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AUCHMITHIE

Auchmithie [Gaelic origin : Auchmuthy, meaning 'field of the cowherd] is a small village perched upon red sandstone cliffs, north of Arbroath.

Did a scouting trip there for first time on April 17, 2025, as had read of puffin [Fratercula arctica] to be seen, and hadn't realised they were in my near area.

Puffin appear late April until August but throughout that period I did not see any​

Above left is the Deil's Heid, a rocky stack south of Auchmithie. Below left is Maw Skelly ['maw' is mouth and 'skelly' may be corruption of 'skerry' a rock formation], north of Auchmithie. Above and below right is Lud Castle, site of Iron Age fort but nothing survives. Stand here to take photos of birds beside Lud Castle sea cave [top right]. Close to the birds but doesn't look it by photo

TREE PIPIT [Anthus trivialis]​

Says Google photo search. May 30, 2026

KESTREL [Falco tinnunculus]

Leg seems ringed. June 12, 2025, as it viewed birds on rocky cliff

PUFFIN​ [Fratercula arctica]

July 5, 2026, on a misty day

ROCK /  FERAL PIGEON [Columba livia]

July 5, 2025

FULMAR

[Fulmaris glacialis]

Shows its strange tube-like beak. June 12, 2025

SHAG

[Phalacrocorax aristotelis]

In breeding foliage of head crest and showing yellow in beak. It's similar to a cormorant [see Balgavies Loch section]

May 1, 2025, at Lud Castle

COMMON GUILLEMOT / MURRE

[Uria aaige]

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May 1, 2025, at Lud Castle​

RAZORBILL ​[Alca torda]​

May 10, 2026

KITTIWAKE [Rissa tridactyla]​

Left : Adult, yellow billed, June 12, 2025. Right : Juvenile, black billed with first-year plumage. August 10, 2025

HOUSE SPARROW [Passer domesticus] May 1, 2025

Left is male, May 1, 2025, and right either female or juvenile, June 14, 2026

HERRING GULL [Larus argentatus]​

Left - Adult with chick, June 12, 2025

herring gull.JPG
herring gull juve.JPG

HERRING GULL [Larus argentatus]

​Adult, left, May 2020, centre is youngster on July 5, 2025, and juvenile, right, with black beak, on August 5, 2020.

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