📖 Waxwings Ahoy! - 15/11/25

Friday, 14th November 2025, ❄️🌦️ 5C ~ Wind NE @ 10 mph ~ In the last few days, we've experienced the first frosts of autumn, and the garden feeders have become a focal point for our large population of House Sparrows. However, the Sparrows struggle to compete with the Coal Tits, which seem to be able to grab sunflower seeds with remarkable stealth.

I was supposed to lead this Sunday's local RSPB group outing to Forfar and Kinnordy Loch, but my ankle has unfortunately ruled me out. My thanks to Mark Sullivan for stepping in. 

Coal Tit - Waiting to nip in.

In news: The Cattle Egret at Udny Station continues to be reported since my last update. Additionally, several other scarcities have been noted in the area. Snow Buntings were reported in the dunes along the River Ythan on the 13th, and a redhead Smew was still present at Kirkton of Logie Buchan, further along the river on the 12th. Mark Sullivan spotted a Pallas's Warbler at Rattray on the 8th, but the bird did not stay for long. A few Little Auks have been seen sporadically off the coasts of Girdleness and Peterhead. Additionally, a pair of Hen Harriers were observed at Strathbeg, and a Velvet Scoter has been hanging around at the southern end of the loch.

The highlight of the week for me has been hearing about several flocks of Waxwings spotted around Aberdeen City Centre by local birders on their way to work or school @birderboy. No doubt brought in by the recent strong norteasterlies. Today was the first time they were found feeding, and my friend Ruth found them right outside her workplace, so I headed into town after breakfast for a look.

One of at least 30 Waxwings feeding on Yew berries.

At least 30 birds were coming down from the treetops and feeding on a large Yew Tree. I spent an hour watching and photographing them in the company of two other photographers, dodging a few heavy hail showers. Also noted were several Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush and a single Blackcap, the latter likely a new arrival for the winter from Central Europe.

Ruth joined for a little while but somehow forgot the coffee & cake!! Excellent Find.

📖 Comfort Birding - 04/11/25

Although my ankle issues persist, I’ve been making the most of local birding from the comfort of my car. There are plenty of nearby spots ideal for sea watching, allowing me to enjoy my time in any weather. On October 24th, I even joined our latest RSPB group outing to Loch of Strathbeg. While I spent most of the time seated on a stool in the nature centre, which luckily provides excellent views of the reserve, I was still able to drive to the southern end of the loch with the group. A full report is available on our local group website. HERE.

Group members overlooking the south end of Strathbeg (David  Leslie)

Great Egret just below the Nature Centre at Strathbeg

On the 29th, I decided to join Mark, David, and Rob on a trip to Montrose Basin, just over the Aberdeenshire border into Angus. I decided to meet them there as I was unsure as to how much walking would be involved. Our two target species for the day were Long-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper, which had been reported daily for several days and would be a couple of Scottish ticks for me.

It was an enjoyable morning with minimal walking. We parked at Tayock at the North East of the basin and headed along to look at the channel for the Long-billed Dowitcher. We couldn’t immediately see it, and a bit of confusion with the BirdGuides app meant we actually started to head away before realising we were in the right place. Thankfully, Mark spotted the Dowitcher feeding out on the mudflats near a Black-tailed Godwit. The size and structure were obviously different, and it was good to get a good comparison.

Mark's image of the Long-billed Dowitcher feeding on the mudflats.

After our success, we drove round to the Lurgies and had lunch in the pleasant sunshine. Luckily, we almost immediately had good scoped views of a White-rumped Sandpiper on the opposite bank. A couple of Grey Plover were nearby, Lapwing and Redshank were numerous, and a few Greenshank were also feeding in the vicinity. At least 6 Little Grebes were in the channel, and they were joined by a Long-tailed Duck, with a Canada Goose downstream beside a couple of Goldeneye. We also added to the Egret list, with a Great Egret towards the visitor centre and a fly-by Little Egret. A lovely few hours in great company, with just over 50 species seen. David has put a full report on his Facebook page: Aberdeenshire Bird Tours. 

Things are calming down a bit as we move into the latter part of autumn, but there have been a few noteworthy sightings across the extended patch. A Surf Scoter was spotted at Collieston on the 26th, a Velvet Scoter was seen at Loch of Strathbeg, and a Redhead Smew was noted on the River Ythan at Logie Buchan. Additionally, on October 30th, five Waxwings were observed on Abbey Road in Aberdeen, which piqued my curiosity and warranted some investigation. So on the 31st, I decided to drive over to Abbey Road to see if the Waxwings from yesterday were still around. 

