Aberdeenshire Bird Tours (2025)

01/07/2025

Kaz’s post about her trip on Friday - definitely more descriptive and evocative than my efforts!

01/07/2025

Another busy weekend, with a couple of client trips and some other outings, taking advantage of the nice weather, even if it was a little blustery at times.

On Friday I had the pleasure of guiding Kaz Cooke, an Australian author, around our area, and in particular to see Puffins at the Bullers of Buchan. We headed out of Aberdeen in the sunshine and soon reached the Bullers, where we walked to the south of the cottages, and soon saw a single Puffin on the opposite cliff face, the first I’ve seen there this season. We continued along the path, stopping to get great views along the north-facing cliff area, with at least 8 birds out on the ledges. We then finished at what I’m now describing as an amphitheatre, where we got within a couple of metres of the Puffins on the cliffs - quite a sight. After looking at some of the other seabird species around the cliffs, we then headed to Cruden Bay, where Kaz kindly bought me a coffee and cake, and we looked out across the sunny sandy bay. Kaz also wrote a post about the outing, which captured the morning really well - I’ll see if I can share it on another post.

On Saturday I carried out my last BTO Breeding Bird Survey of the season just north of Newmachar. An early start (5:20am) and there was a bit of a breeze, but pretty warm overall. Not a huge amount different from normal, but a few Swifts seen flying south were the first record in the 6 years I’ve been covering the square. Plenty of Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Linnets, with a few Roe Deer around the second half of the walk, and good numbers of singing warblers, including Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Then on Sunday we had the latest RSPB outing, this time to the Ythan Estuary. One of the warmer outings of recent times, and the birds put on a good show. We walked out to the viewing platform, where the Eiders were lounging around on the far bank, and the terns put on a great show of fishing in front of us. We saw Common, Arctic, Sandwich and Little Terns, which were the 4 target species. Goosanders were on the far bank, and as we walked upstream we saw a small flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover on the shingle, and a few Knot on the riverbank below the tin hut. Curlews were feeding on the mud flats, and Shelduck and Mallard were around the Foveran Burn mouth. As we walked back around the golf course we saw a few smaller species, including Willow Warbler, Goldcrest and Meadow Pipit, before returning to the car park. A lovely morning out.

Finally, yesterday I was please to show Jay and Dina Eisenberg, visitors from Washington State, around the area. We had a slight change of plan early on and ended up heading north from Aberdeen, up the coast, and it turned out to be a cracking day out. The Ythan held a lot of similar species to the day before, with all the tern species seen again. We also bumped into the Dunlin and Ringer Plovers, but no sign of any Knot. However we did see around 30 summer plumage Golden Plover on the mud beside Inch Road, which I assume had just arrived, as we didn’t spot them anywhere on the Sunday outing. A nice bonus for the trip. After completing the loop of the golf course, we stopped at the Snub car park, where Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Lapwing and lots of Redshank were seen. The mud was covered in Black-headed Gulls, both adults and juveniles, and we also saw Cormorant, Goldeneye and Teal. A Yellowhammer constantly sung from the bushes in the car park.

We then moved round to Waulkmill, where many of the same species were seen, but we also saw a couple of Wigeon on the mud amongst the Teal and Mallards.

A stop to get sandwiches followed, before reaching the Bullers of Buchan. The Puffins put on an excellent show again, with about a dozen people watching them from close range - we were pleased to help out some with views through the telescope. S**g, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake and Fulmar were all present, and we spotted a few Gannets passing, their white wings shining brightly in the sunlight. Goldfinches were feeding on the seedheads on the way back to the car park, and a Reed Bunting flew past.

We very briefly stopped at the lay by just south of Boddam to confirm you can actually see Puffins from the main road (!) before reaching Strathbeg. We spent our time around the visitor centre, with views of Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch and Great Tit on the feeders, and plenty of birds on the ponds out the front of the VC. Lots of Lapwings, and some stunning summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits were soon spotted, as well as a single Little Ringed Plover. Tufted Duck, Shelduck and Mute Swan all had youngsters in tow, and I got a brief view of an Osprey and March Harrier in the distance.

