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Aberdeenshire Bird Tours, Aberdeen (2025)

22/01/2025

Yesterday I headed up to Fraserburgh and the coast nearby for a look around, mainly to look for wintering gulls, but also to see what else was about. Keith and Mark kept me company for the day, and we managed to have a good day out.

We started at Phingask Bay in search of the Iceland Gull which has been seen fairly regularly recently. No sign of it with the many other gulls (Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed) but there were plenty of waders and wildfowl about, including Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Redshank, Curlew and Oyestercatcher. Good numbers of Teal and Wigeon were feeding along the rocky shore, and Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck and Eider were seen a bit further out. After scanning for a while, we decided to move on, but just before we left Keith spotted a Grey Wagtail down on the rocks, and we also saw a Stonechat at the roadside.

Next stop was Sandhaven harbour, but not much was there at that stage. A few Common Gulls were with the Black-headed and Herring Gulls, and that was about it. We stopped to the west of the village, where the rocks were pretty quiet, but we did see a couple of Gannets fly past and a Guillemot on the water, with a Black Guillemot nearby as well.

At the west of Pitulie there were quite a few gulls on the rocks, and Mark did really well to pick out a Mediterranean Gull in amongst the dozens of Black-headed Gulls. It was half hidden to start with but soon moved out into the open so we could get a better view, and then flew down onto the water where you could see the structural differences between it and the Black-headed Gulls. We also spotted a winter plumage Puffin just offshore and a number of Red-throated Divers, along with plenty of Cormorants and S**gs.

Next stop was Rosehearty. Another couple of Puffins were seen, as well as another Black Guillemot, and there were a lot of waders on the sheltered beach. Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover were all new for the day, as were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits. The sun and lack of wind meant the day actually felt pretty warm by now, so we sat and had lunch overlooking the beach, watching the many Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtails and a Robin picking through the seaweed in search of insects. A small flock of Linnets was also feeding nearby.

After lunch we nipped back to Phingask, with no sign of the Iceland Gull, so we continued on to Kinnaird Head, which was quite quiet overall, but a scan of the calm sea saw us spot a couple of Little Auks fairly close in to shore. A real bonus of a bird and one I've only seen a couple of times previously. As we were packing up to leave, a message came through to say the Iceland Gull had been spotted in Sandhaven harbour so we raced back there in time to see if perched up on the rocks. A head-on view meant the white wings weren't immediately noticeable, but we soon moved round and got a better view, and a few photos.

After a really successful day, we headed back home, adding a few species as we drove, including Buzzard, Fieldfare and Golden Plover.

Thanks to Mark and Keith for their company and for the additional photos.

17/01/2025

After last week’s snow and ice it’s been a lot milder this week, and I’ve made it out a couple of times - mostly local walks but still plenty to see.

I had a nice walk through the snow last week, just from the house, and over the course of an hour managed to see around 27 species. The normal garden birds, such as Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Blackbird, etc were added to, with Goosander and Grey Heron at the local pond, Grey Partridge and Pheasant in one of the stubble fields and plenty of Rooks and Jackdaws as well. A flock of Redwing we’re busily turning over fallen leaves in the small local wood, looking for food, and Great-spotted Woodpecker and Fieldfare were also spotted. Not a long walk, but amazing what can be seen if you get out and about.

On Tuesday this week I headed out to Fetternear with Keith to have a look for the Hawfinches, which again appear to be wintering in the area. We were joined by Mark and Dad for the walk, trying to stay upright on the icy paths! We saw a flock of 9 Hawfinches near the Bishops Palace, mainly feeding in some yew trees, but they were pretty mobile. Other species seen were Mistle Thrush, Dipper, Stock Dove, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Buzzard, with lots of other woodland birds about.

On Wednesday I had a quick walk round the local ponds near Newmachar. Most of the ponds were still frozen, so were really quiet, but a Green Sandpiper was a nice bonus, and a flock of Long-tailed T**s was also feeding in the area.

Finally, yesterday I had a walk along the River Don near Dyce. A flock of 25 Goldeneye was a good number, and there were also a few Goosander, Grey Heron, Buzzard and Cormorants, with a couple of Dipper to finish off the walk.

Next week should hopefully bring some more decent weather and a few more opportunities to get out and about.

04/01/2025

It’s been a chilly start to the New Year in Aberdeenshire, but I’ve still managed to get out and about and kick off my 2025 year list, with some good additions early on.