Redwing new arrival.

It’s just around the corner from Girdleness, so I could easily make a morning of it. While I was at Abbey Road, I noticed a large number of Redwings, Fieldfares, and Blackbirds, all taking advantage of the berry trees scattered around the neighbourhood. It was clear that there had been an influx of these birds overnight. Andy Carroll also messaged me, saying that birds were arriving off the sea further up the coast at Kinnaird Head, including a Ring Ouzel. I spent an hour watching the thrushes, but there was no sign of any Waxwings, so I moved around to Girdleness.

A likely newly arrived  Blackbird taking advantage of the bumper berry stocks around Abbey Road.

It was a delightful 90 minutes, with countless thrushes arriving from the sea. Witnessing migration up close was truly amazing. There were other sightings too: several Bottlenose Dolphins were active just below the foghorn, eleven Common Scoters headed south, along with three Red-throated Divers and five Red-breasted Mergansers. But the real highlight was watching the thrushes complete their journey from Scandinavia, looking remarkably unfazed by their travels and disappearing swiftly into the many gorse bushes for cover.

As I looked over the rocks at Greyhope Bay, I noticed many resting Kittiwakes and several species of waders, including Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Turnstone, and Purple Sandpipers, beginning to increase as the birds return for winter.

Purple Sandpipers at Girdleness.

Another highlight of the past couple of weeks was seeing a remarkably approachable Cattle Egret, a rare visitor in this area and only a short 30-minute drive from home at Udny Station. I saw the bird yesterday without even leaving the car—an effortless twitch and just my second sighting in Aberdeenshire.

Cattle Egret near Udny Station, Aberdeenshire, taken from the car window.

Subnote: A slight adjustment to my Shetland list for 2025. The long-staying Western Subalpine Warbler at Lavenwick, Mainland, has now been confirmed through DNA analysis by Martin Collinson and his lab in Aberdeen to be a nominate Eastern Subalpine Warbler (S.c.cantillans). Thanks to Paul Cashmore for the update.

📖 Eastern Common Nightingale- 21/10/25

Since getting back from Shetland over a week ago, I've been stuck at home. My consultant was not pleased that I had gone to Shetland in the first place and insisted that I stay home, wearing my weight-bearing boot. Now, I'm waiting for an appointment with an ankle surgeon.

It’s not as bad as it seems to be at home right now. The constant movement of thousands of Pink-footed Geese migrating overhead and a few winter visitors already arriving at the garden feeders adds some excitement. Over the past few days, several autumn migrants have been spotted locally too: a male Bluethroat and a Smew at Donmouth, a Firecrest at Longhaven, Yellow-browed Warblers at Forvie and Girdleness, and, most enticing of all, an Eastern Common Nightingale at Rattray! 

Eastern Common Nightingale, Rattray.

Despite having a bucket list, A Nightingale in Scotland, especially locally, was not even on my radar when I moved here five years ago. So I knew that the temptation might be too strong for me, but I remained patient, hoping the bird would stay for a second day. This morning, I checked for updates, and as soon as I learned that the bird had appeared, I set out to find it. I knew it was close to the parking area at Rattray, so I was optimistic that I wouldn't have to walk far, if at all. Driving an automatic car made things easier as well. I really needn't have worried, as within twenty minutes of arriving, the bird was beautifully perched on the fence adjacent to the car park! I spent an hour with David Capon, hunched down just yards from the car, along with a dozen other birders who were watching the bird occasionally pop onto the fence. One chap even drove overnight from Felixstowe! 

Eastern Common Nightingale, Rattray.

A great result for me, along with another excellent find by Andy Carroll, who consistently keeps me updated with his discoveries, which, to be honest, occur quite frequently!

Eastern Common Nightingale, Rattray.

Eastern Common Nightingale, Rattray.

📖 Shetland 2025 Conclusion

After three days without any issues, on the morning of Tuesday the 7th, I noticed that my ankle was flaring up again, making it difficult for me to walk for extended periods. To prevent aggravating my injury and to handle the situation sensibly, I decided to take it easy for the rest of the week. I scaled back my activities and planned to do most of my birding from the car, which has always been my backup plan in case I encountered any challenges. It was either that or head home!