Time was flying by, but we added Corn Bunting on the wires as we left the reserve and then we had a final stop at Lake of Pitfour for a quick walk. Chiffchaff were singing and Little Grebes with 4 young were on the first bit of water we reached, with the young diving to avoid us, surfacing further out towards the centre of the pool. Redpolls were heard and seen, with an Osprey flying overhead a great bonus. At the main lake we saw Moorhen, Mute Swan and hundreds of Greylag Geese, with a single Canada Goose in the flock. Almost our final bird was mis-identified by me to start with - I called out Sparrowhawk as a bird flew across the open felled area, but soon realised it was a Cuckoo - an unexpected bonus for the day. We returned to the car and headed back to Aberdeen, adding Kestrel along the way. Thanks to Jay and Dina for their excellent company yesterday, and I hope your trip to the Northern Isles goes well.

A couple more scheduled trips over the next couple of weeks, so we will see what they bring.

24/06/2025

I had a couple of trips out at the beginning and end of last weekend, in fairly contrasting weather conditions! Plenty of birds to be seen on both outings though.

On Friday, on our hottest day of the year so far, I was joined by David and Miranda, visitors from London, for a trip out to target Puffins firstly, and then see what else we could add. We headed straight for the Bullers of Buchan and were lucky to see the Puffins up close on the cliffs. The sun was shining, there wasn’t much wind and it was a lovely day to be out. The other birds put on a great show, with Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars and Kittiwakes all in good numbers. We spotted some Guillemot chicks, and also a couple of well grown S**g chicks on the cliffs.

After enjoying the birds, and the sun, for a while, we headed south to the Ythan Estuary, spotting an Osprey on the way, where hundreds of Eiders were loafing about on the shore, and a few hundred Grey Seals were hauled out near the mouth. The terns put on a good show, with Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns all spotted, and a distant Little Tern seen from the tin hut. A small flock of Knot were on the shore, and as we walked back to the car we had Willow Warbler, Linnet, and Yellowhammer amongst the gorse bushes. Then it was just time to drop David and Miranda back at the hotel before heading home.

Yesterday I was out with Margo, Janet, Tony and Diana, who were away to head to Shetland on a week long birdwatching trip, but found themselves with a little extra time in Aberdeen due to a change in flight times. I was happy I was able to sort out a last minute trip for them, and the birds played ball as well. The weather was a bit grey to start with, and got increasingly windy, but we still saw quite a lot. First stop was my back garden, for Tree Sparrow, Siskin, Greenfinch and a few other garden birds, as Tree Sparrows aren’t a species they see in Surrey these days. We then jumped in the car and made for the Ythan, where Eiders and Goosanders were on the bank, and a few seals were in the channel. We soon spotted all four tern species, with a Little Tern passing us closely along the shore. Hundreds of birds were feeding over the water, which was quite spectacular. Sand Martins were whizzing in and out of their burrows and we saw a small flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the shingle as the tide came in. A larger flock of Oystercatcher were opposite the tin hut, and a few Curlew were about.

We then grabbed some lunch and headed for the Bullers, where we tried to find some shelter from the wind! The birds were enjoying the conditions, and we saw plenty of birds up close, including some Puffins. The Fulmars were certainly practicing their acrobatics in the updrafts.

We headed back south afterwards, with a quick stop overlooking Cotehill, where we added Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck and then back to the house where luggage was sorted before the taxi to the ferry.

Two really enjoyable days out, so thanks to David, Miranda, Margo, Diana, Tony and Janet for their company.

Another trip booked in for next Monday, this time inland, so will see what that brings.

17/06/2025

After a non-birding weekend I had a very enjoyable trip out this morning with Anna Wood, who is visiting the area on holiday. We ended up just outside Aberdeenshire, visiting Glen Esk in search of woodland and upland birds. Our time was slightly limited but we managed to fit in some good stops along the way.