On the 1st we met some friends at Dunecht for a walk around the estate there. A cold but dry day, and a few birds seen including good views of a Jay, a single Brambling amongst some Chaffinches and a couple of Red Kites. A Sparrowhawk flew over as we were at the cars and a Kestrel and Buzzard spotted on the way home took the total to four raptors for the day.

On the second I was leading the local RSPB group outing to the Ythan. We’d had snow overnight and the road conditions put off a few people, but a group of 11 met in Newburgh for a quick walk. We were treated to the sight and sound of a flock of Whooper Swans flying over the car park, and we then walked down to the seal view point where we added Sanderling, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser and Oystercatcher, amongst others. As we walked upstream we saw a Little Egret feeding in the “puddles” on the mud, and Turnstone, Redshank and Dunlin were all spotted feeding.

At the tin hut we sheltered from a passing snow shower whilst getting good views of at least four Grey Plover, hundreds of Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and a few Knot.

At the Foveran Burn we saw Snipe, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and Shelduck, with a few Lapwing in the vicinity as well.

After making our way back to the cars, we headed up to the Snub lay-by where hundreds of Lapwing were on the mud, as well as a pair of Goosander and plenty of other waders.

Yesterday was spent mostly around the house, but I did have a visit from a flock of Fieldfares into the garden, to accompany the normal species on the feeders.

Will see what this week brings, but if anyone wants to book a trip out to kick start their year lists, please let me know.

17/12/2024

Getting towards the end of the birding year, but still plenty to see in the local area. On Sunday I headed out with the local RSPB group to the Donmouth and Seaton Park for the last group outing of 2024.

We started down at the bird hide, before heading to the beach to have a scan out to sea. Herring, Common, Great Black-backed and Black-headed gulls were all bathing in the river, and a couple of Pied Wagtails were working their way along the shore. Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone and Sanderling were seen, and out to sea we spotted a small flock of Common Scoters, a few Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Diver and Long-tailed Duck.

On the river there were Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe and Goldeneye near the hide. We walked up towards the park, with a small stand of bushes behind some shops holding Redwing, Greenfinch, Treecreeper and Long-tailed T**s.

In the park the wetland area was pretty quiet, with a Moorhen and a pair of Reed Buntings about all we saw, but Stock Doves were evident at the south side of the grass, and we saw plenty of passerines around the end of the formal gardens, with Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wren and Dunnock all spotted.

Along the river we had great views of male and female Goosander, alongside Goldeneye and Little Grebe, and further downstream a pair of Dippers were feeding off the small beach area.

As we headed back towards the cars, a Sparrowhawk flew through, another Treecreeper was seen and a (very) Red squirrel was glimpsed.

After our group Christmas lunch a few of us had a quick look across to the golf course, where we spotted two Short-eared Owls in the distance, hunting over the long grass. A great end to the day, with about 50 species seen in only around 3 hours.

Thanks to Mark Sullivan for the additional photos.

29/11/2024

Quite a busy week here, with quite a mix of weather as well. Last week’s cold and snow has given way to slightly milder weather this week.

I managed a couple of walks last week in the frosty conditions. On Thursday I walked near the Don at Danestone with my dad. A couple of Dippers on the Don gave good views and there were plenty of small birds feeding in the trees. The highlight was a Tawny Owl looking out of a hole in a tree, albeit briefly!

On Friday I walked at Fetternear with Keith. Conditions were pretty cold, but quite still. No Hawfinches were seen, but I did spot my first Brambling of the winter, as well as good flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare. Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Goldfinches were all spotted, and plenty of Pink-footed Geese were in the area as well.

On Wednesday we had the latest RSPB local group to Strathbeg. I took a group out to the Tower Pool and Dunbar hides, with the sound of Whooper Swans ever present. Wigeon and Teal were plentiful, as were Lapwing. We saw Shoveler and Gadwall on the pools and a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reeds. One of the main highlights, and something unthinkable even a few years ago, was that we spotted 3 species of egrets, with at least four Little Egrets, 3 Great Egrets and a Cattle Egret all seen by the group. A flock of at least 75 Tree Sparrows was feeding near the seed crops, and Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer were also seen. Plenty of species seen and a good day out.

Finally I had a couple of walks yesterday, with varying success. A quick trip out in the morning with Ruth looking for Little Auk at Girdleness was not fruitful, but Red-throated Diver and Long-tailed Ducks were passing, and a few Eiders were on the sea. We also failed to see the Tawny Owl at Danestone - sorry Ruth!

