📖 ❄Upstream Encounter! 17/02/2025

Monday 17th February 2025 ☁️4C ~ Wind S @ 11mph ~ The last time I walked upstream along the River Don from home everything around the floodplain and marshland areas was frozen. However, today there was plenty of wet areas to explore, with my main target being Jack Snipe. The river was flowing slightly faster than normal after recent rains so I decided to begin around the floodplain and stroll back along the river bank. I don't possess a thermal imager and so I was going to do things the old fashioned way by walking around the perimeter of the wet areas and see what came out. 

The floodplain and marsh areas with Bennachie Hills in the distance.

It didn't  take long before I spotted my first Common Snipe, and by the end of my observation, I had recorded eleven in total. The highlight, however, was when I nearly stepped on a Jack Snipe before realising its presence! I barely managed to capture an image before the bird flew, descending back into the marsh just a short distance away. With the job done I left him in peace. At least four Reed Buntings were also present.

Record shot of Jack Snipe.

As spring approaches, activity is increasing with a large flock of approximately forty Curlews in the surrounding fields, along with a couple of Oystercatchers and a singing Skylark. Around the lagoon, an area of water that accumulates along the normal flow of the river, at least thirty Common Gulls and a similar number of Herring Gulls were washing off. Eight Teal, a couple of Mute Swans, Little Grebe, Cormorant and the usual congregation of Mallards were also present.

'The Lagoon' An area of water that backs up from the rivers flow.

It was an enjoyable walk back along the river with a few skeins of noisy Pink-footed Geese passing overhead. For me, the highlight came when a slight movement along the river's edge ahead turned out be dog Otter. He suddenly popped up, looking straight at me before dashing back into the river and disappearing. I never saw him again. It was of those magical, unforgettable moments, and I'm not sure who was more surprised during the encounter me or the Otter!

📖 ❄Early February 13/02/25

February thus far in Aberdeenshire can be described in three words: dank, cold, and miserable. I had hoped that the persistent easterly winds would at least attract some Waxwings to our shores, but it appears that, unlike the winter of 2023/2024, this winter will not be an invasive one. 

Despite the uninspiring weather, I have managed a few outings. Tuesday the 4th, I spent the morning in Aberdeen with David Leslie on the hunt for Kingfisher, classed as an uncommon resident up here. A visit to Johnston Gardens, a regular haunt for them failed to produce, but undeterred, we then headed to Walker Dam. On arrival we immediately heard a bird calling and spotted it perched just above the water, but it was flushed by a passing dog walker and unfortunately we didn't see it again, but job done. 

Drake Ring-necked Duck - Record shot. It's in the middle of the two Wigeon. You may need to zoom in!

We retreated, as one does for coffee and cake, anticipating the predicted rain. However, the rain did not materialise, so we decided to head to Loch of Skene in the hope of spotting a reported drake Ring-necked Duck. Skene is a rather large, lowland freshwater loch situated 9 miles west of Aberdeen and for me only 15 minutes from home. We parked at the east end of the loch for a scan. There were hundreds of wildfowl on the water. Goldeneye, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Coot were plentiful, as well as a few Mute Swans and Cormorant. It was David who picked out the Ring-necked Duck after a short while and we watched the bird preening before it flew off to the far side of the loch. 

Great Northern Diver just off Phingask.

On Sunday the 9th, Dazza and I spent the day with the RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group on the North Aberdeenshire coast around the Fraserburgh area. It was another excellent turn out to the extent that we had to split the group. Mark Sullivan & Rob Leslie leading one and David White and I leading the other. Our group began at Phingask, a good place for 'white-winger' gulls but the tide wasn't right at this stage but we still managed a good selection of species. Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Divers were just down in front and a little further out a few Long-tailed Ducks. Purple Sandpipers, Redshanks, Curlews, and Oystercatchers were observed on the rocks. However, what truly excited most people were the scoped views of a winter plumage Puffin, which many in the group had never seen before, and indeed, were unaware that a few do winter off the Aberdeenshire coastline.

Iceland Gull which I took at Sandhaven in January and likely the same bird seen today by the group. 

Stops at Sandhaven and Rosehearty produced more waders including Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling but the best from the groups perspective was an adult Iceland Gull back at Phingask. Which I'm happy to say was seen by both groups and a lifer for those members just starting out! 

After finding last years huge influx of Hawfinch at Fetternear, smaller numbers this winter. 

Locally I took a walk around the Fetternear Estate on Wednesday 12th which produced at least nine Hawfinch at Bishop's Palace. Also of interest along my route a number of Redwing in the leaf litter, along with Great-spotted Woodpecker, fifteen Brambling and a Red Squirrel is always nice to see. 

A Few More Images...

Ring-necked Duck - Loch of Skene - The 'white-spur' showing well on the flank.

Red Squirrel