We started in Johnshaven and headed inland past Edzell and along the start of the Glen Esk road. Our first birds along the Glen were some Mistle Thrush, with an adult feeding a youngster right next to the road. We got excellent views, as the youngster perched on a wall at the side of the road, with the adult collecting insects near by. A little further on we saw what looked like another family party, as well as some Long-tailed T**s.

Our first proper stop was near the river Esk, and we sat on a small bench at a bend on the river scanning for our first target of Common Sandpiper. Oystercatchers were nearby, Mallard were on the river and dozens of House and Sand Martins were feeding above the water. A Sparrowhawk and Lapwing flew over, and then we heard, and then saw, a Common Sandpiper fly upstream a bit, landing on a rock in the middle of the river. We got decent scope views of it.

A little further on we stopped when we heard a Siskin calling, and were rewarded with a great view of a Spotted Flycatcher on some overhead wires. Another target for the day ticked off. I think there was likely a family party of the birds, as there seemed to be 3-4 in quite a small area.

As we drove we could hear Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff calling, and as we started to leave the main wooded area we saw a Curlew flying overhead, which subsequently landed on top of a telegraph pole. It gave good views, and it sounded like it might have had young in the field next to the road.

Out next stop was at a Sand Martin colony next to the road. As we stopped I heard a Tree Pipit singing, but we couldn’t spot it, but we had excellent views of another Spotted Flycatcher and also heard a Cuckoo in the distance. We turned around and stopped a bit further down the road, which allowed us to see the Tree Pipit do it’s display parachute flight. And another Spotted Flycatcher was seen!

Although we were now making our way back we managed a couple of brief stops. Checking the initial river site, we didn’t see the Common Sandpiper again, but did get a brief view of a Kingfisher and a Kestrel overhead.

And then as we left the Glen we saw a Buzzard over the road, closely followed by an Osprey at the other side of the road.

We headed back cross country, seeing Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Yellowhammer.

It was a really pleasant morning, and I enjoyed the “birding by car”. Thanks to Anna for her company.

On the way home I saw another 2 Kestrel over the roadside verges, and another one when I went out tonight, which is the most I’ve seen in years. And a Grey Partridge was standing at the side of the main road just as I left the AWPR - an added bonus.

A lack of photos today, but Anna will hopefully be able to send through some of her ones when she gets home.

13/06/2025

It’s been a busier birding week than originally planned, with a few quick trips out, and a RSPB outing as well. And to top things off, a couple of lifers for me as well.

On Wednesday I was just finishing my chores when a report of a Broad-billed Sandpiper at the Ythan came out on the local news groups. I headed out to the Waulkmill hide and soon found a large group of waders on the far shore, but it was difficult to pick out the bird. Luckily a couple of other birders arrived and one of them spotted the bird a bit further upstream, meaning I got to see it. A bit distant, but you could see some of the plumage differences through the scope, and following the American Golden Plover last week, my second lifer of the month. There were plenty of other birds out on the mud, including a few very late Pink-footed Geese and an Osprey, constantly being harassed by gulls and terns, but seemingly happy to ignore them whilst it perched on a log.

Then yesterday was a fairly similar pattern, but this time the bird was a Bridled Tern (another lifer), and it was at the Ythan ternery. A species only seen twice before in the North-east, the wardens of Forvie NNR found it in the ternery amongst thousands of other birds when they were doing a census. I headed out to the Tin hut and got a very brief glimpse of the bird before it disappeared for a while. We think it likely headed out to sea to do some fishing as it reappeared from that direction about 30 minutes later and gave great views as it flew back and forth over the ternery. Quite a few other birders had come to see it, so an almost constant commentary of its movements was needed so everyone got onto it. A five tern species day, with quite a few Little Terns about as well, which was good to see.

Then last night the local RSPB group headed to the Bullers of Buchan to see the seabirds, including the Puffins. Conditions were sunny but fairly windy, so there was a definite chill when you were standing about. We got great views of 20+ Puffins and the other birds put on a superb show, particularly the Fulmars and Kittiwakes hanging in the updrafts. To top things off, we then headed to Ellon for fish and chips beside the river, with Swifts heard overhead, and families of Mallard and Moorhen on the river itself. A lovely way to round off a good day.

