π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Sunday 27th August 2023 π€️18C ~ Wind NW @ 6MPH ~ To end an excellent week Dazza and I took a drive out to the Ythan at Newburgh before enjoying a traditional late Sunday roast at the Newburgh Arms.
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| One of many juvenile Razorbills. |
Arriving a few hours after high tide we began at the boathouse and walked to the estuary mouth. There were numerous
Guillemots and
Razorbills being carried by the tide and an abundance of
Common,
Arctic, and
Sandwich Terns were diving for fish. The usual selection of young and adult
Eider Duck and offshore
Gannets,
Gulls,
Shags and
Cormorants and a distant haul out of
Grey Seals. A heartwarming sight after seeing so many dead birds along this stretch of coast recently due to avian flu!
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| Lots of Guillemots today ~ A great sight after recent sad events along the northeast coast. |
Of course, where there are many terns feeding young there is always an opportunity for skuas and today at least a half dozen
Arctic Skuas were constantly harassing them.
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| A light-phase Arctic Skua patrols the sandbank at the Ythan mouth. |
A few light-phase
Arctic Skuas in the mix today, plus a single
Great Skua (Bonxie) made a brief appearance. An excellent 'golden hour' along the beautiful Ythan River.
A Selection of my Arctic Skuas images...
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| Light-phase |
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| Even Skua's need to poop! |
