📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Red-breasted Flycatcher ~ May 25th 2024

 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Saturday 25th May 2024 🌤 18C ~ NE @ 10MPH ~ Dazza and I had already planned to head over to the Cairngorms today, so when a Red-breasted Flycatcher was discovered at Craigendarroch Oak Wood in Ballater yesterday, our first stop was a no-brainer!

Craigendarroch is a woodland hill with Oak, Pine and Birch trees, the climb to the top of the hill can be steep in places but thankfully we didn't have to venture too far before we found the bird singing away in the treetops. It's unusual to have one in the spring and to see one inland up here is scarce.

Red-breasted Flycatcher ~ Normally a coastal autumn vagrant.

We spent a half hour watching our visitor from Eastern Europe and had to feel for the bird singing away heartily, knowing that any response would be highly unlikely! 

A very enjoyable walk at Glen Callater followed, parking at Auchallater and walking alongside Callater Burn up towards the loch. Curlews were displaying when we arrived and so were Meadow Pipits, with several along the fenceline. There are Sycamores at the start of the walk and we noted a Willow Warbler and Lesser Redpoll. I'm always amazed to see Common Gulls when in the Cairngorms but they do nest here. In fact, some of the highest densities of nesting birds are found in the eastern half of Scotland. 

Callater Burn

Common Sandpipers, Dipper and Grey Wagtails also nest along the river and we also saw Stonechat, Wheatear and a single female Ring Ouzel, which flew along the burn during our walk back. A few Red Grouse, which are quite common here were noted but the only raptor seen today was a Kestrel.

The only butterfly seen today was a rather worn-looking Green Hairstreak butterfly, which Dazza discovered along the track. 

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Whinnyfold ~ May 24th 2024

 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Friday 24th May 2024 🌤 18C ~ N @ 6MPH ~ A Marsh Warbler had been reported this morning at Whinnyfold, which was just a few miles further up the coast from yesterday's Red-spotted Bluethroat at Collieston. Dazza had an appointment at the hospital in the morning which I attended with her and shortly after arriving home, I received a message from Bob Conder, another birder living in the village. He asked if I fancied going over. Forty minutes later, we were on-site at Whinnyford. 

Lesser Whitethroat

The bird was located in willows just south of the village along the coastal path. Mark Sullivan was there with his wife when we arrived and it wasn't long before we were listening to the Marsh Warbler singing deep in the willows. The bird was pretty elusive but did occasionally show itself, flying back and forth into low vegetation. Unfortunately, during the hour we were there the bird never quite showed sufficiently long enough for a decent image. Also present a Lesser Whitethroat, not particularly common in the northeast but a decent year-tick. This did show several times and even delivered a short burst of a song on occasion.

Red-spotted Bluethroat ~ Much better conditions than yesterday. 

News came through that the Red-spotted Bluethroat was showing well back at Collieston, so we decided to head home that way for Bob to take a look. When we arrived, there were about six birders with their scopes trained along the track, and we managed to get several good views of the bird before heading off.

A Few More Images of the Bluethroat...

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Collieston ~ May 23rd 2024

  🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Thursday 23rd May 2024 🌧️💧 12C ~ NE @ 5MPH ~ It was a thoroughly dreich morning, but with the sighting of a Red-spotted Bluethroat and yet another Red-backed Shrike at Collieston it was certainly worth taking the short drive over. I picked up David Leslie at around 9:15, arriving at Collieston 15 minutes later.

Red-spotted Bluethroat at Collieston in the gloom.

The birds had been reported along the backroad from Collieston to Whinnyfold, so we drove slowly and parked near the last known location. David spotted the Bluethroat first along the fence line. It was quite flighty during our stay, occasionally dropping onto the roadside and disappearing into the ditch.

Red-spotted Bluethroat a roadside view.

We watched the bird for a while and I managed to take a few more shots before continuing up the road in search of the Red-backed Shrike. We found the bird happily sitting on a fence surrounding a small copse a short time later. It was quite content to sit while I took a few photos before David and I headed off. 

Common Scoter

A quick stop at the Snub car park for a look over the Ythan produced an unexpected find, a Common Scoter but with the tide fully in we moved on for a walk around Collieston village. This was notable for the sheer number of seabirds passing north up the coast. Hundreds of Kittiwakes, Gannets and Auks passed through during our brief seawatch. 

Red-backed Shrike ~ Perced alongside a small copse.

What an amazing invasive year it has been thus far for Red-backed Shrikes, which once were a regular breeding species in the UK. They are long-distance migrants, who travel vast distances along the African-Eurasian flyway to reach their wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa. However, recent weather conditions have driven many across to the north of Scotland and in particular the Northeast and Shetland! 

