Monday, February 28, 2022

πŸ“– Monthly Update ~ February 28/2022

After a period of unsettled but relatively mediocre weather in the first half of the month, the second can only be described as dramatic! Shortly after my last post on the 14th the first of three named storms were announced, storm Dudley. Incredibly this was followed shortly after and in the same week by two more named storms Unice and Franklin which both produced record wind speeds, widespread damage and major flooding. Thankfully and unlike the storms of January up here in Aberdeenshire we escaped lightly with most of the damaging winds limited to the central belt, northwest Scotland and southwest England.

My birding time has been a little curtailed in the latter part of the month, mainly due to other commitments and several snow days but I've still managed a few local walks and odd outings with Dazza.

Snowdrops cover the ground around the nearby Fetternear Woods.

Spring arrives a little later up here but there are many signs that nature is waking up. The local woodland at Fetternear now has washes of Snow Drops and the garden is beginning to come alive too with Crocus and Daffodils beginning to appear.

Iceland Gull ~ Ugie Estuary

On the 23rd I had an enjoyable morning and early afternoon out with the RSPB Aberdeenshire & District Local Group walking the Ugie Estuary to Peterhead. The highlights here were a couple of Iceland Gulls a selection of Waders (Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Curlew & Oystercatcher), plus several Purple Sandpipers. The final stop at Peterhead Marina, now in the heavy rain, produced a couple of Great Northern and Red-throated Divers before I finally succumbed.

Greenshank along the Ythan ~ At least a half dozen are here throughout the winter months.

A stop off on the way home at the 'Snub' layby which overlooks the Ythan Estuary produced many CurlewRedshank, circa 1000 Golden Plover, most now entering into summer plumage, at least thirty or so Bar-tailed Godwit and a couple of wintering Greenshank.

Green-winged Teal ~ Starnafin Pools, Strathbeg

On Friday 25th I finally caught up with the Green-winged Teal at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg, after two previous failed attempts! Thankfully the bird was showing very well among the Eurasians on Starnafin Pools.

Waxwing ~ Few & far between since moving to Aberdeenshire in 2020 (known as a hotspot for these charismatic winter visitors) but today was my day!

As I post on the final day of meteorological winter I've saved the best until last! A short 15min drive from home to Alford where a single Waxwing had been reported over the last few days. Unable to visit over the weekend I thought I'd take the chance today and was delighted to snap the above photo from the car window. The bird was also calling during my stay, that wonderful trill! A brilliant end to the month and indeed winter 21/22!

More Images from the past few weeks...

This 1st Winter Little Gull still frequenting Sandhaven Harbour on 15th

More Brambling at Fetternear while out with Dazza on the 19th 

Dipper out gathering nest material on the River Dee at Dinnet today!

2nd Iceland Gull of the day on the 23rd at Peterhead

Hybrid Hooded Crow at Dalmadilly Ponds

Red Squirrel acrobatics!

Purple Sandpipers at Peterhead harbour

Waxwing from today

Waxwing from today

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Saturday, February 12, 2022

πŸ“– Mid- Month Update ~ February 14/2022

For the early part of the month, the weather stayed unsettled and blustery, along with brief periods of snow and ice but little in the way of rain. Unseasonal southerly winds have also brought milder air north on occasions raising temperatures to the dizzy heights of 12/13C on at least two days.

One of three Smew at Fyvie Loch

On the 7th I decided to head a little further north for a walk along the coastline at Fraserburgh and Sandhaven. On route, I made a short stop at Fyvie Loch to catch up with three long-staying Smew, all redheads! At first, all three were asleep but a single bird did have the good grace to offer up an opportunity for a few snaps during my stay.

1st Winter Little Gull ~ Sandhaven Harbour

Kinnaird Head at Fraserburgh is known as one of the best east coast seawatching points (as you'll note later in the post) and I spent a short while here watching a few diving Gannets before driving a little further west along the B9031. After parking up I took an enjoyable beach walk along to Sandhaven harbour. A good selection of waders but nothing unusual searching through the many Gulls until I reached the harbour itself. Here the highlight was a 1st winter Little Gull, which after a short while headed west.

Red Kite

I've made my usual visits to the Ythan Estuary over the period and have enjoyed several local walks. While returning from one walk in particular on the 8th a Red Kite drifted directly over the house, a welcome year tick.

Ross's Gull One of the worlds least-known seabirds ~ Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh.

However, the highlight of the month thus far has to be Ross's Gull on the 8th! Thankfully I was in the right place, just north of Inverurie when the news broke and it was pedal to the metal. I needn't have rushed as the bird stayed for the rest of the afternoon and although never came too close to shore offered excellent scoped views and the odd photographic opportunity. This particular species (a lifer for me) was high on my 'Must See' list when moving up here to northeast Scotland and I'm delighted to have seen one so soon after my move. I spent a good 90-minutes fascinated by this beautiful small Gull of the far north! Thankfully as I post the bird is still making an appearance from time to time in the same vicinity, offering the chance for more birders to enjoy its delights.

