Wildlife Bits and Pieces 6th-12th August 2012

Better weather (in the main) helped ensure we were more likely to get up off our backsides (Olympics apart) and the last week has seen trips to St Cyrus, Girdleness, Fowlsheugh and the Muir of Dinnet.
Minke whale sighting from Girdleness was a highlight as was the common lizard seen at Muir of Dinnet today.
In order then, on Tuesday, St Cyrus had a few butterflies about but mainly meadow brown and green veined white. Birds were few and far between but a family group of sedge warblers gave me a chance of a photo, also juvenile robin and whitethroat in the area.

Meadow Brown

Meadow Brown

Sedge Warbler

The sedge warbler (sedgy) is usually heard before being seen...it makes a right racket...cracking wee birds though and always welcome when you hear the first of the year which i usually about the end of April.
Amazing to think they all try to winter in Africa and are usually all gone by mid October.

A fairly common day flying moth in coastal areas in NE Scotland habitat is the six spot burnet moth...quite a looker if you decide to get close to one

Six Spot Burnet Moth (Photographed at Fowlsheugh)

Fowlsheugh on Friday night had a few butterfly about - meadow brown, whites and common blue as well as many burnet moths. Highlight though was being alerted to the sound of a dolphin coming up for air about 100 yards offshore. After sitting a fair while it was evident there were a few bottle nosed dolphins in the area as well as porpoise in a distinct group away from the dolphins. Quite a few gannet mainly flying North and relatively close in for this site but the cliffs were almost empty, another breeding season over till 2013...here's hoping it's better next year as the wet summer will almost certainly have had a negative impact on breeding success this year.

Despite the abundance of rabbits in the UK, I never find it easy photographing them (why would anybody bother?), anyway this young fella at Fowlsheugh is putting 100% faith in his camouflage...don't think he'll see his first birthday!

The rabbit above is about two feet from a burrow but what about this critter below...bit of a des res...this guy was again photographed at Fowlsheugh. I am a bit lacking in spider knowledge but it may be from the group of  Running Foliage spiders. Check section 12 on the provided link.
In the faint hope this blog is read by more than 2 people any help on ID'ing very welcome!

Away from the terror that sits lurking at Fowlsheugh decide on a Sunday trip to Muir of Dinnet which has been a favourite haunt for many a year, maybe started off with primary school trips to the Burn o' Vat!
En route and about 2 miles East of Aboyne we have 2 red kite flying over followed by about 10 buzzard. Almost like being abroad and watching raptor migration. Pics taken but just a poor record shot:

Red Kite (near Aboyne 12th August 2012)

Butterflies at Dinnet included ringlet, small heath and masses (well probably a 100 anyway) of Scotch Argus. We had an osprey overhead later followed by a kestrel trying to chase off a buzzard. Other birds seen included around 5 jays, plenty willow warbler, treecreeper, goldcrest and the usual suspects.
Had a good sighting of a mouse poking out from a hole in an old stone wall and 5 feet to the right a common lizard appeared for a few seconds but not long enough for me get a pic! 

Scotch Argus (Muir of Dinnet NNR)

 

 

Slightly easier to capture was this stunning black darter. This is the female and looks like a different species from the black male.

Black Darter ( Muir of Dinnet)

female Black Darter

Hoof Fungus (Muir of Dinnet)

Ringlet (this one's had a hectic life!)