Scotland the Brave - Part III

Additionally, we had also recorded among others
Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch, House Sparrow, Canada Goose,
Feral Pigeon (if you count such things), Cormorant, Wren, Lapwing, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch,
Coal Tit, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Greylag Geese, Moorhen et al.
Our destination on the day was to be the edifice that is

 perched squarely almost at the western end of the southern coastline of the

MORAY FIRTH

in the hope of what might eventually become the likely contender for

Bird of the Trip

 Whatever, the day had started very well with the addition of

HOODED CROW

 to both the Year and Trip List and additionally

COMMON GULL

 YELLOWHAMMER

 a redundant (stacked)

SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE OIL RIG
to be joined in the very near future by the
OIL PRODUCTION PLATFORM BUCHAN ALPHA
where the last 18 years of my 48 were spent prior to retirement!

 Another seemingly destined for some action with a Supply Boat alongside

and a Tanker not far away and small parties of

GOLDEN PLOVER

 were also recorded.

A longish sea watch didn't produce the target bird, a long staying

King Eider

which unfortunately, even after a further visit it didn't show itself

even though it was reported on a number of occasions.

 After a number of 

RED-THROATED DIVER

(mostly in 'summer plumage', in flight and at quite some distance)

 had past the headland we decided to move further east along this ever changing

and interesting coastline ending up at the tiny and not displeasing fishing village of

PORTKNOCKIE

 (familiar as home to some of my old Oil Rig colleagues)

 but more importantly

 with

 Natural Sea Arch

and

 Rocky Shoreline.

 Only a small Seabird Colony here but certainly enough to keep us both

well entertained for quite some time!

 

FULMAR

RAZORBILL

KITTIWAKE

Dave taking it all in!

EIDER
we'll see plenty more of them later.

SHAGs on nest with RAZORBILLs

SHAG

SHAG and RAZORBILL

 

BLACK GUILLEMOT

Entry	Pageviews
United States	802
United Kingdom	319
France	90
Venezuela	82
Germany	53
Estonia	18
China	15
Italy	13
Ireland	12
New Zealand	11