Busy with non-birding activities this weekend, but a couple of trips booked for next week, which I’m looking forward to.

Thanks to Keith Yates and Pete Winn for the photos.

09/06/2025

Just back from a slightly damp evening at the Bullers of Buchan, taking Jean and Ian Gray, who got a gift voucher from their son, to see the Puffins.

The weather at least wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and by the end the rain had almost gone off.

We headed to the south of the area, and soon saw a few Puffins along the cliff top, with constant comings and goings as birds flew onto the cliffs, with a few disappearing into their burrows. We spent a while watching them, before moving round the cliffs a bit, and getting a bit closer to some other Puffins, with at least 15-20 dotted about the cliffs. We got great views of the birds outside their burrows and, again, there were plenty flying back and forth. Ian thought he spotted one landing with some food in its beak, but it disappeared into its burrow before we could get a close look.

We spent almost an hour watching the birds, as well as getting good views of Razorbill, Guillemots, Fulmar and Kittiwake, amongst other species.

Thanks to Jean and Ian for their company, and I’m glad to report they enjoyed the trip out.

06/06/2025

A fairly blustery week weather-wise and not really that warm, but I’ve made it out a couple of times for a look around.

On Tuesday I nipped out to the Ythan as there had been an American Golden Plover reported near Waulkmill. I’d missed that species a couple of times in the winter, and it would be a lifer for me. Got to the snub car park and didn’t hold out much hope, as the tide was coming in rapidly, but the bird was down in the corner on the mud - my first lifer for 2025 and better to have seen the bird in summer plumage I think! Also had a look around for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, with no luck, but did see quite a few Shelduck chicks, and a big raft of Eider chicks as well.

Yesterday I headed out to Slains with Keith Yates to see if we could find the Chough which had been reported the day before. A first record for the NE of Scotland but only seen by a couple of folk as it flew south. Worth a try at least. It was a cracking walk up from Slains towards Bullers, with thousands of birds on the cliffs and in the sea. Despite checking every Jackdaw which flew past, we couldn’t find the Chough, but it was a good morning out, and plenty of other stuff to look at. Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls were abundant, heaps of Cormorants were nesting on the offshore island and we spotted a couple of Arctic Skuas and Puffins near Bullers. We also saw a good variety of smaller birds, including Stonechat, Meadow and Rock Pipits, Skylark, Linnet, Wren and Reed Bunting. Meikle Loch didn’t hold much on the way back, and another stop at the Ythan didn’t add any new waders to the list.

Around the house this week we’ve had heaps of Starlings on the feeders, the Blue T**s look like they’ve left their nest box, and the Blackbirds have hatched. Keith managed a photo which shows at least five youngsters in the nest. The parents are certainly busy with feeding.

Next trip out is Monday, so will see what that brings.

01/06/2025

I’ve just finished a really enjoyable, and informative, weekend with Rick Borchelt, a visitor from Washington DC who’d been across for a conference in Aberdeen this week. He’d be in touch to set up the trip, and had a few species he was keen to see, so I put together an extended itinerary to cover our long weekend trip, based out of Aberdeen. Rick is a keen birder, botanist and lepidopterist, so I was also set to learn a good bit about the flora and insects of the area over the weekend.

We started on Friday morning with a walk at the Don at Dyce, in search of Dipper. None to be seen (a theme for the first part of the weekend) but Sedge Warbler were singing, Sand Martin were feeding over the river, and at least three families of Mallards were on the river. We left there and headed out to the Ythan, where Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler. Dunnock, Wren and Robin were in the gorse bushes around the car park. The tide was low and we were able to get great views of the displaying Eider near the mouth, as well as Little, Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns. A Red-breasted Merganser was on the far bank and Oystercatcher were also feeding along the shore. A single Whimbrel was at the bend of the river, and Curlew, were further upstream. It was fairly quiet near the tin hut, apart from the gulls and terns, with a couple of Shelduck further upstream.