Then I walked at Dyce in the afternoon. Goldeneye and Goosander were feeding on the river, and at least seven Mute Swans were near the AWPR bridge, with a couple of white geese - presumably feral birds. The highlight was definitely a Barn Owl which took flight from near the river and landed in a tree, where I was able to see it. A double owl week!

Hopefully will be able to fit in some more walks next week.

18/11/2024

I had a very early start yesterday, with a trip to Loch of Skene with the local RSPB group. We were meeting at 7am to be there in good time to see the Pink-footed Geese fly off for the day. At this time of year there are about 25,000 geese that roost on the loch at night, departing each morning to feed.

It was a lovely, but cold morning, and I could hear the geese as soon as I arrived. We had got access to the boathouse roof, so had an excellent view across the loch. As the light increased, we were able to start picking out the detail on the birds, and soon after the lone Snow Goose was spotted, at the far side of the flock. Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Mute Swan and Greylag Geese were all spotted as well.

The geese seemed failrly happy remaining on the loch as the sun came up, with only a few smaller flocks heading off to feed. The cold eventually got the better of us, and we headed for a quick walk through the woods, spotting Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Siskin, Coal Tit and Treecreeper, with Crossbills heard in the pines.

It’s perhaps a tough thought to get out of a nice warm bed early enough to see the geese, but it’s well worth doing to see the spectacle they create.

13/11/2024

Ages since the last report as I’ve been on holiday and then lots of non-birding things to keep me busy for the last few weeks. Hopefully coming to an end for a while (just as the winter weather looks to be arriving!)

A couple of weeks back I was delighted to be asked to present to the Deeside Camera Club, giving a talk about a birding year in NE Scotland. The talk seemed to be well received and the cake afterwards was delicious!

I’ve also had a couple of attempts spotting the American Golden Plover that’s been seen a few times with the huge European Golden Plover flock at the Ythan. Likely 2-3000 birds (maybe more) so picking one different one out is proving tricky, especially when they all end up looking in the opposite direction. I’ll see if there’s another opportunity soon to have another look as hopefully it will hang about. On the latest attempt I did spot my first Whooper Swans of the season, as well as plenty of waders and other wildfowl. It was a lovely day to be out anyway.

Also enjoyed a nice walk round the local area today, with my first Fieldfares and Redwings of the season spotted. Plenty of Skylarks calling and I also heard a few Crossbill at a local wood, so might need to nip back to see if I can spot them.

This weekend I’m out with the RSPB group to Loch of Skene, so will see what that brings.

13/10/2024

I’ve had a busy couple of weeks away from birding, but have still managed to fit in a couple of trips out and about.

Last week I had a quick cycle out to the Ythan to look for the Snow Goose which had been seen around Waulkmill. When I arrived the tide was right in and there were no geese on the estuary, but plenty were in the surrounding fields. Another birder was scanning through the flocks, and as a huge flock of 1000+ Pink-footed Geese flew in he spotted the Snow Goose with them. It continued on north, landing in a field in the distance, although I did manage to get a record shot of it.

Later that week I headed to the Donmouth with Keith Yates to see if anything was about. The answer was “no”! Very quiet indeed, with just a few Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and a few Goldcrests and Coal T**s in the trees. No sign of any Yellow-browed Warblers, unfortunately.

Then today we had a RSPB outing to Balmedie. Around the car park there were a few small birds, including Blackcap, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. Plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, and as we reached the coast a few Swallows flew over. Scanning the sea I spotted a small flock of Common Scoters, and luckily saw a Velvet Scoter fly in to join them, with its white wing patches visible as it landed. A Red-throated Diver was also seen nearby.

A Kestrel was being mobbed by a Rook over the dunes as I headed back towards the car park. There was a huge flock of Pink-footed Geese to the north, and I managed to spot a couple of Barnacle Geese in amongst them. There were also quite a few Curlew around and lots of Skylarks flying about.

Hopefully this week might bring some more Autumn migrants!

27/09/2024

I headed out with the local RSPB group on Wednesday, this time to the Ythan Estuary. We got very lucky with the weather, given that it had been wet and windy the day before, and again the following day - we had light winds and sunshine.

We started with a walk along the new boardwalk towards the river mouth, where we had good views of hundreds of Grey Seals on the opposite bank. Eiders and Goosanders were on the water, and dozens of Cormorants were near the mouth.

