River sprites

Good numbers Wigeon and Teal on Meikle Loch today with a resumed freeze forcing birds off the smaller local pools.Among other species were 2 drake Pintail and a single Scaup. Meanwhile various roving flocks of Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting can be seen on field margins. The total Tree Sparrow count today on the patch was at least 80.There are also still around 500 Pink-footed Geese staying locally to the Collieston and Slains area during the daytime, though with the local shooting they were more scattered today. Up to 3 Greenshank can be seen at the Sanub on the Ythan just now.

Further afield the 1st year drake Harlequin Duck is worth a look in Seaton Park, on the Don. It showed very closely today late afternoon, so despite the fading light the photos still reflect the birds character well.

Little Grebe, River Don 17.1.15

Long-tailed Duck, Ythan 17.1.15

Harlequin Duck, Seaton Park, 17.1.15

Happy New Year!

Well overdue an update.

Drake American Wigeon, Meikle Loch 13.12.14

The year signed off with a small flourish with a dapper Drake American Wigeon for a week or so (from 13th Dec) at Meikle Loch initially and a week later in the Slains area. Not seen since that later sighting I believe. ID (hybrids always a problem) confirmed with good views plumage features  including white auxillaries and the bill pattern was pure American.
Some weeks before this there was a very late Whinchat (again) at Meikle from the 16th November, with it still present till the 7th December though the first real cold snap seems to have moved it on.

On Slain Pools

Sam and Rosie's Bean Geese were still present until just before Christmas, with one reported today.

Today otherwise saw less of immediate interest on the patch, though a fine sight on Meikle with most of it frozen ,under blue skies,  and groups of wildfowl trying to ice skate intermittently.

Further afield  in the region I see a Harlequin has been found in Seaton park, Aberdeen, though news did not emerge until after dark today. Hopefully still present in the days to come as this is the first record for North-east Scotland.

Whooper Swans 24.12.14

Whinchat, Meikle Loch Dec 2014

14 Bean Geese, nr Collieston

Meikle Loch 4.1.15

Hard weather birding

The continuing cold spell produced a couple of nice sightings today, the best of which was a beautiful little flock of nine Tundra Bean Geese. These were feeding in the potato field by the crossroads at around 2pm this afternoon, before flying off southwards. Here's hoping that this marks the start of another influx of these handsome geese.

Of local interest was a Kingfisher on the Ythan Estuary; also there were a pair of Pintail among swollen numbers of Mallard, which have presumably been frozen off their usual freshwater haunts. A fine day to be in the field.

Another white-winged encounter

Another all-too-brief sighting of a 'white' gull at Collieston harbour this afternoon, apparently a different individual to the one seen at the end of November.

Photos reproduced below, courtesy of Rosie. Once again, comments are welcome. Enjoy!

 

Waifs and strays

A few oddities around today, with the first being a Greenland White-fronted Goose in the Cotehill Loch area this morning. This bird, an adult, was with a party of five Greylags and was last seen alighting in fields just north of the Collieston crossroads; sadly they landed out of view from where I was watching.

Shortly afterwards, three Crossbills flying south over the Forvie Centre just before midday were somewhat unexpected, and the first ones I've seen on the patch for some time.

Finally, Rosie and I very nearly ran over a Jack Snipe(!) in the road at Little Collieston at dusk - thankfully it took off just in time and flew through the beam of the car headlights, heading over the Smiddy bushes before disappearing into the dark. Would have been a very unfortunate addition to the 'roadkill list'.

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!