π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Silver Y |