Dazza arrived, as usual, on Wednesday afternoon, the 8th. However, her flight was quite a nightmare; it was nearly three hours late, and by the time it finally landed, it was dark outside. Are the gods conspiring against us this year? To make matters worse, the weather for the remainder of the week was grim, with constant gales and heavy showers. This is not unusual for Shetland, but when combined with Storm Amy earlier, it felt never-ending. Typically, we would go on a few long walks while Dazza was here, and search for birds, but the poor conditions, along with my ankle injury, kept us from doing so. 

We spent our time exploring the various harbours and inlets, taking Dazza to see a few birds I had seen earlier in the week. Notably, the rare Siberian Thrush was still present, along with other species such as Rustic Bunting, Barred Warbler, and Yellow-browed Warbler. However, the lack of easterly winds this autumn has created an unusually calm period for rarities, and indeed many common migrant species as well. I don’t think I’ve taken fewer photos on any of my trips.

My biggest disappointment was missing the Blackpoll Warbler on Unst, which we were unable to see. Nevertheless, we made the most of our time exploring this amazing island. In the five years I’ve been visiting during this same week, this trip was by far the quietest and, understandably, the most challenging. However, I plan to return next year at the same time as usual. For now, it's time to focus on dealing with this ankle stress fracture.

Now that I'm home, I've compiled a list of the species seen on this visit below and added or enhanced a few more photos.

Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Pink-Footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Greater Scaup, Tufted Duck, Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Red Grouse, Red-legged Partridge (heard-only), Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Little Grebe, Fulmar, European Storm Petrel, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Greenshank, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Gowit, Curlew, Snipe, Arctic Skua, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Swallow, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Blackbird, SIBERIAN THRUSH!!, Robin, Northern Wheatear, Barred Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Redpoll, Twite, Siskin, Ortolan Bunting, Rustic Bunting.

New for Shetland - LIFER!!

Ortolan Bunting

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Red-throated Diver

Juvenile Red-throated Diver

Northern Wheatear

Common Rosefinch

Guillemot

Sanderling

Northern Wheatear

Sanderling

Dunlin

Northern Wheatear

Brambling

Long-tailed Duck

📖 Shetland 2025 Update 3

Monday, 6th October 2025, 🌨️ 15c ~ Wind W @ 22mph ~ With the gloomy morning weather and no reports of any species I hadn't already seen, I decided to start my day later and spend some time blogging and sorting my records. It also gave my ankle a chance to rest. Honestly, it's a bit frustrating not being able to cover my usual distances in search of birds, but oh well.

My first stop around mid-morning was a few miles north at the intriguingly named Twatt, where a Pectoral Sandpiper has been reported the last few days. When I arrived, a few other birders informed me that the bird, which had been feeding with a group of Lapwings, had been flushed behind the ridge by some sheep and out of sight. I hung around a short while watching a Wheatear before I decided, like the birds, to head south.

Northern Wheatear at Twatt.

I stopped at Sound in Lerwick and took a brief stroll along the burn, past the houses. There wasn't much to see, except for a group of about a dozen Siskins feeding on the pine cones. As I walked back to the car, a Kestrel flew overhead, but that was the highlight of my visit. I've never seen it so quiet!

It was a dry and bright afternoon, and after quickly checking my WhatsApp groups, I decided to head to Grutness for Common Rosefinch. I spent some time at the south end of the beach, watching a pair of Red-throated Divers exchanging fish, an interesting observation. Then, a Wheatear on the shore caught my attention. Along the water's edge, there were a few Sanderlings, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and a group of House Sparrows feeding on the seaweed. This seemed like a promising spot to look for the Rosefinch.

One of two Red-throated Divers.

I firmly believe in sitting quietly on occasions and letting the birds come to you, which feels like the perfect approach for my current situation. It proved worthwhile when, after a short wait, the Rosefinch appeared right in front of me amongst a group of House Sparrows. It stayed long enough for a few photos.

Common Rosefinch at Grutness.

Just as I was about to leave the beach, the boys from Warwickshire finally arrived, two days late. Andy Hale, Paul Cashmore, and David Cox had faced a challenging journey that included flight and ferry cancellations, as well as a stalled train ride from Coventry, all due to Storm Amy. Despite their epic trip, they seemed to be in great spirits.

I was planning to finish my day at Spiggie Loch before heading back north, so we teamed up for the last hour. As we drove away from Grutness, a Merlin flew across the road over the cars, and while making our way around the perimeter of the loch toward the hide, I stopped to take photos of my first Marsh Harrier sighting in Shetland. At another stop, we saw about fifty Barnacle Geese flying overhead. At the hide, the highlight was a Slavonian Grebe.

Marsh Harrier at Spiggie Loch.

