Tuesday, September 28, 2021

πŸ“– RSPB Strathbeg πŸ‚ ~ 28/09/21

πŸ‚Tuesday, September 28th ⛅️ 14C ~ A visit to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg this morning where unfortunately I failed to correctly identify a Greater Yellowlegs. Instead and despite having a few doubts when posting on birdguides early morning I decided it was more likely to be a Spotted Redshank. No excuses here though and well done to a chap called Andy Carroll who did identify the bird correctly later in the afternoon. Immediately after the word went out I knew it was the bird I'd photographed, so in a nutshell, I screwed up and we move on! Thankfully, lots of people got to see it and for me, it's a UK lifer, I've only ever seen them in Canada and the US in full summer plumage.

My first image of the Greater Yellowlegs 

It was actually a good day all around with thousands of Pink-footed Geese at Strathbeg, along with Whooper Swans, although the latter not in any large numbers yet. Ruff, Snipe, Dunlin and Greenshank were other waders, along with a single Little Egret. A walk down to the hides and around the Farmland Loop in the strong breeze didn't throw up anything unusual but there was a large flock of Linnet, lots of Meadow Pipit movement and a dozen or so Swallows passing through, plus a Chiffchaff back at the centre, where there's also a healthy population of Tree Sparrows. Despite the cool breeze, there was also plenty of Common Darter dragonfly's to be found.

Tricky one but I've logged this a Pomarine Skua

A stop for an hours sea watch at Peterhead proved to be well worth the effort with a huge flock of Golden Plover on the rocks below Skene Road. In the strong southerlies a decent passage of Red-throated Divers, I counted nineteen during my stay and what I've registered as a Pomarine Skua was the best of the bunch. Plenty of Gannets coming close in, including several juveniles and a single Velvet Scoter, flew south. Going in the opposite direction was two adult drake Long-tailed Ducks!

Sandwich Tern heading south

Sandwich Terns were passing south occasionally too and a small group of Common Scoter were seen at distance bouncing about in the waves. A good few Guillemots and the odd Razorbill were other notables, plus my first Purple Sandpiper of the autumn.

Images of the Day...

Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

Velvet Scoter → South

One of nineteen Red-throated Divers → South

Gannets → South

Golden Plover at Peterhead

Meadow Pipit ~ Strathbeg