🌤 15C Monday 22nd August 2022 ~ With Dazza on the early flight to Birmingham from Aberdeen, it was a good opportunity to head up the coast once I'd dropped her off. Having watched a stunning sunrise on route to Rattray it was well up when I arrived, having stopped at MacDonalds Peterhead for an egg McMuffin breakfast.
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| First Wheatear of the day! |
The first species of note as I arrived at the cottages car park was a
Wheatear, which flew up onto the fence as I was parking up. Little did I know at this point that this would be one of at least 30 seen today! By the time I'd checked out the bushes and trees around the cottages, I'd already registered five.
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| Yet another Wheatear as I made my way down to the shoreline. |
The walk down to the shoreline and lighthouse held more birds and when I finally reached the shoreline 4 were perched up along the rocky outcrop. There was yet more down on the beach!!
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| One of 4 Wheatear's as I reached the shoreline |
The sea was particularly calm and there must have been a fish shoal just offshore as the
Shags &
Cormorants were enjoying a feeding frenzy, along with several diving
Gannets, some of which I'm pleased to say were juveniles. Sea watching was challenging due to the strong sunshine but apart from the many Gulls, there was little passage. On the water
Eider,
Guillemots and the odd
Razorbill.
Sand Martin,
House Martin &
Swallow were all recorded and as this is just down the coast from yesterday's
Greater Sand Plover (not seen today) I did spend a little time checking out the
Sanderling,
Ringed Plover and
Dunlin but to no avail.
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| No prizes for guessing ~ Yet another wonderful Wheatear on the beach. |
On route back to the car I checked out around 50/60
Golden Plover on the now dry pasture for anything interesting but nothing of note.
Meadow Pipit,
Stonechat and
Buzzard were also noted, along with many
Linnets.
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| One of four Osprey at Strathbeg today. |
A short visit to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg for a look at Starnafin Pools and here the highlights were (4)
Osprey, (3)
Marsh Harrier and a
Peregrine, which hunted twice unsuccessfully over the pools. Waders included (30+)
Lapwing (18)
Ruff, (7)
Dunlin, (11)
Snipe, (3)
Greenshank and a single
Wood Sandpiper.
Other Images of the Day...
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| Stonechat ~ Rattray car park |
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| Osprey ~ Strathbeg |
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| Dashcam Sunrise |
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| Rattray this morning |
NEW Scottish Life-List Since Relocating Permanently to Aberdeenshire in October 2020
