Signs of spring

No spring arrivals to report quite yet. Having said that many birds are in song now with the advent of brighter, longer days. The 3rd Winter Iceland Gull reappeared at the weekend after a long absence, still showing the suggestions of grey markings in the primaries, though very subtle.

Increasing numbers of Red-throated Diver off Cransdale with a brief count at around 30 birds on Sunday, and also Long-tailed ducks scattered liberally around including a few spectacular males.
No sign of the Ring-necked Duck on Meikle Loch for some weeks now.

3W Iceland Gull, Cransdale, Collieston

Skies on fire

Best showing of the Aurora for a  few years I guess. Spectacular...

Surf and Gulls

The weekend saw very few Gulls off Collieston on Saturday, which resulted in a trip to Peterhead. A single adult Little Gull there was the highlight. The contrast with today was striking with the powerful southerly gale and high seas overnight  bringing hundreds of mixed Gulls just offshore Cransdale in particular. There were at least 3 different Little Gulls with this mob, but perhaps as many as 5. Good numbers of Kittiwake also were notable as well as many continental Herring gull, argentatus. No Iceland Gulls now were to be seen in this feeding frenzy on the storm washed debris.
The drake Ring-necked Duck once again was showing on Meikle loch, now being in more or less full adult plumage.There was small arrival of Fieldfare into Collieston today and a number of Woodcock were reported further up the coast, indicating a bit of bird movement otherwise.

Little Gull, Peterhead 1.2.14

High seas, Boddam

Kittiwakes, Peterhead Harbour 1.2.14

Feeding Gulls, Cransdale 2.2.14

argentatus Herring Gull, Cransdale

Fieldfare, Sand loch, picture R. Leuchers

Ring-necked Duck still.

Again far fewer larger Gulls in the Cransdale area today, though a dozen Kittiwake showed well feeding close inshore. The 3W Iceland Gull is still present.

On Meikle loch the drake Ring-necked Duck is gradually coming into full adult plumage whilst there remains a Long-tailed Duck there as well. A good few hundred Teal and Wigeon on the loch, with more scattered around the various local pools in the Slains area.

Late weekend

Gull activity was much reduced around Cransdale and the harbour this weekend with far less wind to drive in debris.
Still at least one Iceland Gull in the area, the 3rd Winter. A 1st year Little Gull on Saturday morning gradually moving north was a little unusual for the time of year. There remain a few small groups of Common Scoter in the area, and the single Velvet Scoter was still present.

Meikle Loch's Ring-necked Duck was a constant feature this weekend, as was at least one Long-tailed Duck.

Eye of the Storms

A break in the wild seas today, but the winds getting up again this evening. Fewer gulls to be seen at Cransdale as a result, but a number of groups of Common Scoter along the coastline locally, with the group off Cransdale holding a single Velvet Scoter (HEM).
A few Red-throated Diver predictably off the head and Long-tailed Duck passing through.

3W Iceland Gull, Cransdale Head, 2.1.14

Cransdale Gull, 2.1.14

Cransdale Head, looking south, 2.1.14

A few more pictures above of the 3rd winter Iceland gull and the gull of more uncertain parentage from the 2nd.

Happy New Year and an Interesting Gull.

The end of the old year and beginning of the new brought in an interesting gull to accompany the two Icelands already present in the Cransdale area. Perhaps the bird called up as a 2nd Year Kumlien's Gull on the 28th, it was seen again first light on the 31st and showed all day at Cransdale today.
When initially seen again Thayer's Gull certainly came to mind, but on further scrutiny and discussion (PAAB, CNG, PB et al) evident that with its essentially pallid primaries for one thing this is not possible. CNG states that, based on the photos, it could after all be an atypical Kumlien's, or some sort of intergrade.
A very striking bird.
The two Iceland Gulls were still present off an on today in the same area.

Happy New Year!