📖 Wader-Quest: 23/09/26

Leaving the house in near-torrential rain, I took a leap of faith. A quick check of the previous night’s local forecast and the morning’s rain radar gave me just enough confidence that the storm would clear by the time I reached Cairnbulg for the 10 a.m. RSPB Local Group outing. Honestly, given the dire conditions, I wasn't expecting much of a crowd—so it was a nice surprise when ten hardy souls turned up, ready to brave the gloom and heavy rain for a proper wader hunt! 

Today's group on Inverollachy Beach

We set off along the shoreline toward the Water of Philorth, and our perseverance was soon rewarded. Redshanks, Curlews, and Dunlins were feeding along the shore. Suddenly, two small waders with striking white rumps zipped past us, heading back toward the car park before disappearing—Curlew Sandpipers. Unfortunately, only a few members of the group managed to spot them.

A scan of the rocks revealed Turnstones, Oystercatchers, and two roosting Bar-tailed Godwits. Flitting among the washed-up seaweed were Starlings, numerous Rock Pipits, and a single Wheatear. Remarkably, as the rain began to ease, a Skylark soared overhead, singing in full voice! Additionally, a group of five Snipe flew over the harbour.

Bar-tailed Godwit

At the mouth of the Philorth River, there was a raft of Eiders on the water, alongside a large gathering of gulls that included Great Black-backed, Herring, Common, and Black-headed gulls. Resting on the nearby beach was a small group of terns, primarily consisting of Sandwich Terns, with a few juvenile Arctic Terns among them.

At this point, the weather improved: the rain subsided, and patches of blue sky began to appear. As we retraced our steps, we spotted a Knot feeding alongside the Dunlins, providing everyone with an excellent side-by-side comparison of the two species.

We checked the eastern side of the harbour in hopes of refinding the Curlew Sandpipers, but with no luck. Instead, we spent a wonderful stretch of time watching Gannets in every stage of plumage—from all-brown juveniles to striking full adults—diving into the open sea. Nearby, Cormorants and Shags adorned the rusting shipwreck on the rocks.

Juvenile Gannet

Deciding to squeeze a bit more out of the trip, we drove the short distance over to Inverallochy to check the shoreline there. We first scanned the high-tide roosting rocks, picking out a couple of Curlews and Oystercatchers. Then came the bird of the day. Cruising past at relatively close range, a Sooty Shearwater came into view. The sheer proximity allowed everyone in the group to get good, clear views of this true oceanic wanderer—marking a memorable "lifer" for a few of the group!

Gulls in anticipation!

Continuing along the edge of the golf course, we watched in awe as a Peregrine swooped in, plucked a stricken wader straight off the surface of the sea, and carried its catch away into the dunes. A Red-throated Diver flew south, while a flock of Golden Plover rested on the rocks alongside a few Ringed Plover. Most notable was a group of nine Bar-tailed Godwits—quite a large count for this site. We had planned to walk the beach to scan the gull flock, but a dog walker with four unleashed dogs reached the shore just ahead of us, scattering the roost before we could get a look.

Oystercatchers & Gold Plover

Returning to the cars for a well-earned lunch, we decided on a slight change of plans. We headed back to Cairnbulg Harbour and retraced a stretch of the shoreline to see if any new waders had moved in. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers flew past, and scanning a flock of Black-headed Gulls revealed two first-winter Mediterranean Gulls among them. As we stood watching the water and hoping for a surprise, a small raptor shot past right in front of us—a lightning-fast Merlin!

Thoroughly satisfied with the coastal action, we made our way to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg for a change of habitat. 

One of the four Great White Egrets seen today.

From the visitor centre, the reserve immediately delivered in style. We were treated to a family of Cranes—two adults and a juvenile—along with four Great White Egrets standing out on Starnafin Pools. Up above, a count of three Marsh Harriers: likely the resident female and the two juveniles fledged on the reserve this year. Lapwings were added to our growing wader tally, and in the distant fields and main loch we noted Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans. There were also a few passing Swallows during our stay.

Common Crane - Juvenile in centre!

After the group finally left, I took a stroll to the hides. Where I came across a large flock of Tree Sparrows among the Hawthorn, a regular find here, plus a singing Chiffchaff, and I enjoyed better views of the Cranes.

📖 Monster Wader Days: 18/09/26

Wilson’s Phalarope, 18 Wader Species, and Late Osprey on the Ythan.