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Fetternear Woodlands ~ May 20th 2024

 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Monday 20th May 2024 ☀️ 16C ~ E @ 4MPH ~ I took a walk today around Fetternear Woods in cloudless skies. When I walk around Fetternear, a mixture of broadleaf woodland, pine, and mixed farmland, it conjures up images of species such as the Nuthatch, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, and Spotted Flycatcher. Sadly, only the latter of these four is a regular here in the northeast of Scotland. Wood Warblers are scarce summer visitors, and the Pied Flycatcher is mainly a passage migrant, mostly coastal. The Nuthatch is rare, and I only managed to record my first in Aberdeenshire earlier this year. However, a pair did breed in 2020.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatchers I'm happy to say are a regular breeding species and today I managed to locate what I think may be a breeding pair. Certainly, since moving here I'm used to seeing plenty of young birds in the locale come autumn.

Green Woodpecker ~ This image is from my days back at Brandon Marsh in Warwickshire. 

The Green Woodpecker is also scarce in Aberdeenshire, especially around the Donside area where my village is located. However, over the past few years, one bird seems to visit each spring. Although I had only heard it calling during the spring months, today was the first time I actually saw it. In fact, It flew right over my head and continued calling throughout my visit. 

Grey Wagtail

My walk also takes me down alongside the River Don, where Grey Wagtails, Common Sandpipers and Dippers are regular nesting species. Occasionally there are breeding Goosanders but thus far I've seen no sign of any breeding this year. Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Treecreeper, Blackcap, Tree Sparrow and Goldcrest were other notables during my walk along with calls from a Tawny Owl, which I believe is nesting nearby. 

Orange Tip

It was an enjoyable walk today and butterflies were numerous recording Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Comma and Red Admiral. Also of note were several Silver Y moths. 

Silver Y 

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Red-backed Shrike ~ May 17th 2024

*sub-note to my last post we arrived back on Sunday evening from our trip to the Western Isles to find the Swifts had returned to Kemnay. Several screeching overhead, a great welcome home!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Friday 17th May 2024 🌤 19C ~ N @ 8MPH ~ I planned to do some gardening today, but when I received a message on the ABZ Whatsapp group about a couple of Red-backed Shrikes at Rattray, I decided to make an effort. I arrived at the old Kirk (St. Mary's Chapel) at Rattray 45 minutes later. A male Red-backed Shrike had been reported this morning, but I couldn't find any sign of it despite a thorough search.  

St. Mary's Chapel at Rattray

"I could have driven the rough track from the Kirk down to the old lighthouse cottages, but it was such a lovely day that I decided to walk instead. I've done this before, and one of the highlights is the many Corn Buntings, Skylarks, and Linnets along the track. You never know what might turn up, as this area is a real rarity hotspot.".  

Eleven Corn Buntings counted during my walk. This one is in full song.

Around 30 minutes to reach the lighthouse cottages, and there were plenty of Skylarks, Linnets, and Corn Bunting en route, as well as Sedge Warblers & Whitethroats singing from the bushes.

Red-backed Shrike (F) ~ A good influx over the last few days with 5 reported around my extended patch. 

Along the track down to the cottages I stopped to chat with a young Geordie lad who had his scope trained on the bird. Afterwards, I walked down to get better views and managed to capture a few images of the bird from a good distance. While I was there, a search of the area revealed a pair of Stonechats and several Swallows and Meadow Pipits on the wires, but nothing more exciting. A quick visit to RSPB Strathbeg and a look over Starnafin Pools from the bench. It was very quiet, and I didn't see any waders. The highlight was watching a Great White Egret flying onto the low ground.

My best shot of the Gray-headed Wagtail

My final stop of the day was at flooded field near Collieston for a Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava thunbergi which had been reported yesterday evening and again this morning. Thankfully the bird was still on site but with the strong heat haze, it was difficult to get a decent photo. 

A Few More Images...

Skylark

Linnet

Sedge Warbler

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Uist & Benbecula ~ Part 3 ~ May 2024

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Saturday 11th May 2024 🌤  19C ~ Wind SE @ 14MPH ~ It was another beautiful day on Uist, and once again, we enjoyed glorious sunshine. We had already recorded both eagles and, of course, the sought-after Corncrake. We decided to try for better views of a Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl today and I was still hoping to find a summer plumage Black-throated Diver.

Hen Harrier

On Benbecula, a good walking track runs from the car park past Ruabhal. This area of moorland and lochs apparently hosts breeding Hen Harrier, Merlin, and Short-eared Owls. However, our first bird as we were parking was a complete surprise - a 'dark phase' Pomarine Skua shot past overhead before disappearing from view an unexpected addition to our holiday listings! Shortly after we did indeed get better views of a Hen Harrier. 

Black-throated Diver ~ Shame I was unable to get closer!

There are two large lochs along the route and I was delighted to see that the only bird on one loch was a cracking Drake Black-throated Diver. While watching the diver a couple of Stonechats were busy chattering away and so we moved on, we may well have been too close to their nest. Also of note during our walk, more Wheatears and our first Kestrel of the holiday.

Short-eared Owl ~ Taken from the car window! 

It wasn't until we were leaving our accommodation on Sunday morning for our ferry back to Skye that we had our best views of a Short-eared Owl. As we drove away from our accommodation we noticed immediately a bird perched on the verge next to the road. A great end to a cracking holiday!