As we walked upstream we had excellent views of a host of waders. Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Redshank were all seen up close, with Ringed Plover and Knot in the same area.

We reached the tin hut and scanned the mudflats, where we were treated to the spectacle of 1000+ Golden Plover being very restless, constantly taking off and doing loops around the area before settling back on the ground. Eventually they seemed to be happy with their spot and became a bit more settled. Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank were seen, as well as Wigeon, Teal and Mallard.

As we turned to head alongside the Foveran Burn we got a great bonus - a couple of the group members spotted two Common Cranes circling overhead, which proceeded to drift south, seemingly without ever flapping their wings. An unexpected bonus for the day. At the same time a couple of Little Egrets flew out from the channel and off upstream - we didn’t know where to look!

Up to 7 Buzzards were circling over Forvie, and a Kestrel and a couple of Sparrowhawks were also spotted.

After completing the loop of the golf course, we had lunch up at the Snub car park. Lapwing were plentiful, and we saw good numbers of Greenshank, a few Shelduck and another Little Egret, as well as Grey Herons.

There were a few hundred Pink-footed Geese on the mud, probably newly arrived, and we picked out a couple of Ruff and a few Black-tailed Godwits to increase our wader list for the day.

It was a cracking day out, and great to see so many species in such good light.

19/09/2024

After the excitement of the Greenish Warbler a few weeks back, it’s been really quiet in terms of Autumn arrivals recently. Pink-footed Geese have started to return to the area, but we still have Swallows and House Martins near the house, and a Chiffchaff was calling the other day.

Last week I headed up to Strathbeg to take part in a work party at the reserve. We were clearing the island in front of the visitor centre of weeds, after the nesting terns and gulls have all left. When we arrived the Great White Egrets were evident in the distance, and we heard some Cranes bugling, although they were obscured by the bushes. However as we were heading for the island they took off from the low ground and headed towards the Loch - seven were seen, which was great, and my first record of the year.

Today I headed to the Ythan and Collieston with Keith, hoping for migrants. We started at Inch Road in Newburgh, where a Little Egret was on the Foveran Burn, and there were plenty of waders along the river. Hundreds of Golden Plover were downstream on the mussel beds, with Dunlin, Greenshank, Redshank, Curlew, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing and Oystercatcher also seen. Goosander, Red-breasted Mergnser and Eiders were on the river, and a Buzzard was over Forvie Moor.

We moved up to the Snub, where there were hundreds of Lapwing and Redshank. Another Little Egret was on the rocks, with Shelduck, Mallard, Wigeon and Cormorant added, as well as plenty of Grey Herons.

We then went to Collieston. A brief seawatch was fairly quiet, although there were good numbers of Red-throated Divers offshore. A Raven flew past and three Buzzards were over the cliffs, presumably a family party.

We then walked a circuit round Collieston, with Stonechat, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Skylark evident.

It felt like a really quiet morning but totalling up what we’d seen took me to about 58 species, so not a bad couple of hours out and about. Thanks to Keith for his company today.

05/09/2024

After my Sunday update I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so soon before I added my first autumn migrant (and a lifer at that!) to my list, but on Monday a report of a Greenish Warbler at Rattray Head was circulated, so I headed up to see if I could spot it.

The garden at Rattray was fairly quiet, but I soon saw the bird, feeding in amongst the leaves of a sycamore. A very similar appearance to a lot of other warblers, but the colour and the faint wing-bar are good differentiators. Also in the garden were a couple of very active Lesser Whitethroats and a Pied Flycatcher, as well as dozens of Swallows.

Yesterday I headed to Balmedie with Keith and Dad to see if there were any other migrants about, but things were very quiet. Plenty of Swallows, House and Sand Martins landing on the beach, and a nice pair of Kestrel hunting over the dunes, but not a lot else. Some birds were distantly passing out at sea, and at least 6 Red-throated Divers were just offshore.

Then last night a few of the local RSPB group joined the Grampian Ringing group to visit Loch of Leys. It was interesting to see the birds in the hand, including Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Swallow and Chaffinch. Thanks to Raymond and the other ringers there for being so welcoming and informative.

Thanks to Keith Yates for the photos of the Rattray species.

01/09/2024

I had a really enjoyable outing on Friday with James and Tessa Scorer, regular visitors to Aberdeenshire, but who have recently started birdwatching and were keen to see what the area could offer.

