New Year!

There was another Iceland Gull just prior to the New year around Cransdale Head , a 2nd year this time, as good numbers of gulls fed in the sea on the debris from the recent storms.
Around the area today, the 5th, were at least 3 Short-eared Owls near the Sand Loch, a male Hen Harrier again crossing the road late on going towards Forvie NNR and a few  flocks of Common Scoter visible on the sea from Cransdale and Old Slains Castle. There are still a few Long-tailed Ducks both on the sea and the local lochs and floods. Larger numbers than usual seem to be in the area since the storms.

Long-tailed Ducks

Short-eared Owl

Christmas viewing!

The on-going weather conditions has brought more Long-tailed ducks into the area, 2 on Meikle 2 days ago, as well as one that set up camp on a flooded field by Mains of Slains farm. Not your usual farmland bird.

Plenty of Coal Tits remain around village feeders..used to be rare for us.
Up to three male Goosanders remain on Cotehill Loch, and there were 3 RB Mergansers on the Sand Loch on boxing day.

The deluge continues...

There is localised flooding around the village with the back road inundated and a small river cutting across the Cransdale road.
There are up to 5 Purple Sandpipers at Cransdale head now. The most notable bird today though was a first year Iceland Gull in the field by Mains of Collieston farm, then moving to Meikle Loch.

Purple Sandpiper

Storm Surge!

The winds kept on rising overnight causing havoc around the harbour, with one car dragged out to sea and small boats lost as well. New holes appearing in the harbour wall with chunks of concrete being seen driven into the air. The Cransdale car park is littered with debris and the sculpture has been driven from its usual position. The sea's remained high well into the afternoon on a very high tide .
This was a once in a 20 year event according to the longer residents. Certainly a new one on me!

Birding a bit restricted by the hypnotic views, but a good flock of Rock pipits at the Cransdale beach, with one or two good candidates for Scandinavian Rock Pipit among their number. One Purple Sandpiper with the Turnstone.
Aside from this, there are now 3 drake Goosander on Cotehill Loch. A male Hen Harrier also crossed the road going out of the village in the morning, always good to see.

Wild winter weather

The first part of December has seen some low temperatures, but not much movement of birds in on it noted. However tonight it is blowing a gale, with easterly winds, so there must be some hope of something of interest in the next couple of days. Hard to stand up out there just now.
Records of interest from the last 10 days or so include a Woodcock near the Forvie centre entrance. There has also been an expanding group of mixed finches and Tree Sparrow near the vegetable crop by the Forvie centre, including a few Twite mixed in.
A pair of Red-breasted Merganser have occasionally been viewable of Cransdale head, and a drake Goosander was seen flying over Meikle loch last week...relatively scarce in this area.
A few smaller groups of Pink-footed Geese are still in the area unsurprisingly, but with no more unusual Geese with them.

Herring Gulls in the strong winds

Meikle Loch

Seas from Cransdale this afternoon

There are also a few, small, miserable looking groups of Golden Plover around especially behind Meikle Loch.

December 1st, and its snowing!

Sightings today include the unseasonal Whinchat still at Meikle loch along the eastern edge, though elusive.
A good flock of Meadow Pipits (30+) around there as well, with a few Rock Pipits mixed in.
Good numbers Teal on Cotehill which appeared packed out for once, and certainly has more wildfowl currently on it than Meikle.
Awaiting a few arrivals in on the cold weather and snow hopefully.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.Ruth L.

At least 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers are still frequenting the village favouring the plantations and gardens from the Forvie Centre down into High Town. Unusual in the village, though this year has been particularly good for them.

Collieston's November...Late Whinchat

Things have turned very quiet over the last weeks. A run of Westerly winds have finished off the Autumn  bringing any late migration more or less to a halt. The only exceptions to this have been a single Waxwing on 10.11.12 at Feu farm, and on 18.11.12 a surprise Whinchat at Meikle Loch, this is the fourth latest record ever for Scotland. At the same time a Lapland Bunting was frequenting the meadow there with a mixed flock of Rock and Meadow Pipits. These birds seem to appear in advance of a front of poor weather.
Latterly a Long-Tailed Duck has been on Meikle as well.

Whinchat

A number of small, mixed flocks of Reed Buntings, Yellow Hammer, finches and usually some Tree Sparrow are dotted around the field edges and the village.