We stopped at Inch Road where we spotted Dunlin, Knot and Ringed Plover around the Foveran burn mouth, and Bar-tailed Godwit on the riverbank, as well as a single Redshank. We then had a brief stop at the Snub car park where Goosander were lounging on the riverbank, Mute Swan and Greylag Geese were seen, and Lapwing and more Shelduck were on the mud. A couple of Gadwall were near the point on the far bank, and Great-black backed Gull were upstream.

After a brief stop to grab lunch, we visited the Bullers of Buchan, where the normal seabirds put on a great show. The main highlight was the Puffins, and we estimated there were around 30 in the area, which was a good number, and the most I’d seen so far this year. S**g and Cormorant were on the rocks, and Fulmar were hanging in the updrafts around the cliff edges. And it was a bit calmer than on my last visit!

Next stop was Strathbeg, where we immediately saw Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Yellowhammer around the feeders, and four Spoonbill on the pools at the front of the visitor centre. A lot of wildfowl were on the pools, including Wigeon, Teal, Moorhen, Mallard, Shelduck, Gadwall and Shoveler. A pair of Shelduck had at least six small “humbug” babies on the water, and young Black-headed Gull chicks were on the island. We didn’t see the Temminck’s Stint that had been spotted in the morning, or the Cinnamon Teal, but I briefly saw the Marsh Harrier disappear into the reeds, and Buzzard were overhead.

Leaving Strathbeg we added Corn Bunting on the wires, and our final stop was Blackdog for a quick scan. The main highlight was probably the pod of bottlenose dolphins which were jumping and splashing offshore, but we did see Common Scoter flying north, a couple of Red-throated Divers, a single summer plumage Great Northern Diver and Gannets passing offshore.

We finished the day with 82 species, which was a good start, and Saturday gave us a chance to supplement the list with a few different habitats. First stop was Dinnet Oak Woods, after spotting a few Red Kite near Garlogie on the way out. Near the bridge we had Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail on the river, and Siskin, Blackcap and Great-spotted Woodpecker in the nearby garden. Entering the woods we heard and saw a flock of Long-tailed T**s, a few Woodpecker were calling and we eventually tracked down a Treecreeper, after a fair bit of searching. Pleasingly Rick heard a tapping sound from the top of a nearby tree, and we were able to spot a Nuthatch working it’s way around the campy, with possibly a second one nearby. As we left the wood a juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker was on a tree trunk next to the path, amazingly well camouflaged against the bark, but rather giving away it’s position by constantly calling.

Round to Muir of Dinner next, with Willow Warbler and Wren plentiful along the wooded path, and Mistle Thrush around the open fields where the Lapwing bred earlier in the year. Red Kite and Buzzard were soaring over the fields, and we heard a distant Cuckoo. A Blue Tit nest was found in a gate post and our first butterfly of the day was seen in the woods, a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. We added Tree Pipit in the woods, and as we neared the stone circle we eventually spotted a Cuckoo on the wires. We got good views of at least two birds in the area, in good light. Working our way back towards the loch, a Chaffinch was at the top of a tree, but as we continued on Rick got a photo of a bird in the same tree, which turned out to be a Redstart! A first for the year for me, and good to see one after a couple of trips to Dinnet when I’ve drawn a blank. Goldeneye were on the loch itself, and Swift were overhead, but the wind had picked up a bit, keeping the butterfly numbers down.

We’d spent a while at the two DInnet locations so we headed back to Aberdeen, with a stop at the Don at Persley to look for Dipper. None to be seen, but Mallard, Stock Dove and Magpie were in the area. I think Saturday saw us add about 20 new species, and left us with a couple of targets for Sunday.