August can be a quiet time of year for birds, but we decided to head initially for Strathbeg to see what was about. The answer at the visitor centre was not very much! A Gadwall and a few Mallards on the pools was about all we saw from the centre, so we headed for the Tower Pool hide. A Marsh Harrier was seen over the reeds, and there were 5 Great White Egrets on the low ground, the adults and 3 young - the first youngsters ever born in Scotland for this species. Good numbers of Lapwing were evident, but other waders were occasionally seen flying but then disappeared into the longer grass, although a couple of Greenshank were out in the open.

Back near the VC we saw the male Marsh Harrier, and a few smaller species, before heading south for the Ythan. A quick stop at the flooded pool near Slains didn’t hold much aside from a couple of Teal and Wigeon, with a few Pied Wagtails.

The Snub Car park on the Ythan was our next location, with a pair of Kestrel seen over the nearby fields a good sighting. Lapwing, Dunlin, Sanderling, Knot, Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Greenshank were spotted, with large numbers of Canada Geese on the far bank. At least three Little Egrets were on Inch Geck, and a few Goosander and Grey Heron were opposite the lay-by.

We stopped at Inch Point for a quick look, adding Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser and Eider, before we parked in the village and walked the loop of the golf course.

The Foveran Burn held Teal, Mallard and a selection of gulls, and the river itself had great numbers of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Turnstone, Curlew and a few Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits. Lots of Sandwich Terns were near the Tin Hut, with a few Kittiwake, and large numbers of Eiders were on the shore near the Grey Seals, with a few more Goosander and a couple of Mallard. The seals put on a good show, and we also spotted Great Black-backed Gulls, Cormorants and a solitary Common Tern in the distance.

We walked back along the new boardwalk to the car park, and back through to the village, in time to get James and Tessa back to their car and off to a concert.

Thanks to James and Tessa for their great company - we saw quite a list of species in the end, after a quiet start.

September has arrived, hopefully bringing a few Autumn migrants - in time for the next update - fingers crossed!

23/08/2024

A while since an update, but now the school holidays are over I should maybe get back to a bit more of a routine.

This week I was leading the local RSPB outing where we were trying something different and heading to Ullapool to take the ferry to Stornoway and back in search of seabirds. However plans ended up changing due to the weather!

We left on Wednesday morning with the first stop being Loch Spynie near Elgin. The area beside the car park was full of small birds passing through, with Crossbill, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed T**s, Siskin, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker all seen, as well as quite a few other species. We walked down to the hide where we saw the Common Terns nesting on the raft, along with Tufted Duck, Coot, Wigeon and Little Grebe. Back on the road we stopped at a flooded field where we had great views of Snipe, before a detour past Lossiemouth where the pig farm was covered in gulls - thousands of them were on the ground.

After lunch we stopped at Fort George for a quick look, but the brisk wind meant there wasn’t much to be seen, aside from a Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on the playing fields alongside the Oystercatchers.

We reached Ullapool and had a nice dinner with some other group members and discussed the plans for Thursday.

Unfortunately the forecast for Thursday was accurate! 50+mph winds meant viewing from the boat would have been almost impossible so we had to come up with some alternatives. We had a walk round Ullapool shore and riverside, where a few species such as Gannet, Cormorant and Goldfinch were seen, but most stuff was keeping sheltered from the wind. A walk at Inverlael afterwards was slightly more sheltered, and allowed us to add Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Siskin, Redpoll and a distant Kestrel. Some of the group were remaining in Ullapool for the night, but I was heading back, as were a few others, so we decided to stop at Spey Bay on the way back, in search of the White-rumped Sandpiper that had been seen. On route we saw Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Red Kite, and once at Spey Bay we added a lot.

The end of the golf course was covered in gulls, but also had dozens of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit. With a little local help we managed to get to a good spot to view the river channel, with two Arctic Skuas seen offshore as we approached. A small flock of Twite flew from the shingle, and 50+ Goosander were lounging on the riverbank. We started to scan the waders, with lots of Dunlin and Ringed Plover to look through. Just as we spotted the Little Stint we were also looking for, a commotion amongst the gulls drew our attention to a Short-eared Owl gliding across the marshy ground. We were able to watch it for quite a while before it landed further along the shore. We didn’t see the White-rumped Sandpiper but did add Common Sandpiper, Pink-footed Goose and Sandwich and Common Terns before heading for home.

Even though we needed to change plans, it was still a good few days away. Thanks to Dad and David W for the company and to the local group members who were understanding about the change of plans!