The return of the Pink-footed Geese.

I've enjoyed a few remarkable days of birding along the Ythan this week. The estuary has been packed with waders, and returning Pink-footed Geese have been filling the skies. Among the highlights, I counted about 23 Ruff during my visit on Thursday, and today brought the first Whooper Swans of the season. However, the highlight of the week was the discovery of a Wilson's Phalarope at Meikle Loch on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, I had a couple of distant views of the bird, but today (Friday) I joined David Leslie, who had not yet seen it, and Mark Sullivan to see if we could improve our observations.

Ruff - Some good numbers along the Ythan currently.

Pulling into the car park at Meikle Loch, the initial news wasn't promising—a Peregrine, which we'd seen flying over the road bridge on route, had flushed the phalarope earlier, and it hadn't been refound. Thankfully, a quick scan of the shoreline revealed the Wilson’s Phalarope feeding alongside Lapwings at the far end. It was constantly on the move along the bank, occasionally dropping into the water to swim. Though still a long-range view, the softer light made for vastly superior views compared to yesterday's harsh glare.

The loch was bustling with activity as well: Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, double-figure Snipe, and a lone Whimbrel. The usual wildfowl was present, and a few Skylarks overhead were heading south.

Waulkmill Hide & The Snub

Curlew Sandpiper - I've managed to see several over my visits this week!

Moving on to Waulkmill Hide, we were greeted by thousands of birds covering the exposed mud. Our main targets here were Curlew Sandpipers, and it didn't take long to pick out three among the carpet of Dunlin. The mudflats were an absolute hive of activity, holding Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Greenshank, Redshank, and a mixed gathering of Greylag, Pink-footed, and Canada Geese.

At the Snub lay-by, a small flock of Whooper Swans had just alighted on the estuary water, my first of the season. A Peregrine overhead, likely the same bird as earlier, sent shockwaves through the wader flocks, while a surprisingly late Osprey fished directly over the main channel. Little Egrets and Grey Herons lined the banks, with Shelduck, Goosanders, and Eiders dotted the water, and another Curlew Sandpiper was tucked in with Redshanks on the far shore.

Tarty Burn & Inch Road

A quick check at Tarty Burn paid off immediately when Mark picked out a Spotted Redshank on the riverbank. It briefly vanished, but following the channel around the corner revealed not just one, but three Spotted Redshanks feeding together.

Our final Ythan stop at Inch Road pushed our tally over the top: Dozens of Knot feeding on the open mud along with hundreds of Golden Plover resting on the shingle banks and a handful of Turnstones working the rocky stretches, plus at least five Little Egrets gathered on the Foveran Burn

Final Tally

The Knot and Turnstones officially brought our daily wader total to an incredible 18 species. To cap off a brilliant morning, David spotted a pair of Brent Geese resting on the far bank just as we were heading back to the cars. A fantastic morning out with great company and a stellar lineup of autumn migrants.

A Few More Images of the Week...

Dunlin

Turnstone

Little Egret

📖 Rattray & Cairnbulg 8/09/26

Things have quieted down since the recent easterly winds brought a wonderful fall of common migrants to the Aberdeenshire coastline, but a shift in the weather is already shaking things up. We are now experiencing the predictable autumnal flow of north-westerlies. As I type this post, the very first reports of Pink-footed Geese arriving across the region from Iceland are starting to roll in. 

While I'm not a hardcore twitcher per se, I have to admit I was more than a little tempted when news broke last week of a Scottish first Egyptian Nightjar over on Shetland! Still, my usual October one-week-a-year twitching exploits on Shetland are more than enough to keep me happy—especially with my annual trip just a few weeks away, so I avoided the temptation!

View from Cairnbulg watching the 100s of diving Gannets! 

This morning, a walk to the Rattray Lighthouse cottages from St. Mary's Chapel with Ruth Howie was quite productive, starting with a female Marsh Harrier quartering the newly combined fields. A large flock of some 100 Tree Sparrows was a sight to behold around the farmland, and along the track a few Yellowhammers appeared to still be feeding young. There were also plenty of Swallows and House Martins across the fields, a few Skylarks passing south, and around 80 or so Lapwings before we arrived at the cottages, where we bumped into Mark, Matt, and Fran Sullivan.

A Yellowhammer with food.

