Boatbirder.com: 📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Belated Update 13/02/24

It's been a while since my last update and I've been a little lazy when it comes to keeping my reader up to speed on my field trips. My 2nd hobby is Flight Simulator and this has taken priority as I get to know the new features in the latest Microsoft version MSFS. A few health issues have also caused several days on the sideline when for some unknown reason I developed a tear in one of my retinas. A trip to Specsavers revealed the tear and I was immediately referred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where within two hours I had received laser surgery and was on my way home. Thankfully the surgery worked and my retina is now secured with what they tell me is a perfect weld!

View of the Cairngorms from a recent Logan Air flight from Birmingham.

I'll begin by discussing the weather, which has been a combination of snow, ice, rain, and a few very windy nights, so nothing unusual there! However, there was an exception earlier in the month when the temperature reached the balmy heights of 15.1C. Dazza took some incredible photos of the Cairngorms in snow during a recent flight, one of which I have included above.

Delighted to see my first Scottish Bittern

To the birding and I've enjoyed a few days out with David Leslie, his father Rob and Mark Sullivan, committee members of our RSPB Local Group. Highlights included a trip out of county to Monikie Country Park in Angus where we managed some reasonable views of my first Scottish Bittern. The last one I saw was at Brandon Marsh before moving north.

Iceland Gull at Fraserburgh.

A morning along the coast at Fraserburgh on February 2nd produced a nice adult Iceland Gull and indeed the first Gannets of the year. Later in the week, an afternoon walk at Buchanhaven produced some good views of the many Purple Sandpipers.

Purple Sandpiper at Buchanhaven

The garden feeders have remained very busy with at least four Brambling hanging around and double-figure Siskin, along with the occasional Lesser Redpoll. On Saturday morning a stunning Sparrowhawk spent a short time on the fence directly under the feeders! Dazza and I watched in amazement from the living room window.