Our first visit to the Outer Hebrides was amazing, and we have no doubt that we'll be back. The area features beautiful white sand beaches, exquisite turquoise waters, bracken-cloaked moors, and machair-draped dunes. When the sun breaks through, it's simply stunning. 

More Images of the Trip...

Moss Carder Bee

South Uist

Lenticular Clouds 

The sought-after Corncrake

Wheatears are abundant

A fresh Red Admiral on gorse

Drinker Moth caterpillar ` Cuckoos Love them!

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Uist & Benbecula ~ Part 2 ~ May 2024

 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Friday 10th May 2024 🌤  18C ~ Wind SW @ 15MPH ~ After yesterday's abysmal weather today was a gorgeous spring day, if not a little breezy. We began with a walk along the shingle at 'Rubha Aird A' Mhuile a coastal headland with beaches to the north and south plus a loch to investigate. 

Wheatears are literally everywhere! 

There were Red-breasted Mergansers on the lock, along with a few Greylag Geese and overhead passing Common Terns, Arctic Terns and Sandwich Terns. Meadow Pipits are abundant on Uist and so too Wheatears, it seems you can't go 5 minutes without seeing one. 

Corncrake ~ Probably the most elusive species I've managed to photograph. 

Corncrake 

As we drove back past the church at Bornish we again heard Corncrake and spent a good hour investigating and this time we got lucky! Dazza spotted him first with the head showing just above the vegetation and we enjoyed several good views before we left him in peace.

An Otter on route to Locheynort. 

While driving towards Locheynort for a walk in the mixed woodland, we stopped multiple times to look for Otters around the numerous islets. We observed a particular Otter devouring a fish, which was likely a Trout or Salmon before it disappeared below the seaweed. The woodland area provided a pleasant walk, and we were able to record sightings of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Robin, and Chaffinch, the latter two are uncommon in other areas. 

White-tailed Sea Eagle ~ A little distant compared to yesterday.

After yesterday's rainy visit, we headed back to Loch Druidibeg and enjoyed a 3-mile moorland trail across the very wet blanket bog. White-tailed Sea Eagle and Golden Eagle were the best along with Linnet, Twite, Meadow Pipits, Hooded Crow, Wheatear and Cuckoo. 

Whimbrel

A stop on Benbecula at the appropriately called Stinky Bay, due to the large amounts of seaweed that often accumulates provided an opportunity to search through 1000s of waders. Turnstone, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Dunlin were seen in large numbers along with Whimbrel a single Bar-tailed Godwit, several Knot and a Little Stint.

Handheld iPhone image across the flat calm loch

In the evening we had the unprecedented 'Red Alert' Aurora and for Dazza and I what a surreal experience! While photographing the Aurora from the garden a Corncrake was 'crexing' nonstop just yards away, a Cuckoo was calling nearby and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the reedbed below!

Handheld iPhone

📖 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Uist & Benbecula ~ Part 1 ~ May 2024

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Thursday 9th May 2024 😶‍🌫️🌧️10C ~ Wind Variable @ 2MPH ~ Today, we took a ferry from Leverburgh on Harris to Berneray, a small island connected by a causeway to North Uist. The Sound of Harris is shallow and treacherous, and although the distance is relatively short, the current ferry crossing takes an hour to cover the nine nautical miles. The journey involves some hairpin course changes along the way. On route to the ferry the weather had closed in and we received a text message stating that due to fog, the ferry crossing could be disrupted or even cancelled. Fortunately, the fog had lifted sufficiently by departure and we completed the crossing on time. It was a reasonably quiet crossing with Black Guillemots, Great Northern Divers and several Auks noted. 

Harris to Uist

Shortly after disembarking at Berneray and despite the weather, we heard at least three Corncrakes calling from the roadside just a few minutes into our journey. We braved the weather and went for a short walk, but Corncrakes are known for being elusive and we failed to connect.

A thoroughly fed-up Stonechat still looking striking in the rain

Our accommodation was in South Uist, so before heading down we decided to explore the north. We began at Balranald Nature Reserve on the northwest corner. Although, once again we heard Corncrakes, we didn't manage to spot any and eventually gave up due to the weather. However, we did watch a couple of winnowing Snipe and snapped a forlorn-looking Stonechat from the Nature Centre. 

White-tailed Sea Eagle in the gloom at Loch Druidibeg

Next, we visited Loch Druidibeg, a large freshwater loch with many islets surrounded by moorland and blanket bog. During our drive around the loch, we spotted a White-tailed Sea Eagle perched high on a nearby hill. The eagle gave us great views as it flew over the car, having been spooked by two hillwalkers. We also noted several Wheatears, plus Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper, and Red-breasted Mergansers on the loch. Weather permitting we plan to take a long hike tomorrow.

A Cormorant struggles with a huge Eel ~ We were surprised to find out that there are no course fish on the Islands!

Having driven across the causeway to Benbencula and onto South Uist we eventually reached our accommodation at Daliburgh around 5pm. Known as the Boathouse it overlooks a small body of water and we watched from the window as a Cormorant struggled with a huge Eel. There were also many Sand Martins and several Swallows hunting flies over the water.