A sustained period of easterlies or south easterlies has certainly produced some excellent birding around the Aberdeenshire coastline over the past several days.
 |
| One of a trio of Curlew Sandpipers from the Waulkmill Hide ~ Ythan Estuary |
The Ythan Estuary has literally been awash with waders, the best of which were (3) Curlew Sandpipers from the Waulkmill Hide and a Spotted Redshank from the Snub Layby. At least three Osprey have also been fishing regularly during my visits.
 |
| Another Osprey on passage fishing over the Ythan Estuary |
A couple of evenings of sea watching from Girdleness lighthouse at Aberdeen Harbour has produced many Manx Shearwater, (9) Sooty Shearwater, at least (2) Long-tailed Skua, plus smaller numbers of Arctic Skua and Great Skua, the latter sadly decimated recently by Avian Flu! There have also been reports of Pomarine Skua, Balearic Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater but unfortunately not during my watches.
 |
| Pied Flycatcher at Rattray |
On Saturday, August 3rd I spent a few hours at Rattray Head searching the gorse and dunes around the lighthouse cottages which produced some excellent finds. Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, (2) Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat and (5) Stonechat were all noted.
 |
| Whinchat along the fence line at Rattray |
After Rattray, I decided to head back through Peterhead to pick up a coffee, with a plan to stop at Longhaven on the route home to try for a reported Red-backed Shrike. It was while picking up a coffee at MacDonald's that news of an Arctic Warbler at Strathbeg popped up on the WhatsApp group. It was a 10-mile trek back to Strathbeg and a reasonable walk out to what is known as The Plantation on the north side of the loch but as it turns out well worth the effort.
 |
| My best image of the Arctic Warbler at Strathbeg |
When I arrived the finder, Philip Bloor was still on site and thanks to Phil, who was actually just leaving I was onto the bird within 15 minutes. My gratitude to Phil for hanging on and after he departed I spent an hour at the plantation with occasional glimpses of the bird, along with Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher.
To round off an excellent few days I managed brief views of a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Kinneff Old Church. Excellent timing really as I was over that way picking up Dazza from Stonehaven rail station after she had spent the weekend in Dundee.
A few more images of the last several days...
 |
| Spotted Flycatcher ~ Rattray |
 |
| Ruff |
 |
| Wheatear |
NEW Scottish Life-List Since Relocating Permanently to Aberdeenshire in October 2020