After the boys left, I took a quick look at Scousburgh Sands before heading back north, where I found a Great Northern Diver to end my day.

Barnacle Geese over Spiggie.

📖 Shetland 2025 Update 2

Sunday, 5th October 2025, 💨💨 🌨️ 13c ~ Wind WNW @ 30mph ~Storm Amy continued to batter us overnight, but the gale-force winds had a silver lining. While I was having breakfast, I received news of three Leach’s Storm Petrels spotted at Aith Voe, which was only a 10-minute drive from my accommodation here in Tresta. When I arrived at the location, several other birders were already present and had reidentified the birds as European Storm Petrels, not Leach's. Still, it was such a treat to see them so close to shore.

The winds had begun to calm as I arrived in Lerwick to search for a Barred Warbler. Since it was Sunday, I parked behind Anderson High School and sat on a bench near the playing fields. I spotted several other birders through the trees, reassuring me I was in the right spot. I spent an enjoyable 45 minutes watching a few Redwings feeding on the grass along with several Starlings, in the trees, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. After a while, I spotted the Barred Warbler on the edge of the treeline and watched it for a short while, but when I raised the camera, it had moved deeper into the undergrowth. 

A recently arrived Redwing at Lerwick.

After leaving Lerwick, I returned to the Loch of Asta, hoping to photograph the Siberian Thrush. Unfortunately, the bird was in a garden surrounded by a crowd of photographers jostling for position. After a brief glimpse of the bird, I decided I didn't have much hope of getting a good shot, so I headed off to Quendale Mill for a Red-Breasted Flycatcher. It was remarkably approachable and stayed just a few yards away as a half a dozen of us watched.

A very confiding Red-breasted Flycatcher at Quendale.

The weather brightened up in the afternoon, with clearer skies and calmer winds, though I knew more rain was expected later. I decided to rest my ankle, which is holding up well, and drove to Pool of Virkie, where I could watch the pool from the car.

On the pool, there was a mix of waders, including Snipe, Turnstone, Redshank, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and a double-figure count of Bar-tailed Godwit. I also spotted Shag, Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, and Kittiwake to add to my tour list.

Double-figure Bar-tailed Godwit at Virkie Pool.

A drive around to the Ness Boating Club produced a couple of Black Guillemots in between the boats, now well on their way to winter plumage.  

Black Guillemot at the marina.

On my way back to Tresta, I stopped in Lavenwick to try and see a 1st-winter Western Subalpine Warbler, which would be an addition to my Shetland list since I had seen an Eastern in 2023. It was a short walk down the hill from the lay-by where I joined about twenty other birders, some of whom had thermal imagers—always a bonus when searching for elusive species. 

Record shot of the 1st-winter Western Subalpine Warbler.

After spotting the bird briefly as it moved between gardens, we finally got a good look at it feeding by a garden pond, although by this time the skies had darkened. A nice way to end the day.

📖 Shetland 2025 Update 1

Saturday, 4th October 2025, 💨💨 🌨️ 13c ~ Wind WNW @ 45+mph ~ Since my accommodation isn't available until today, I stayed at the Brae Hotel last night. After spending a night buffeted by Storm Amy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the weather had considerably improved by the time I packed my gear into the car, even though it was still blowing a hoolie.

With the break in the weather, I decided to start my day with a brief walk around Brae Community Woodland. Over the years, this woodland has yielded some remarkable rarities, so I thought it was worth a try. Initially, it was quite quiet, and I could hear Siskins in the treetops, along with a few skeins of Pink-footed Geese and several Redwings flying overhead. The highlight of my walk was my first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn.

From Brae, I decided to drive over to Billister to look for a Rustic Bunting that had been reported the previous day. Unfortunately, despite checking the ditches and gardens, I was unable to locate it. As I was leaving, there was a report of a possible Spotted Sandpiper at Sound in Lerwick, so I headed that way. Unfortunately, it was never relocated.

Next, a report of an Ortolan Bunting at Ireland. When I arrived, there were about a dozen birders, but there had been no sign. Another problem was the large flock of Twite feeding in the crop field, a needle in a haystack perhaps. I was told that birds would occasionally land on the roadside, so I headed back to the car for a vigil protected from the heavy showers. It would also be good for my dodgy ankle. Several Twite did in fact land both on the fences and road, but no sign of the target bird. Then, after about an hour, it was found perched on a fence! I did manage a record shot of the bird looking totally fed up and very wet. 