During my last visit here on the 28th, the cottage gardens had held Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, and Lesser Whitethroat. Today it was a bit quieter, although Mark had seen a Lesser Whitethroat. A walk down to the Lighthouse produced Wheatear and Meadow Pipits, and along the shoreline we found Sanderling, Knot, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, and a surprise couple of Pale-bellied Brent Geese. A few Grey Seals were keeping a wary eye, with Gannets and several passing Sandwich Terns and Kittiwakes. Shags and Cormorants were sunning themselves on the lighthouse, and a few Eider Ducks were lingering. The walk back to the cottages produced a fly-by Sparrowhawk.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Rattray.

Back at the cars, a quick look over towards the Loch produced both Little Egret and Great Egret, and endless Mute Swans. After bidding farewell to Ruth, I headed over to Cairnbulg, where I spent an enjoyable hour watching the hundreds of Gannets diving and photographing the waders, which included: Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover. The absolute highlight, though, was counting at least 10 Wheatears, which just seemed to be everywhere. My kind of birding!

One of double-figure Wheatears at Cairnbulg.

Knot at Cairnbulg.

Wheatear

Bar-tailed Godwit Cairnbulg

Yellowhammer

Sanderling on Rattray beach

Dunlin on Rattray beach

📖 Great Crested Grebes: A Rare Breeding Success 30/09/26

I thought this was worth sharing: 

Since my car was booked for a service in Aberdeen today, I couldn’t resist making a quick detour on my way home. I stopped by Loirston Loch, a small loch located south of the city, to check in on the local pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Adult Great Crested Grebe with two youngsters.

On the water, the adult pair were surprisingly located at opposite ends of the loch, each accompanied by two impressive, well-grown juveniles. Great Crested Grebes are quite rare in Aberdeenshire, and it is likely that this is the only successful breeding pair in the entire city and county this season. Witnessing all four striped juveniles thriving and actively feeding alongside their parents was a great sight; let's hope they stay around for the winter.

📖 A Case of FOMO 30/08/26

What a difference a day makes in birding. Missing yesterday’s Wryneck while out for lunch with friends was a sting that every birder knows all too well, especially after it had already teased us earlier in the week by showing up in the exact same spot at Girdleness. By the time Dazza and I finally made it over, the bird had predictably gone to ground, leaving behind only that familiar mix of FOMO and quiet determination. I consoled myself by remembering I already have a Wryneck on my Aberdeenshire list, but the urge to see this one was still strong.

Aberdeen Beach looking across the harbour entrance from the golf course.

With a decent influx of common migrants dropping onto the coastline alongside local gems like Barred and Greenish Warblers, I couldn't resist setting an early alarm. I headed back out to Girdleness at first light, nursing the quiet hope that the Wryneck might give us a second chance.

It didn't reemerge, but the morning was far from a loss. I ended up spending a fantastic three hours working the site, ultimately logging fifty species. My initial focus was on the shoreline and the coastal scrub, working through the gorse and willow in search of fresh arrivals. The passerine highlight came just below the allotments, where I managed to pick out a single Pied Flycatcher tucked away in the large sycamore. Tucked just behind in the harbour entrance, nine Goosanders were busy feeding, while the allotments themselves were lively, producing three Tree Sparrows and a pair of Common Redstarts. Pushing along the edge of the golf course toward the lighthouse, a check of the gorse yielded a third Common Redstart alongside a single Common Whitethroat. Meanwhile, back down at the shoreline, a couple of Wheatears skipped along the rocks, and plenty of Meadow Pipits were kept on their toes, constantly being chased off by feisty Rock Pipits.

Common Redstart at the allotments

One of three Common Redstarts seen today. 

The shoreline and surrounding habitat held a solid variety of waders, including a pair of Whimbrel alongside Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers, Curlews, and Redshanks. I wrapped up the morning with a half hour of seawatching, which turned out to be remarkably busy. A pair of Common Scoters pushed south, while steady numbers of terns filtered through—mostly Sandwich alongside several Arctics. Guillemots were bobbing about and constantly calling, joined by a few Razorbills. The breakwater held the usual hordes of Eiders and roughly a hundred roosting Kittiwakes, while plenty of Gannets streamed past and Fulmars put on a masterclass in sheer flying enjoyment. The absolute highlight of the seawatch, however, was a pair of Arctic Skuas moving smartly north.

