📖 Signs of Spring on the Don: A Kemnay Loop - 25/02/26

As we approach the end of meteorological winter, I’ve been exploring my local patch ahead of my Tuesday departure for Spain. Yesterday's wander along the River Don upstream from Kemnay Bridge was a real highlight; the atmosphere and the activity of the wildlife provided undeniable evidence that spring is finally on the horizon.

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The Soundtrack of the Lagoon

I always know the seasons are shifting when I hear the unmistakable chattering of Oystercatchers. Hearing them in the distance as I began my walk was my first signal that birds are making their way back from their coastal winter quarters.

A small group of many Oystercatchers seen today -  Taken using my old Canon SX50

By the time I reached the Kemnay "lagoon"—a wide stretch where the water backs up from the main River Don—I’d honestly lost count of them. The river itself is running fast and full right now, likely swollen by snowmelt from further upstream. While several areas were still underwater, I managed to navigate the slush and puddles to complete the full circuit.

Kemnay Lagoon looking north with Fetternear Woodlands in the background - iPhone 16

A large group of Curlews in flight - Taken using my old Canon SX50

My focus on returning birds was further rewarded when a flock of over forty Curlew suddenly took flight,  accompanied by their unmistakable calls. This was accompanied by a constant chorus of Skylarks singing throughout the walk.

Further into the marshland—usually a prime spot for Common Snipe and the occasional Jack Snipe—I flushed several birds. All were Common Snipe today, but seeing them at any time is always a treat.

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An Unexpected Mountain Connection

The nearby fields were covered with Common Gulls and Herring Gulls grazing peacefully. It’s always a bit of a mental leap to remember that these Common Gulls will soon swap these local fields for the high ground of the Cairngorms to breed. Gulls nesting in the mountains sounds like a contradiction, but there it is!

Looking south over toward the fields at nearby Monymusk, I spotted at least forty Whooper Swans. They are a staple of the area, but after they were notably scarce last year, seeing them back in force was a personal highlight of the day.

Today’s Sightings at a Glance:

• Oystercatchers: Numerous (arriving back from the coast).

• Curlew: A flock of some forty - always a sign of spring here.

• Common Snipe: Several spotted in the marshland.

• Whooper Swans: 40+ near Monymusk.

• Pink-footed Geese: Several skeins passing noisily overhead.

• Skylarks: A constant companion.

• Mistle Thrush: One singing in the treetops to end the walk.

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As I made my way back downstream, the sound of a Mistle Thrush singing from nearby woodland felt like the perfect punctuation mark for the day. Winter isn't quite gone, but it’s definitely packing its bags.

📖 Spring Stirrings: Peterhead - 22/02/26

Is spring finally knocking on the door of the northeast coast? After a dreary and miserable start to the year? Today, I led 22 members of the RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group, and we were treated to a rare gift: glorious sunshine and a mild 11°C for our latest outing.

Our mission for the day was to track down white-winged gulls and waders, with Glaucous and Iceland Gull high on our radar.

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Mediterranean Gull

The birding began before the official 10 AM start. Early arrivals at the mouth of the North Ugie Water were quickly rewarded when David Leslie located a Mediterranean Gull lounging among the usual suspects—Herring, Great Black-backed, Black-headed, and a few Common Gull.

Mediterranean Gull

As we strolled upstream, the riverside was bustling:

• Goldeneye drake & females bobbing midstream.

• A lone Curlew preening on the far bank.

• A flock of 20 Redshanks accompanied by a single Dunlin.

• Red-breasted Merganser, at least three Little Grebes, and a Moorhen soaking up the rays in the reedbeds.

A flash of wings over the golf course, scattering everything, caused a stir; while we couldn't clinch the ID, the speed suggested a Peregrine. Perhaps most heartening was the soundtrack: Song Thrush, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, and Great Tit were all in full song, providing a much-needed hint that winter is finally losing its grip.

After returning to the car park, we headed east along the seafront toward Buchanhaven, and the coastal specialists began to appear. A group of twenty or so Ringed Plovers landed among the rocks, perfectly camouflaged until they moved. This was actually my first of the year.

With the North Sea looking relatively kind, we set up the scopes. The highlights included:

• Eiders: The males looked spectacular with their plumage glistening in the bright light.

• Divers: One confirmed Red-throated Diver, while another, possibly a Great Northern, remained a "distant mystery."

• Sea Ducks: A few Long-tailed Ducks and sawbill Red-breasted Mergansers.

• The "Rock Stars": Turnstone, Purple Sandpipers, and Rock Pipits worked the shoreline, while a Shag posed perfectly on a rock with its wings outstretched—a classic photo op!

Shag

Rock Pipit

Purple Sandpiper

The Goose Chase at Rattray

After a quick coffee break, we made the 20-minute hop to St. Mary’s Chapel at Rattray. This spot offers a fantastic vantage point over the southern end of the Loch of Strathbeg, and we were hoping to catch up with a reported group of Taiga Bean Geese.

