhaps the slightest of easterlies, there wasn't a lot doing, although there were steady Mipits and hirundines, as well as a lovely big flock of Goldfinches decisively moving for a change. There was, of course, a blogging flock that varied in size throughout the hour, presumably recruiting and leaking birds continuously.
A flock of Teal came off the river and flew inland north. Another flew around and settled in the bay, and a mixed flock of mostly Wigeon came up the river and went off west without hesitation. I love the duck season, though it always makes me wish I wasn't coming into work for 9. It doesn't last many days and it usually continues on through the morning at least. I still need Shoveler, so every flock gets as much grilling as I can to see if it has any interesting tag-alongs.
In still air, perhaps the slightest of easterlies, there wasn't a lot doing, although there were steady Mipits and hirundines, as well as a lovely big flock of Goldfinches decisively moving for a change. There was, of course, a blogging flock that varied in size throughout the hour, presumably recruiting and leaking birds continuously.
A flock of Teal came off the river and flew inland north. Another flew around and settled in the bay, and a mixed flock of mostly Wigeon came up the river and went off west without hesitation. I love the duck season, though it always makes me wish I wasn't coming into work for 9. It doesn't last many days and it usually continues on through the morning at least. I still need Shoveler, so every flock gets as much grilling as I can to see if it has any interesting tag-alongs.
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
Ringed Herring Gull
I saw this Herring Gull on the same small stretch of beach last April, which seems a very long time ago now. It was ringed in Northumberland, but I guess has found a home in Fife, or at least likes to holiday regularly
(Herring Gull with orange colour ring, 1214 was ringed on the 16th December 2004 on Ellington Road landfill, near Ashington, Northumberland (grid reference NZ2589) as a second winter bird, with metal BTO ring number GN77243)
(Herring Gull with orange colour ring, 1214 was ringed on the 16th December 2004 on Ellington Road landfill, near Ashington, Northumberland (grid reference NZ2589) as a second winter bird, with metal BTO ring number GN77243)
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