It might not have delivered the elusive Wryneck, but a crisp, productive morning with fifty species on the tally is never a bad way to start the day.

📖 A Productive day in the Dreich! 28/08/26

After being cooped up indoors for the past few days, I was desperate to get out and hopefully add a few missing species to my year list. With recent easterlies, a few common migrants have been turning up along the Aberdeenshire coastline, so I decided to head up to Rattray. My original plan was to park at St. Mary’s Chapel and walk the track to the Lighthouse Cottages, but nature had other plans—by the time I arrived, the rain was coming down in absolute torrents.

Refusing to let the weather spoil the trip, I drove up the track instead, using the car as a mobile hide. The drive up delivered early rewards, with both Corn Bunting and Wheatear perched along the fence posts, braving the downpour. The car park area was quiet at first, but the birding picked up significantly after I met up with Tom Kirkpatrick and began checking over the cottage garden. We spent a fantastic forty-five minutes watching a sheltered area along the fenceline. Despite the heavy rain, the birds were feeding actively: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, and eventually a Garden Warbler—most of which Andy Carroll had recorded earlier in the day. Alongside these feeding passerines, a constant stream of House Martins and Swallows skimmed low across the fields, showing incredible resilience against the driving rain.

Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher competing for food.

Pied Flycatcher from the car window - Not a day for photography!

On the way home, I made a detour to Forvie Nature Reserve to hunt for an Icterine Warbler and a Wryneck reported earlier by the wardens. This finally gave me the proper walk I had been craving all day. I spent an hour pacing the cliffs and scanning around the reported spot at Coastguard Pools, but both target birds proved elusive.

Coastguard Pools at Forvie 

Even without the rarities, the coastal walk delivered a solid supporting cast. On land, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, and Chiffchaff kept things active, while the cliff tops offered great views of the sea, revealing the usual array of Eiders, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Sandwich Terns, Shag, and Cormorant. It was a classic dreich day weatherwise, but there is nothing quite like a rain-soaked coastal walk and a couple of new year-list additions to clear the head.

📖 Glen Girnock 22/08/26

An afternoon walk through Glen Girnock near Ballater with Dazza provided a peaceful retreat into a wonderfully varied landscape that I last visited in July last year. Under mostly overcast skies, with a comfortable 18°C and a gentle breeze keeping the air fresh, it was ideal weather for a few hours of slow exploration. The landscape begins in mixed woodland and structured plantations, where the treeline extends outward before the glen opens into view. From there, it unfolds in gentle layers, leading the eye across patches of rough pasture, along the quiet meanders of Girnock Burn, and finally rising into sweeping moorland where the purple heather was beginning to come into its prime, framed by rolling low hills.

The view heading back along the track.

Despite the muted light, the local butterflies were pleasantly active. Scotch Argus stole the show, difficult to photograph dancing on the wing in surprising numbers across the heather and grasslands. Joining them were a few Small Heaths fluttering low to the ground and the bold, colourful flashes of Red Admirals. A lone Dark-green Fritillary made a brief appearance, along with a single Comma. The latter was once uncommon to scarce in Aberdeenshire, though its status is gradually changing. In fact, I had one in the garden last week.

Scotch Argus - Finally, one settled on the path for a photo.

The birdlife kept the walk lively from start to finish. Although the final species tally reached a modest nineteen, the volume and activity were remarkable. Spotted Flycatchers were a real highlight, with at least nine individuals logged, including several youngsters venturing out from lower branches to snatch insects. A similar count of noisy Crossbills kept to the canopy, while bright, chatterbox Siskins were just too numerous to keep track of as they moved in restless flocks through the trees.

Spotted Flycatcher 

Common Crossbill

Seasonal shifts were clearly underway across the higher ground. Summer residents like Redstart and Whinchat, which regularly breed in the glen, had already cleared out from their nesting territories. Just a single Stonechat perched on the rocks alongside a handful of Meadow Pipits, while Treecreepers, Chiffchaffs, Song Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker added activity deeper in the woods. Overhead, Buzzard and Red Kites drifted along the thermal currents, while a busy mixed flock of Swallows and House Martins swept low over the moorland in pursuit of airborne insects. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in the hills, capturing the subtle, quiet transition of early late-summer nature.

A Few More Images of the Walk...

Scotch Argus underwing.

A worn-looking Dark-green Fritillary.

Common Crossbill.

View across the Glen.

📖 Media Break 21/08/26

Coastal Wandering and Returning Waders

I have been taking a brief step back from social media and blogging recently, which I think is a healthy thing to do on occasion, but that certainly doesn't mean I have been lounging around at home. Quite the opposite, in fact. I have been out and about enjoying our spectacular Aberdeenshire coastline, including an RSPB visit down to St. Cyrus near Montrose, along with plenty of time spent exploring local spots.

Things on the birding front had been generally quiet around the patch, which is fairly standard for this time of year. However, that lull has shifted noticeably over the last couple of weeks. Autumn movement is well underway, and a steady stream of returning waders is bringing the coast back to life.

One of a small group of returning Red Knot on the Ythan

Over the past week, I have made a few dedicated coastal runs, starting with a trip to Girdleness. Unfortunately, I was unable to connect with the Caspian Gull that had been reported there over the previous weekend. Yesterday, I headed further north for a full day along the coast, taking in Cairnbulg and the always-reliable Ythan Estuary. My luck with target birds continued to be a little mixed, as I dipped on the reported Pectoral Sandpiper at Cairnbulg, but the sheer volume of activity on offer made up for the misses.

With large groups of resting terns gathered at Cairnbulg, which today held Sandwich, Arctic and Common, there is always a keen sense of anticipation. Where there are terns actively fishing for their young, skuas are rarely far behind. The seawatching delivered on cue, rewarding me with views of three Arctic Skuas harassing the locals, alongside a single, heavy-set Great Skua—always a treat to watch in action.

Arctic Skua harassing a Sandwich Tern with the Fraserburgh Lighthouse in the background.

The shoreline was bustling with a lively mix of waders. I spent some time watching several species, including: Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, and Bar-tailed Godwit feeding along the edge and amongst the seaweed. Offshore, the action was just as lively. Numerous Gannets were making spectacular, steep dives into the water, and it was particularly heartening to see so many young birds among them. The same encouraging numbers applied to the local Kittiwakes, while a few Fulmars provided their usual effortless display, shearing low across the wave tops without beating a wing.

It feels great to be out following the seasonal shift, and with passage birding only just getting started, there should be plenty more to report on soon, and my annual autumn visit to Shetland is approaching fast. 

Below are a few images of my recent outings...

Spotted Redshanks along Foveran Burn

Dunlin at Cairnbulg

Bar-tailed Godwit at Cairnbulg

One of Two Spotted Redshanks on Foveran Burn (Ythan Estuary)

Osprey fishing at Inch Point (Ythan Estuary)

📖 Breaking the Hex 29/07/26

Every birder has  "bogey birds"—those frustrating species that seem to dodge you no matter how close or how often they are reported on your local patch. Since moving north six years ago, one local adversary has been Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia).

1st-summer Bonaparte's Gull

Despite being a rare but near-annual transatlantic visitor to the Aberdeenshire coastline, every single individual seems to time its appearance with uncanny precision around my absences or general bad luck. Whenever one is picked out, I’ve either been away or managed to arrive just as the bird takes flight into the blue.

Today, that six-year stretch of missing out on one particular species finally came to an end.

While most gulls nest in colonies on sea cliffs, islands, or ground scrapes, Bonaparte’s Gulls construct stick platforms high up in boreal conifer trees—often miles away from the nearest coast in the vast taiga forests of Alaska and Canada, where I've seen many adult and juvenile birds during my visits. Seeing one resting on a rugged Scottish rocky outcrop after an ocean crossing is a brilliant reminder of just how far these tiny wanderers travel.

The catalyst came late yesterday evening when news flashed up of a 1st-summer bird spotted at Whinnyfold. With a reasonable weather forecast and no major commitments on the schedule, Rob Leslie and I headed over mid-morning.

There weren't actually that many gulls around when we arrived at the dedicated spot, but after a half hour or so, it suddenly appeared—distinctive, delicate, and unmistakable when it perched up on rocks. We managed good, prolonged views through the scope as it actively fished and then dropped in right below us, preening.

Breaking a long-standing local hex always feels good, but doing it overlooking the Aberdeenshire coastline with many Auks, Kittiwakes and soaring Fulmars makes it all the better. 

One off the local hit-list at long last!

NEW Scottish Life-List Since Relocating Permanently to Aberdeenshire in October 2020