Thankfully the rain and wind, such a feature during Saturday, gave way to brighter conditions with just a few blustery showers Sunday and Monday. Dee and I spent Sunday primarily at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg on the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire and ended with a rare twitch back in Aberdeen for
Pallas's Warbler. Strathbeg is the largest dune loch in Britain and this was our first ever visit here and I have to say we were mightily impressed! With lots of trails to explore, excellent visitor centre and four hides widely spread across this huge reserve there's plenty to see.
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| Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese over Strathbeg |
When you drive the mile or so from the main road down to the reserve you can see why this is one of the best spots to see wintering geese, with the sky black with skeins of Pinkies! More than 20% of the worlds
Pink-footed Geese arrive here at this time of year and along with huge numbers of
Barnacle Geese and
Whooper Swans, its an astonishing spectacle.
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| Whooper Swans at Strathbeg |
The visitor centre provides the latest information, great views across the reserve and immediately gives you the impression of the shear size of the place. From here we took a look around the wild garden and feeders, where a large population of
Tree Sparrow reside and today at least three
Brambling were also making use. We decided to head off to the Tower Pool Hide and the walk along the trail, which consists of wild bird cover crops held at least four
Stonechat, plus a couple of
Lapland Bunting were flushed and as we approached the hide.
Peregrine,
Fieldfare and
Redwing overhead. From the hide itself great views of the 1000's of geese including one or two
White-fronted and at least fifty
Whopper Swan. Huge numbers of
Wigeon also reside and mingled in
Pintail,
Gadwall,
Tufted Duck,
Teal,
Shoveler and
Goldeneye. Waders seemed light on the ground but
Curlew,
Dunlin,
Snipe,
Spotted Redshank and
Redshank all noted. No sign of a reported
Pectoral Sandpiper unfortunately!
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| Red-breasted Merganser |
A short drive is required back along the main road to visit the Fen and Bay Hides. Quite surreal doing this on a Sunday, having to drive through the old Crimond Airfield where a stock car rally was taking place! We began at the Bay Hide and more of the same, with the exception of
Red-breasted Merganser and
Yellow-browed Warbler, one seen briefly in the treeline below the hide. We met a lovely Scots couple in the Fen Hide, where we were told we'd just missed
Bearded Tit and another
Yellow-browed Warbler but in among the 1000's of
Eurasian Wigeon an
American was eventually picked out, but don't ask me how!!
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| Rock Pipit in a rare sunny spell! |
Our flight, not until late Monday night gave us the opportunity to have a full day exploring and Dee took me up to Girdle Ness, the headland that guards the southern side of Aberdeen harbour. The short walk around it takes in the lighthouse, sea views and Torry Battery - built to defend the harbour in 1860.
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| Shag - Plenty around the inland waters and harbours! |
It's great habit to explore, particularly for that illusive autumn migrant and lots of
Shag,
Turnstone,
Cormorant and
Oystercatcher can be found lounging on the sea walls. In the harbour several
Guillemot and
Seals, with
Gannet further out and the aptly named
Rock Pipit on the rocks below.
Blackcap, continental
Blackbirds and
Robins could also be found feeding on the remaining berries, along with flighty
Redwings.
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| Plenty of curious Seals at Ythan Estuary! |
From here a drive north to the Ythan Estuary with a
Slavonian Grebe and some large flocks of
Golden Plover and
Lapwing on route. The estuary is tidal for around four miles and we stopped at Newburgh Bridge to explore. Here hundreds of waders, predominately
Redshank but
Bar-tailed Godwit,
Grey Plover,
Ringed Plover,
Knot,
Dunlin and a single
Little Egret, not that regular in these parts. Small parties of
Eider Duck,
Red-breasted Merganser and a regular flow of
Seals passing by in the current.
Species Seen:
Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Wigeon, American Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Eider Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pheasant, Slavonian Grebe, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Water Rail (H), Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Guillemot, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Barn Swallow, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Stonechat, Redwing, Fieldfare, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Goldcrest, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Hooded Crow, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Lapland Bunting