Ortolan Bunting - Not looking too happy about  being in Shetland

My final stop was at Spiggie Loch Hide to look for the long-staying Blue-winged Teal. It was a good choice as the weather had deteriorated quite quickly. I managed to get my duck species tally going, which included a few Greater Scaup but no sign of the Teal. So I headed to Tesco's and on to my accommodation at Tresta for the week. I was pleased that my ankle was holding up well.

📖 Shetland 2025

This will be my fifth consecutive October in Shetland, and if I go, it's likely to be a different experience than in the past. As my reader may know, I have been struggling with issues in my left ankle for some time. After numerous doctor's appointments, X-rays, and various blood tests without a clear diagnosis, I faced long waits with the Scottish NHS for further consultation. Eventually, I decided to go private and paid for both a consultation and an MRI scan out of my own pocket. It turns out that I've been walking around all this time with a stress fracture! Honestly, it came as no surprise!

In the past few weeks, I have been using a non-weight-bearing boot and ankle strap while mostly staying at home, and I have already noticed significant improvement. Then, to consider whether to cancel my trip to Shetland or take the risk. After discussing it with Dazza, we came up with a plan. I drive an automatic car at home, and rent a similar one while in Shetland, so driving won't be an issue. The main change involves deciding which birds to observe and the walking needed to find them. With caution in mind, I chose to go out; in fact, I'm already here, but it wasn't without its challenges.

I was scheduled to fly today, Saturday, October 4th, but with Storm Amy approaching, I was hopeful that Loganair would offer me the opportunity to change my flight to yesterday morning, Friday, at no extra cost. Given the circumstances, that was an obvious choice, and my flight arrived on time. As I write from my hotel room, the wind is howling, the rain is pouring, and all ferries to and from Shetland, including all flights to the island, have been cancelled until Sunday. It was a no-brainer!

I'm even considering that it's fate that brought me here. My very first bird sighting on this year's visit was a Siberian Thrush at the Loch of Asta—a lifer for me! I spent an hour watching the elder tree where this elusive bird likes to feed. Although I only saw it for about 45 seconds, it was a stunning sight, and I had a great view. Even better, it was just below where I parked. 

Let’s see how things go over the next week. You never know what this storm may drop in, and as always, Dazza will be joining me from Wednesday on.

📖 Autumn Birding Update 2025

Since my last post on 14th September, the Pink-footed Geese have continued to arrive, with plenty of noisy skeins flying over the house. Normally, I don't put my bird feeders up until I return from Shetland around the second week of October, but this time I've decided to hang a single feeder filled with sunflower hearts. The response was immediate, with Siskin, Coal, Great, and Blue Tits all making the most of it. Naturally, the large House Sparrow population didn't waste any time either.

The return of the Pink-footed Geese

On Wednesday, the 17th, I took a local walk upstream along the River Don at Kemnay with David Leslie to see what we could find. 

After parking at the Bridge Road car park and pausing to look from the bridge, we soon spotted a pair of Moorhens with two young chicks just below, clearly a late brood. In the hawthorn, a few smaller species were noted, including Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, and Robin. As we walked upstream, we scanned the north bank and spotted a large flock of about five hundred Greylag Geese, while a few Snipe flew out of a damp patch near the river as we got closer. Over the next 5-10 minutes, we observed around seventy Skylarks passing overhead, flying south, visible migration in action. On the wires, we saw a few Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings and a Yellowhammer, and in the distance, we caught sight of a Red Kite over Bennachie. It was a bit melancholic to see the many Sand Martin nests along the banks, once so lively just a month or so ago, now empty as the birds have now moved south.

Chiffchaff

On our return downstream, we heard and spotted a flock of Pink-footed Geese, David's first of the season, with nearly 100 flying south. We then came across a small group of Common Gulls on the river. To our surprise, we spotted a single Ruff on the shingle bank—a species I hadn’t encountered in the area before, making it a patch tick. A few Swallows were flying over the river, and we noticed a Buzzard soaring over the nearby Fetternear woodland. A single Lesser Redpoll flew overhead, and back at the car park, a Common Crossbill passed over, calling. We ended the day with a coffee and cake at Cafe 83 in Kemnay, just as the rain began. Thanks to David for the wonderful company.

My first local Ruff along the River Don 

I’ve done a couple of short sea watches at Girdleness recently too, but the winds haven’t been very favourable, mostly coming from the south. A brief shift to north-northwesterly didn’t bring much either. Still, I spotted a few Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua, some Common Scoters, and a single Velvet Scoter. Terns are still passing through, mostly Common and Sandwich Tern, along with plenty of Kittiwakes. The Gannets have been a real delight, especially with so many young birds around this year. As I write, we’re heading into a brief period of high pressure, but we really need some northeasterlies to get things moving.