03/08/2024

Absolutely ages since my last update as I’ve been away doing non-birding things, but always with an eye out to see what’s about.

After a trip to England a few weeks ago, I was across in the Hebrides last week for a cycle, but managed to see a few things whilst there, including plenty of Manx Shearwaters from the ferry, a White-tailed Eagle up near the Butt of Lewis and also a Merlin in the same area. Missed out on the Alpine Swift which was seen the day after I left.

The main reason for the post is to share some of the images one of my clients took during our trip last month. Thanks to Paul Anderson for all the photos - far better quality than my efforts!

03/07/2024

A quick trip out this morning turned into a really good outing, again managing to avoid the rain, even if it didn’t quite feel like July weather.

I headed out with Keith for the first time in a few weeks, in search of the White-winged Scoter that has been hanging around near Murcar for the last couple of weeks. Keith had been to try to see it a couple of times with no luck, so we hoped for some good fortune today.

Our first bit of luck (bad!) was that the sun came out as we got to the dunes - meaning the glare on the sea was making viewing a bit more difficult. The second bit of luck (also bad) was that there were hundreds of Common Scoters quite far out, whereas previously they’d been up near Blackdog. We started to look through the birds, with lots of other species such as Guillemot, Razorbill, Eider and Red-throated Diver also present.

Eventually I spotted a small group of five scoters closer to shore, with one showing a white patch on the wing - the Velvet Scoters the White-winged Scoter had been associating with. The sun went away, and we were eventually able to get suitably good views to pick out the target bird - a first for Keith in Scotland.

Whilst watching the scoters we also spotted a large number of dolphins feeding offshore, with individuals leaping clear of the water on numerous occasions and also coming close in to chase fish, with dozens of Gannets and gulls joining in the feeding frenzy - a true nature spectacle.

After a celebratory coffee I headed home via Lochgreens pools. Things were relatively quiet, with Mute Swan and Coot families seen, and dozens of Sand Martins over the water. Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting and Whitethroat were all singing as well.

Finally on the way home I spotted a Roe Deer family in a roadside field, and a Brown Hare near my house. An all round nature filled morning.

01/07/2024

Another week with a few outings, and even managed to avoid the rain!

On Wednesday I was up super early to go and do my BTO Beeeding bird survey near Newmachar. Lots of the normal species about (Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Yellowhammer) but did add Bullfinch to the species list for the square, the first time I’ve seen them in the 7 years I’ve been visiting to do the survey.

Later on Wednesday I had a walk at Inchgarth reservoir with Hywel Maggs from the local RSPB office, just catching up on some of the RSPB group activities. It was relatively quiet, but there were good numbers of Sand Martins visiting their nests along the banks of the Dee and a couple of Common Terns landed on the reservoir as we were leaving.

On Sunday I had my main trip of the week, with Paul and Diane Anderson, visitors from Washington State in the USA. We started with a walk at the Ythan Estuary, with waders and terns the target. Eiders were on the river and we walked out to the mouth to view the seals hauled out on the far bank. Sandwich, Arctic and Common terns were all feeding, with Oystercatchers beside the dunes.

A small flock of waders near the boat wreck had Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling, and we continued to the tin hut where we added
Little Tern and Curlew to the list. A surprise was a large flock of Knot wheeling around in front of the tern colony, which eventually landed on the far bank.

Things were fairly quiet near the Foveran burn, with a Grey Heron the main addition, but House Martin, Dunnock and Collared Dove were around the village.

At the Snub we saw Shelduck (with young), dozens of Goosanders, Lapwing and Redshank, and we then moved to Waulkmill where Pintail, Shelduck, Goldeneye, Wigeon and Teal were present. An Osprey was a nice sighting as it landed on the mud.

After a stop to grab lunch we visited Bullers of Buchan. The seabirds were in good voice and we saw all the usual suspects, including Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Fulmar, S**g, Gannet, Cormorant, etc. We also got excellent close views of Puffins, with at least 20 seen - the most I’ve seen there this year.

The final stop was Strathbeg where the Marsh Harriers were seen over the reeds, a Little Egret was on the low ground, and we got good views of Lapwing, Teal, Gadwall and Wigeon. Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were spotted, and Stonechat and Reed Bunting were seen as we left.

Thanks to Paul and Diane for a really enjoyable day out.

Into a bit of a quieter period now, with a lot of our birds having bred already, so will see what the next few weeks bring.

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