We headed north-west out of Aberdeen, with Ring Ouzel and Dipper the first targets. A few stops along the Don towards Strathdon let us see Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail, but no Dipper, and a quick stop at the Lecht gave great views of House Martin but no cup of coffee! Plenty of Common Gulls nesting in the area were noisy, but no Red Grouse spotted on the hillsides. Wells of Lecht were the next stop, and as soon as we left the car park we saw Willow Warbler and Grey Wagtail. After a bit of a search we found a Dipper on the small stream (hurrah!) and near the old mine building we heard a distant “chak” noise before spotting a Ring Ouzel, followed by another and another. We eventually got great views of a singing male as well as the female nearby, which was a real bonus. A flock of Pink-footed geese flew north, and Swallow were around the old building as well, with a couple of House Martins near the car park. Green-veined White butterflies were seen when the sun came out, and I got a bit of a botany lesson on the way back to the van - mosses, rushes and cuckooflower were all seen, and so many others I can’t remember all of them!

We headed over the hills towards Deeside, and grabbed lunch in Braemar before stopping at Glen Callater. Avoiding the rain by eating lunch in the van, we saw a Raven in the distance, Oystercatcher and Lapwing in the fields near the car park, and a Redpoll dropped down onto a rock beside the stream. As we walked up the glen I saw a Spotted Flycatcher, which we got better views of later on, and once through the gate, we spotted a few Wheatear on the rocks and heather. A distant call alerted us to the presence of a Ring Ouzel, my first in that area for a couple of years, and we spotted the male singing from the top of a rock up the hillside. A stunning male Stonechat was slightly further upstream, but we couldn’t find any Red Grouse near the track. What I took to be a Common Lizard ran across the road and as we returned to the car park I heard the Spotted Flycatcher near the stream, and we got good views of it on a rowan tree on the far bank, our last addition to the list for the trip.

Overall it was an excellent weekend. I learned a lot from Rick, especially about some of the local flora, and it was great to see around 110 species, including some real specialities. Thanks to Rick for his company over the weekend, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in the UK and have a safe trip back to the US. Hopefully Rick may also be able to send through some of his photos from the trip, which I'll share in the future.

25/05/2025

A double update weekend! After yesterday’s bumper update, a slightly shorter one today, after a great trip out with Mark and Kitty Sarvary, visitors from the USA for a conference this week.

We started with a pickup at TECA and immediately had Kestrel hunting over the long grass, Willow Warbler and Skylark singing nearby, and Pied Wagtail fly past. Our first scheduled stop was Troup Head, so we headed north out of the city on our way. We escaped the rain showers, but seemed to find the wind on the way, as the gusts increased the further north we went. As we approached we had a quick stop when we heard Corn Bunting at the roadside, getting a brief view of the bird on a fence post.

At the reserve we walked the coastal path loop first, hearing Whitethroat and Yellowhammer before seeing both. As we neared the cliff sides the wind increased a bit, and we looked down towards the rows of Kittiwakes on the distant cliffs, and S**gs fishing in the bay.

A Rock Pipit battled the wind displaying near the cliffs, and we fought the wind gusts to make our way up and over the headland, and down to the Gannet viewing path. It was too blustery to set up the scope, but we got great views of the Gannets on the nests, and also hundreds flying past. Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Guillemots were seen in large numbers, with fewer Razorbills. Many of the Gannets were carrying nesting material, which was good to see. We made our way along the cliff top path, being battered by gusts, and then turned back towards the car park with the wind at our back. Skylarks put on a great display over the fields along the path as we retreated to the car, and a few Meadow Pipits were also about.

We grabbed a sandwich in Fraserburgh and then headed for Loch of Strathbeg to eat and view at the same time. Tree Sparrows and Chaffinch were at the feeders, and on the low ground we had Black-tailed Godwit, Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Lapwing, etc. The tern island had a good contingent of Common Terns alongside the Black-headed Gulls, and a pair of Sandwich Terns were also near the pools.

After finishing our lunch we next stopped at the Bullers of Buchan. Puffins were the main target, and we were in luck, with at least 10 on the cliffs and a few offshore. The wind was marginally less blustery, but still strong, and we were battered by a short rain shower, but the sun then came out to dry us off and illuminate the Puffins perfectly. We spent a while just watching them, before heading for our final stop at the Ythan mouth.

