Boatbirder.com: 📖 Summer Catch-up July 2025

Although midsummer's day has passed, it still stays light here until almost 10 p.m., which isn't ideal for birding. Many summer breeders are busy raising their young, making the mornings feel quieter with less birdsong. Since the Ythan estuary's purple patch earlier in June (see my post HERE ), activity has slowed down.

Thankfully, as July moves into its third week, the summer birding lull appears to be fading. Redshanks are returning in strong numbers along the Ythan, while Dunlin and groups of Knot, many still in their summer plumage, are arriving from the Arctic Tundra. Bar-tailed Godwits are becoming more noticeable, and a few Greenshanks, which winter along the estuary, have also made their return. The four breeding tern species at Forvie Ternary (Common, Arctic, Sandwich & Little) are actively feeding along the estuary, with many of their young starting to fend for themselves. Our resident breeding ducks, such as the Eiders, have started their moult and are looking a bit scruffy. On a side note, for the second year in a row, there has been no sign of any King Eiders, which used to be a regular summer visitor.

Red Knot

Despite the quiet period, July brought some memorable moments, including an unusually long-staying Glaucous Gull at Girdleness. A brief visit from my friend Theo de Clermont @Theodec97 on Friday the 18th, who spends most of the year guiding on Shetland and Mull, was rewarding when he spotted an adult Roseate Tern near Forvie Ternary—a first for both of us in Scotland!

Glaucouse Gull - Just below the southern breaker at Girdleness

Over the past few weeks, the RSPB Aberdeen and District Local Group organised two outings. The first was to the Ythan Estuary on June 29th, followed by a wonderful day at Glen Girnock in the Cairngorms on July 9th, enjoyed in glorious weather. Both events were well attended, and reports for both outings can be found HERE on our group's website.

A few images over the summer period...