More Images of the week so far...

Ross's Gull

Ross's Gull ~ showing the salmony pink colouration 

Ross's Gull ~ Often hover briefly and paddle feet in the water.

Ross's Gull ~ Was considered almost mythical by North American birders until 1980, when it began nesting for several years in Manitoba.

Another image of Little Gull at Sandhaven

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Dunlin 

Oystercatchers along my beach walk

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Tuesday, February 01, 2022

πŸ“– From Mountain to Sea! January 22

For the birdwatching community, January is when it all begins anew. A brand new year list gets off the ground and we once again begin to take note of birds we've likely filed into the background for the previous eleven months such as Blackbirds, Blue Tits and House Sparrows, which now become the sort after species, if only for a day at least!

Great Northern Diver at Peterhead Harbour on January 5th

Like most, I've been out and about since the turn of the year and as the Aberdeenshire Council vision statement reads: 'From mountain to sea, the very best of Scotland'. Indeed, I've made visits into the Cairngorms, the Ythan Estuary, nearby harbours such as Girdleness and Peterhead, plus a number of local walks and with the help of the good lady wife 'Dazza' have well surpassed 100 species for 2022.

Not the best image you'll ever see of a Red-necked Grebe ~ This one at Strathbeg on the 11th

I have to say that one or two sightings thus far have meant being in the right place at the right time and this was proven when sitting in the Bay hide at Strathbeg on January 11th. During my short stay, I managed to view the above Red-necked Grebe (likely the one on-site prior to Christmas) for just a few minutes before it disappeared from view.

Red Grouse at Glenshee Ski Centre

My visit to the Cairngorms with Dazza on January 17th was enjoyable, although due to the unusually warm start to January most of the early winter snow has melted and our visit was hampered on occasions by low clouds. Notwithstanding we did manage Red Grouse and Mountain Hare the latter easily spotted in their white winter coats. Sadly the chair lifts were not operational so any hope of  Ptarmigan or Snow Bunting higher up were scuppered, I'll rely on coastal areas for the buntings. We did have a moment when a large raptor appeared over the distant mountain tops but unfortunately, I was driving and we didn't get eyes on the bird long enough to determine the species. Golden Eagle will have to wait another day! 

Merlin washing at Meikle Loch

On Friday 21st I dropped into Meikle Loch just north of Collieston and while here spent most of my stay watching a Merlin washing down in the shallows. Also of note were a pair of Stonechat and a good selection of wildfowl including Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye.

Dipper along the River Dee ~ This one occasionally singing.

January is a great time to hear singing Dippers and during an afternoon stroll along the River Dee at Banchory on January 22nd with Dazza a single bird obliged. Considering the roar of the river we could still hear his penetrating song long after we'd moved on.

A family party of Whooper Swans at Monnymusk ~ good to see so many juveniles about!

I've completed a number of local walks around Fetternear and along the River Don and once again came across a couple of singing Dippers. The regular 100 or so Whooper Swans are now grazing in the fields adjacent to the river bank at Monnymusk and most mornings the Greylag and Pink-footed Geese fill the skies and fields around Kemnay.

Greenland White-fronted Goose at Kintore

In one particular field at Kintore, a Greenland White-fronted Goose was noted feeding with a group of Greylags, it's not uncommon to see one occasionally around the area.

One of the Brambling obliging for a photo in the rain

During one of my walks at Fetternear, I came across a flock of around thirty or so Brambling feeding on the beech mast. There appears to be a lot more around this year compared to last and I see one or two on most of my visits.

Just a small sample of the devastation caused by the recent storms.

January, in general, has been a remarkably mild month up here in the northeast of Scotland but of course, the main weather news has been the storms. January certainly ended with a bang and in quick succession came storms Malik and Corrie causing widespread devastation throughout Aberdeenshire and indeed other parts of the UK with winds in excess of 90mph. On top of the 30hrs we were without power during Storm Arwen last year once again we were personally cut off on two more occasions totalling 26hrs over the weekend. Unprecedented times and I'm sure we can expect more of the same in the coming months/years.

More Images of the Month...


Common Crossbill at Benview Nature Centre

The ever present Eiders on the Ythan

Red-breasted Merganser another regular along the Ythan estuary

Peregrine on route to Rattray viewed from the car

Fulmars are already on breeding sites at Buller of Buchan


Not an expert yet! But I'm thinking a Porpoise? passing close by at Cruden Bay

Local Sparrowhawk ~ Taken from the garden.

A drake Goosander takes flight along the River Don.

Treecreeper at Fetternear

Tree Sparrow ~ A good population exists with the local area

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