The fields were carpeted with Pink-footed Geese. While we definitely identified Bean Geese within the mix, the distance made it a classic birding debate: Tundra or Taiga? We’ll leave that one for the record books. We also added Greater White-fronted Geese and a single Barnacle Goose to our tally.

The final hour at the loch was the "cherry on top," featuring:

• Smew (always a crowd favourite). Two females and a Drake.

• Greater Scaup, Pochard, Pintail and more wildfowl.

• A "ringtail" Hen Harrier glided effortlessly past to close out the day.

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It was a fantastic day of birding with great company. To see so many top species in such spring-like conditions was exactly the tonic we all needed.

Subnote:

Today's Mediterranean Gull displayed a ring on its leg. I managed to get a photo of it - the code allowed us to check its history, finding out it was ringed as a chick in Leipzig, Germany, in 2022 and has been seen in the UK and Germany over the last few years, with the last sighting in Germany in May 2025 - fascinating to know how far some of these birds travel.

📖 A Seven-Goose Salute: 17/02/26

With a decent forecast for Tuesday, 17th and a few local rarities calling my name, a trip with David Leslie was quickly penned into the diary. 

Naturally, in true Scottish fashion, Tuesday morning arrived with a blanket of fresh snow and freezing temperatures!

Luckily, the weather gods showed some mercy, and the skies cleared enough for us to head north towards Strathbeg. Our first encounter was a roadside field teeming with Fieldfares, peppered with Starlings and a few Redwings—a lovely sight before these winter visitors head back across the seas for the season and a sight that has been sadly lacking this winter.

Fieldfare

The Main Event: Slains

Our first proper stop was Slains, near Cruden Bay, and the target was clear: the mixed goose flock. We barely had the handbrake on before a white morph Snow Goose, one of our target birds for the day, announced itself, its white plumage practically glowing in the winter sun.

White morph Snow Goose, with a few Greater White-fronted Geese showing.

Record Shot of Barnacle Geese within the flock.

Once the scopes were up, the "Goose-fest" truly began:

• Pink-footed Geese: The vast majority of the flock.

• Barnacle Geese: Striking in their monochrome feathers.

• White-fronted Geese: Surprisingly easy to pick out thanks to the excellent light.

• Tundra Bean Geese: The stars of the show.

Wind, Waves, and a Scottish Lifer

Moving on to St.Mary's Church at the south end of Strathbeg, the wind had picked up, turning the loch into a bit of a washing machine. Despite the chop and the bitter wind, David managed to find a pair of Smew tucked away in a sheltered corner. The raptor count was equally high, with Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, and Buzzard all making appearances.

From here over to the visitor centre, but just as we arrived, the WhatsApp group pinged—an Egyptian Goose had been relocated with some Pink-feet nearby. We didn’t hesitate. Ten minutes later, we found it almost immediately, alongside a Pink-footed Goose flock, marking our 7th goose species of the day and a Scottish lifer for us both!

Egyptian Goose - Quite the rarity in Aberdeenshire

Closing the Log

We rounded out the day back at the visitor centre and a nearby plantation, adding:

• Little & Great Egret

• Whooper Swans

• Woodcock (a stealthy addition from the plantation)

Huge thanks to David for the company and the driving!

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The Day's Tally

Geese	Raptors	Others
Snow Goose, Pink-footed, Barnacle, White-fronted, Tundra Bean, Egyptian (Scottish Lifer!), Greylag	Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard	Smew, Whooper Swan, Woodcock, Great Egret, Little Egret

📖 Friday the 13th: Luck, Light, and Long-tailed Ducks

They say Friday the 13th is a day for bad luck, but in the birding world, "luck" is often just a code word for "the sun finally coming out." Following on from my post on the 11th, the clouds finally parted, and I took full advantage with a run up to Rattray and the surrounding coastline to see what had been stirred up.

St. Mary’s Chapel: A Chilly Masterclass

I arrived at St. Mary's chapel on the south side of the Loch of Strathbeg just after 11:00 am. While the sun was out, the NNW wind was clipping along at 13mph. With the mercury sitting at a crisp 4°C, the windchill was sharp enough to remind me exactly where I was.

The loch was absolutely teeming. Amidst the "usual suspects" (Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, and Goldeneye), I quickly locked onto my first target: two Slavonian Grebes showing quite well close in, bouncing around on the waves.

Further out, the scope revealed: Pochard & Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck (a pair out in the centre), Drake Pintail (a single, elegant standout), Marsh Harrier (a female causing a fair bit of chaos among the wildfowl)

However, another target bird proved elusive, but eventually I located the Smew—a drake and two females—feeding near the western reedbeds. They were distant, but unmistakable. Throw in some Great White Egrets, Little Egret and Whooper Swans, and a field full of Lapwings and Skylarks, and the morning was already off to a good start.

Close Encounters at Cairnbulg

Long-tailed Duck - Cairnbulg

My next stop was Cairnbulg Harbour, which turned out to be the photographic highlight of my trip. I spent 45 minutes observing a group of ten Long-tailed Ducks. This is a great time of year for these charismatic ducks, as they often gather in large numbers and various plumages just offshore before heading to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Occasionally, they forage just inside the harbour wall, like on this occasion, providing some excellent photo opportunities.

The Final Stretch: Foveran Geese

No winter trip in this part of the world is complete without a goose scan. On the way home, I pulled over near Foveran (A975) to check a large flock of Pink-footed Geese. Persistence paid off again, as I managed to pick out:

• 2 Barnacle Geese * 4 Greater White-fronted Geese. It was a brilliant way to cap off a high-quality day. If this is what "unlucky" Friday the 13th looks like, I’ll take it every week!

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Trip Summary

• Target Checklist: Slavonian Grebe (Check), Smew (Check), Long-tailed Duck (Photo-op!), White-fronted Geese (Check).

• Top Spot: Cairnbulg Harbour for the Long-tailed Ducks.

• Weather: Sunny but biting (4°C / 13mph NNW).

📖 The Great Grey: Why Aberdeenshire Has Forgotten What the Sun Looks Like!

There is a specific kind of "bone-deep damp" that only the Northeast of Scotland can truly achieve. Moving from the crisp, white scenery of January's record-breaking snow into a relentless, grey, soggy void is a tough transition even for the hardiest Aberdonian.

If you’re reading this from a place where the sky is actually blue, count your blessings. Here in Aberdeenshire, we haven't seen the sun in so long that I’m starting to suspect it’s been decommissioned. After the snow, we’ve been plunged into a Groundhog Day of drizzle. It’s not just "a bit of rain"—it is a constant, rhythmic bombardment of showers that has turned the landscape into a giant, over-saturated sponge.

The Science of the "Soggy Wall"

Why is this happening? You can point the finger at our neighbours to the East. We are currently being held hostage by a blocking high over Scandinavia. If this were autumn with birds on the move, who knows what delights we could have expected around the Aberdeenshire coastline.

In meteorological terms, this high-pressure system is acting like a stubborn bouncer at a club door. It’s sitting over Northern Europe and refusing to move, which forces the Atlantic weather fronts to skirt around it. Unfortunately for us, that "detour" funnels a conveyor belt of moisture directly across the North Sea and straight into our back gardens.

The Result: A relentless "on-off" tap of rain and a cloud ceiling so low you could almost touch it.

Despite the flooded fields and roads resembling canals, I’ve still managed to get out and about on the odd occasion. On January 26th, I took a circular walk through my local Fetternear Woodlands, bumping into Rob Leslie, and we enjoyed our first Hawfinch sighting of the year, spotting at least nine of them perched in the treetops. In addition, there was a nice-sized flock of Brambling, with roughly twenty birds or so and five Tree Sparrows.

Brambling at Fetternear

On January 28th, I met up with David and Rob Leslie at Loirston Loch in Aberdeen to track down a drake Ring-necked Duck. We finally spotted it among the Tufted Ducks. From there, we headed to Girdleness to see a Great Northern Diver that’s been hanging around the harbour entrance since before the New Year—after a quick breakfast stop at Tim Hortons. We did try a brief sea watch, but the conditions were horrendous.

Great Northern Diver in the gloom at Aberdeen Harbour entrance

On the 29th, I met up with Ruth Howie at the southern end of Loch of Strathbeg, where we enjoyed great views of a Goshawk in the gloom and rain, but we unfortunately didn't connect with a drake Smew. Also of note were two Great White Egrets and a Little Egret. We then headed over to Cairnbulg, where we were treated to close-up views of a double-digit number of Long-tailed Ducks. 

Long-tailed Duck at Cairnbulg 

On February 9th, I took a walk along the seafront at Girdleness, hoping to spot a reported Glaucous Gull and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Glaucous, but I did find the Brent Goose feeding on moss on one of the breakers.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - An unusual visitor to the northeast, we normally get Dark-bellied Brent!

Finally, news from the garden, and it's a hive of activity with a few Brambling still visiting, along with the usual hordes of Chaffinch, minus one after a visit from the local Sparrowhawk and good numbers of House Sparrow. Siskins are now in double figures, and I finally had my first Lesser Redpoll of the year, which was a one-day wonder. Remarkably, no Fieldfares or Redwing thus far, which is a real surprise!

Lesser Redpoll - A one-day wonder at my feeders.

Sparrowhawk in the garden!

Rock Pipit at Girdleness feeding on crab.

Two of many Kittiwakes preening on the breakers at Girdleness.