TAYSIDE
TOADSTOOLS & BIRDS
My voice / Becomes the wind / Mushroom-hunting . . . . . . . . . 19th century haiku by Japanese poet MASAOKA SHIKI [1867-1902]
THE LURGIES IS AN INLET FED BY A RIVER AND HAS MUDBANKS BORDERED BY TREE/SHRUB PATH
GREY SEAL [Halichoerus grypus] CHASED FISH INTO SHALLOWS - BUT FAILED. NOV. 6, 2024
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER [Mergus serrator]
Female with brood of six chicks [only five in photo] on August 3, 2022
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER [Mergus serrator]
Left - Male, January 30, 2025. Right - Female, May 9, 2025, probably
MERGANSER / GOOSANDER [Mergus merganser]
Male at Balgavies Loch on December 6, 2020, with immaculte-looking female showing hooked bill at Lurgies on July 29, 2020
COMMON GULL [Larus canus]
September 28, 2020
HERRING GULL [Larus argentatus]
Adult, above left, May 2020, and juvenile, right, on August 5, 2020
BLACK-HEADED GULL [Chroicocephalus ridibundus]
Left - black-headed summer plumage, April 1, 2021; centre - winter plumage with smudge. October 17, 2020; right - juvenile [note dark head coming in]. July 5, 2024
EIDER DUCK [Somateria mollissima]
Left is female on April 24, 2021. Centre is a juvenile male on August 3, 2020. Left is adult male on April 19, 2021
RUFF [Calidris pugnax / Philomachus pugnax]
Left is part of a group of eight on August 17, 2023. Right is a lone bird on September 24, 2022
GREEN SANDPIPER [Tringa ochropus]
September 1, 2023
CANADA GOOSE
[Branta canadensis]
Above was part of a large flock on September 29, 2021.
Saw three on January 28, 2023 - unusual to see them at that time
SHELDUCK [Tadorna tadorna]
Right side photo showing green speculum feather on April 1, 2021, while left photo is a group of male [bump on bill] and a female [right] on April 13, 2021
TEAL [Anas crecca]
Above - Male [left] with green head panel and female [right] on April 2, 2021.
KINGFISHER [Alcedo atthis]
Right - Murky day on November 6, 2024, with colourless sky reflected in calm sea
RINGED PLOVER [Charadrius hiaticula]
Left is juvenile on September 7, 2024, and right is a 20+ flock on May 22, 2021
RINGED PLOVER [Charadrius hiaticula] [left] and DUNLIN [Caladris alpina-summer plumage]. June 21, 2021
GREENSHANK [Tringa nebularia]
September 3, 2022
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT [Limosa limosa]
Above : December 12, 2021 [winter plumage]. Right : September 25, 2024 {summer plumage]
GREAT EGRET [Ardea alba]
September 28, 2021
LITTLE EGRET [Egretta garzetta]
February 3, 2022, shows yellow feet
LAPWING / PEEWIT [Vanellus vanellus]
Iridescent plumage. June 24, 2024
LAPWING / PEEWIT [Vanellus vanellus]
Above is part of a 50+ flock on November 8, 2021