Swans Nesting

For some years now mute swans have nested amongst the rushes on the small island in Birnie Loch and it looks as if they are going to do the same again this year.

Normally only one pair of swans nest on one stretch of water and the male defends the territory.

There were also a number of black-headed gulls, tufted ducks, pink-footed geese and the ever present mallards.

A pair of tufted ducks.

A pink-footed goose

Long-tailed Duck

A male long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) swimming off the pier at Lower Largo. This is the first time that I had seen this duck but it is quite unmistakable with its black and white colouring and long pointed tail which is 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long . The bill is dark grey crossed by a deep pink band.

The long-tailed duck in the foreground with a black-headed gull above.

Long-tailed duck, two black-headed gulls and on the rocks opposite the pier oyster-catchers and two herring gulls.

A Gulp of Cormorants

There are quite often a few cormorants sitting on the rocks opposite Lower largo Pier, but yesterday there were a lot more than usual. I looked up the collective noun for cormorants and found two - a flight (but these weren't in flight) and a gulp which I rather liked..

Some of the cormorants were in the water suddenly diving out of sight.

At the other end of the rocky outcrop one cormorant spreading its wings also some gulls and oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers at the End of the Pier

At high tide this afternoon, oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) resting on the crumbling pier at Lower Largo. They were mostly all facing the same direction and many were sleeping.

At the back of the group of oystercatchers there were also few a black-headed gulls, a curlew with its long curved beak and a sleeping eider duck.  

Guillemots, Razorbills and Others

A colony of guillemots on the Isle of May.

Guillemots (Uria aalge) and razorbills (Alca torda) are both members of the auk family. The easiest way to tell them apart is by the shape of the bill, the guillemot has a pointed bill and the razorbill a shorter flatter bill crossed by a white line. Both are present in this photo, two razorbills bottom left, guillemots top and right.

Lesser black-backed gull and two chicks. These gulls are voracious  predators. Special measures using garden canes and tiny wooden tents have been introduced into the tern breeding areas to protect the eggs and chicks from these gulls.

Lesser black-backed gull nesting.

Eider ducks nesting.

Nesting shags taken on a previous visit to the Isle of May some years ago. Beautiful dark green sheen on the feathers, bright yellow patch on each side of the bill and a crest of feathers on top of the head, distinguish the shag from the cormorant.

Kittewakes nesting on the rocks opposite.

Dive-Bombing Terns

Arriving at Kirkhaven on the Isle of May, have to run the gauntlet of the arctic terns to get to the new visitor centre. They are ground nesting birds and protect their eggs and chicks by dive-bombing all comers. A hat is essential!!

Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) perching on the fence in front of the visitor centre.

Two tern chicks peek out from under a little wooden tent. These have been erected to protect the chicks from predating gulls. Garden canes have also been stuck into the site to deter the gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Have seen lesser black-baked gulls (Larus fuscus) near the pier at Lower Largo, but never as close as this one on the wall at the terrace on top of the National Museum in Edinburgh.The bright yellow legs differentiate it from the great black-backed gull (Larus marinus).

Seagulls Wheeling

Seagulls wheeling over the end of the pier at Lower Largo and the rocks opposite.

Standing on the pier and looking at the scene, with the waves crashing in and a strong wind blowing, I remembered a couple of lines from the poem 'Sea Fever'.

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
John Masefield

Herring and black-headed gulls sitting at the end of the pier.

Gull with Razor Clam

A gull attempting to open a razor clam as his companion looks on. As we got closer it flew off to the safety of the rocks with its prize.

After the Deluge

Debris in the Keil Burn in Lundin Links after heavy rain swamped the East Coast of Scotland last night.

Reflections in a flooded field.

 Gulls alight in the lake that has formed at the bottom of a flooded field between Upper Largo and Lundin Links.

 Flooding on the road between Lundin Links and Upper Largo.

Flooding in the fields and on the road.

The Largo Burn in Spate in the Serpentine Walk.

Foam covers the beach at Lower Largo

Three boats swamped at Lower Largo harbour.

High Tide on the Rocks

With high tide approaching sea birds congregeate on the rocks opposite Lower Largo Pier. Here there are cormorants including a juvenile with a white breast also herring gulls and a greatblack-backed gull.

After the Rain

After the torrential rain yesterday a beautiful afternoon. Black-headed gulls were enjoying the small lake that had formed in the flooded field which runs along the road between Upper Largo and Lundin Links. Largo Law is in the background.