Walking out the boardwalk we heard Wren, Robin and Willow Warbler, and at the viewing platform there were hundred of mostly male Eider on the far bank, with a few pairs in the water, the males doing their “woooo” call as they threw their heads back to impress the females.

A Little Tern put on an amazing show, fishing right in front of us, with a Common Tern doing the same a bit later. A few Oystercatcher were on the sand but we’d run out of time to look any further upstream. We walked back through to the car, getting great views of Song Thrush and Sedge Warbler amongst the gorse bushes.

I had a really great day out with Mark and Kitty, even if the weather could have been warmer/calmer/drier! Thanks to them for their company, and for lunch, and I hope the conference goes well.

I’ve got a full weekend trip booked in next weekend, so hopefully a further bumper update after that.

24/05/2025

A really busy week this week, although only one official tour, with the rest being birds related at least.

On Tuesday I was up at Loch of Strathbeg for a meeting, so had a look from the visitor centre and Dunbar Hide to see what was about. Nothing new, but good views of the Cinnamon Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Lapwing and Great Egret, and a nice day to be out.

On Wednesday I was out with the local RSPB group to Gight Woods near Methlick. It was a lovely day, and the scenery out there was stunning at times. The slightly windy conditions made spotting some of the species a bit more difficult, but we saw quite a lot in the end. Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were heard and seen, Buzzards were circling overhead, Pied and Grey Wagtails were spotted near Gight Castle and a Spotted Flycatcher was near the ruins as I walked back towards the car park. A location I’ll certainly head back to soon.

On Friday I led a walk at Dinnet as part of the Deeside Nature Festival. The weather was warm, sunny and calm, and I had a group of 10 who had signed up for the walk. We left the car park and were soon hearing birds in the trees, with Willow Warblers and Wren almost everywhere. We got good views of Treecreeper, looking like a family party working their way through the trees, and as we left the woods we also saw Robins feeding young near the path. Nearing Old Kinord, we saw Lapwing and Mistle Thrush on the grassy hillside and as we stopped for a snack we got an amazing bonus as a Cuckoo flew across and landed on a nearby electricity pole and proceeded to call off and on for about 20 minutes, giving everyone a great chance to see the bird through the scopes. We also spotted Osprey in the distance, as well as Raven and Buzzard, with a Red Kite in the opposite direction. The walk to the stone circle was relatively quiet, aside from a Tree Pipit putting on a great display, and we started the walk back along the Loch with Blackcap singing in the trees and a Golden Banded Dragonfly giving us a great view.

At the Loch side we saw Goldeneye with chicks, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese and Mallard, and we walked back to the car park through the woods, unfortunately not seeing Redstart, but happy with our 40+ species for the 3 hour walk. Thanks to everyone who signed up to come along - it was a really enjoyable morning out.

Finally I helped out at the Greyhope Bay bioblitz last night, which was cold! I was listening for birds whilst there was some moth trapping going on. There weren’t many birds about, but the main one I did hear turned out to be a good one! A warbler was singing just outside the battery walls, and I was initially unsure what it was, as it was dark so I couldn’t get any views of it. The song was not one I was familiar with, and mimicked other birds, including Blue Tit and Skylark. After a bit of deliberation I settled upon Marsh Warbler, and let Andrew Whitehouse, who was leading a walk there today know. Luckily he was able to see the bird this morning and confirmed it was a Marsh Warbler, which subsequently attracted quite a few of the local birders to go and see it. I was busy today, but managed to head across after dinner, getting great views of the bird singing right in front of us, as well as a bonus Grasshopper Warbler giving amazing views nearby. A good end to the day.

Thanks to Debs Lamb and Rob Leslie for the additional photos.

I’m out with clients tomorrow so will see what that brings.

Aberdeenshire Bird Tours

01/07/2025

01/07/2025

24/06/2025

17/06/2025

13/06/2025

09/06/2025

06/06/2025

01/06/2025

25/05/2025

24/05/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share