A seabird day (mostly)

Had a very enjoyable trip on the Gemini Explorer out of Buckie harbour this afternoon. Seeing the coast between Buckie and Cullen from the sea gave a different perspective from the land side. No mammals were seen apart from Grey Seals but plenty of birds were around including Fulmar, Shag, Gannet, Razorbill, Guillemot and Black Guillemot. 

The latter species (three birds flying incredibly close to the boat) was actually the only new one of the day after a really fantastic early morning visit to RSPB Troup Head. Arrived there at 6am and had the place to myself for the next three hours. Most notable birds were,of course, the nesting seabirds with Gannets, Kittiwakes (both with many large chick), Guillemots, Razorbills and Herring Gulls particularly abundant. The smell of the occupied cliff faces was quite pungent and the noise particularly memorable. 

Scattered amongst the common species were a number of others including Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Shag, a single Cormorant, other large gulls and a singing Wren. A family of Ravens kept up an itermittant croaking with one of the adults circling me repeatedly, no doubt to check I wasn't a threat to the three juveniles milling about. A Peregrine caught sight of me and took off out to sea, scolding angrily. A Great Skua was on the sea at the base of the cliffs and up to four others were patrolling the cliffs and harrying the incoming auks. Particularly notable however was a dark-phase Arctic Skua which drifted past, a little further out. Puffins took a bit of finding but eventually at least five were seen flying in, their white faces and red bill-markings proving useful field marks.

As well as the seabird colony, the site provided a very satisfying suite of land birds just behind the cliffs. A single Corn Bunting was singing strongly from various exposed perches. More abundant were Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Yellowhammer, with House Sparrows and Starlings around the farm buildings and a Reed Bunting beside the access road. Up to ten Yellowhammers (a post-breeding flock?) were with four Pied Wagtails in a sheep field. Add in Burnet Moths and numerous butterflies (blues, browns and fritillaries) and a wonderfully overwhelming wildlife experience was had. Just a pity that no Stonechats were present (the clifftop gorse looks ideal for them). 

The late afternoon was spent in Elgin. A female Tufted Duck had a brood of four young on Cooper Park pond and a female Mallard had three tiny young on the adjacent river. Also there, and a big surprise, was a feeding Dipper. The day end on the shore at Portgordon with more Grey Seals accompanied by singing Whitethroat and Corn Bunting.