Mynah better than yours...

I have no idea how many Blackbirds are using our garden at the moment. However, this individual, with curious white feathering around both eyes, certainly stands out. The white bits almost lend him the appearance of a Mynah. Hmmm... I wonder, if we took him into captivity, whether we could teach him to swear...

White wings ahoy

A rather elusive 'white' gull was in the Collieston area last weekend; I was hoping to nail it down before posting any news, but no such luck. There's a chance it may resurface yet though.

Here's what we saw, in virtual darkness, on Sunday afternoon...

Looked to us like a first-winter Iceland, but a whacking great big one. Head shape and bill colour appeared correct, but views were very poor. Comments welcome!

Autumn ending

Little to show for  last weeks SE gale. Greater numbers of Blackbirds and Robins possibly. The odd Woodcock also in any areas with some cover. Further afield on Sunday there was a Siberian type Chiff-chaff at Cruden Bay, but it didn't call, so couldn't be confirmed.
A week ago there had been a further Black Redstart at Kirkton, and a Yellow-browed Warbler in bushes near the Sub car park over the weekend.

One of Octobers Yellow-browed warblers

One of the many Blackbirds in the village

Chiff-chaff, Cruden Bay 9.11.14

 Golden Plover and Pink-footed Geese

There remain a good few thousand Pink-footed Geese in and around the area, and there was also a substantial gathering of Golden Plover in the area of the village cross roads, at high tide on the Estuary, with in excess of a 1000 birds on Saturday/Sunday present. Whooper swans continue to be seen, but in smaller groups now usually. There were 6 on Meikle this morning.

Late arrivals

A little flurry of migrants in today, the pick of which was a Black Redstart perched on the guttering of our house as I arrived home this afternoon. Other arrivals included at least two Blackcaps munching the apples in our garden, a Chiffchaff in the sycamores, and a scatter of Redwings, Blackbirds and Robins.

Meanwhile, the Cotehill Loch Whooper Swan flock peaked at an impressive 130 birds on Tuesday, including a pair with six cygnets - well done the parents!

Migrants large and small

I'm aware it's been yonks since I posted anything on here. Far too much adventuring and not enough time on my beloved patch. Still, I intend to put things right during what remains of the autumn.

Today saw a nice 'fall' of Whooper Swans on Cotehill Loch. They seemed to come and go throughout the day, but numbered 54 when I counted them at lunchtime. A magic sound as they burbled away to themselves on the loch.

Whoop-whoop-whoop...

At the other end of the size spectrum are the continuing trickle of passerine migrants. This Blackcap has spent two days in our garden scoffing apples, while today also saw ones and twos of Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Redwing and Song Thrush in the area. The wind remains in the east, and hopes remain high of some more interest before the week's out.

Just look at yourself, you've got that all over your face, y'know.

The Fall

Great conditions following the SE gales and torrential rain brought some good rarities into the region especially yesterday.
Collieston seemed to miss out on this occasion, though a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the back road found on the 7th was still there yesterday (AK). In terms of commoner species numbers of migrants were very good, with notable numbers of Song Thrush, Robin, Meadow Pipit,  Siskin and Goldcrest roving around the village. Blackcaps also were present in good numbers.
On the reserve this evening there was a possible Siberian type Chiff-Chaff in the Rockend track bushes, though it wasn't heard to call.
Further north there was a Bluethroat in the Whinnyfold roadside bushes yesterday (Cotehill birder), with him also scoring a Little Bunting at the Bullars of Buchan.

Red-breasted Flycatchers

The easterlies over the last days have brought multiple Red-breasted Flycatchers into the region. There was 1 on the south end of Forvie yesterday, and on Sunday 1 was found, just out of the blog area, at the turn off to Whinnyfold village. The picture below shows that bird, apparently it is still present today.
Collieston has not hosted one yet perhaps, but today did see a good fall with 2 Pied Flycatchers, at least 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warblers, a number of Blackcaps and a handful of Willow Warblers. Robin and Meadow Pipit numbers are very high at present in addition.
Rarer fare must be possible in these conditions (Rattray Head hosted a Red-throated Pipit today-PAAB). On the estuary there was an Adult American Golden Plover (CG) on Sunday , though the rapid descent of fog meant it was not seen by many.

1st year Red-breasted Flycatcher, Whinnyfold 14.9.14