Great Skua

The first Yellow-browed Warbler was reported this morning in Aberdeen, and a Snow Bunting on one of the breakers at Girdleness, which are good signs. I also noticed on BirdGuides a report of a Barred Warbler being photographed in a garden in Inverurie. I'm out with the RSPB Local Group at Girdleness on Wednesday, 24th, so let's see how it goes.

📖 Autumn Birding September 2025

The beginning of September has brought typical autumn weather, featuring a mix of beautiful sunny days and occasional heavy downpours, with brisk southerly winds still present. One evening, we even caught a fleeting glimpse of the Northern Lights as the nights are now growing longer. Unfortunately, I missed the lunar eclipse.

Northern Lights from the bedroom window just after midnight.

Friday, 12th September 2025, 🌤️ 15c ~ Wind SW @ 14mph ~With Dazza away in the highlands with her mum for a long weekend, I decided to prepare a packed lunch and head up the coast on Friday. I aimed to visit Cairnbulg and the Loch of Strathbeg on the northern coastline of Aberdeenshire. The weather was overcast when I arrived at Cairnbulg, and I immediately ran into Andy Carroll—not the footballer, but a local birder. After catching up and watching a lone Common Swift feed over the harbour for a while, Andy headed off for breakfast, and I spent a few minutes observing a Northern Wheatear before enjoying the next few hours taking in the sights and sounds of the tide rolling back in.

Northern Wheatear

I spent an enjoyable few hours watching a small flock of waders feeding contentedly right in front of me. The group consisted of eight Dunlin and at least five Little Stints, occasionally joined by the odd Turnstone, Curlew, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. 

One of five Little Stints at Cairnbulg.

As the tide came in, a few Bar-tailed Godwits tirelessly fed along the water's edge, occasionally venturing into the sea, while further out, numerous Gannets plunged into the water, creating the usual mesmerising spectacle! At one stage, three noisy Sandwich Terns passed through, and a Red-throated Diver flew south.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Cairnbulg.

After about an hour, another local birder, Tom Kirkpatrick, joined me. After chatting for a while, we noticed a significant influx of Swallows arriving from over the sea. Shortly afterwards, we were treated to the sight of at least a dozen Swifts! It was an impressive show for mid-September. We spent quite some time, now in the sunshine, watching them feed over the harbour, but despite our efforts, we couldn’t manage to spot a Pallid Swift amongst them! After a short sea watch with nothing of note, I headed over to Strathbeg.

I spent an hour at the bench overlooking Stranafin Pools, which, though somewhat overgrown, still offered a fantastic view. I was amazed by the number of waders present—over forty Ruff, along with fifteen Black-tailed Godwits, four Greenshank, two Snipe and twelve Golden Plover. Highlights of my visit also included three Spoonbills, three Marsh Harriers (all cream heads), five Great White Egrets, which have bred here again, and a single Little Egret. Unfortunately, I failed to locate any Cranes, which have been regular here over the past month. I also watched eleven Pink-footed Geese arrive over the loch, my first of the autumn and from here on the numbers will build.

An amazing count of Ruff at Strathbeg.

On Saturday 13th, I spent the afternoon at Girdleness with Ruth Howie, another member of the RSPB Local Group committee. Although a southerly breeze was still blowing and I didn’t expect much, we were pleasantly surprised. We enjoyed watching a steady flow of Gannets, with many black juveniles, Kittiwakes, Common Terns, and Sandwich Terns. At one point, five Common Scoters flew south, and there are still good numbers of Guillemot and Razorbill passing through. 

Kittiwake

The highlights of the day were spotting a couple of Arctic Skuas and a couple of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, which are uncommon in Aberdeenshire. The birds initially flew south but soon returned, settling just off the harbour entrance near the southern breaker. We ended with coffee and cake at Greyhope Bay Centre, watching the Bottlenose Dolphins. 

A couple of Pale-bellied Brent Geese passing the foghorn at Girdleness.

This morning, Sunday the 14th, I drove over to Loch of Skene, about a 15-minute drive, to catch up with a Black Tern, which I needed for my Scottish year list. The bird showed well, although always distant.

A few more Recent Images...

Dunlin.

Little Stint.

Bar-tailed Godwit.

Arctic Skua past Girdleness.

Grey Heron at Girdleness.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese.