Boatbirder.com: 📖 Unsettled Week 12/06/26

It has been an extremely unsettled and chilly week for June, delivering everything from sudden thunderstorms to heavy hail showers. That said, I managed to pick the absolute best morning on Tuesday for an early high-tide visit to the Ythan Estuary.

Ythan Estuary looking across towards the ternary.

The main goal for the morning was to meet up with Ruth Howie, a fellow RSPB Aberdeen committee member. We were hoping to spot a first-summer Bonaparte’s Gull that had been hanging around for the past few days, mostly visible from the 'Tin Hut'.

A Lively Walk to the Water

Even before reaching the estuary, the short walk down from the car park past the gorse bushes was absolutely alive with birdsong. Keeping me company along the path were Willow Warbler, Wren, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Yellowhammer, and Meadow Pipit.

Meadow Pipit

The tide hadn’t yet reached its peak, leaving a stretch of exposed shingle that attracted a few waders. I spotted plenty of Ringed Plovers, a handful of Dunlin, and four Red Knots. The highlight was a lone Curlew Sandpiper, just beginning to take on its summer plumage.

Scanning from the Tin Hut

I met up with Ruth at the Tin Hut, and we settled in for a solid ninety minutes of intense optics work. We meticulously scanned the hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and Sandwich Terns lined up along the opposite shoreline.

The usual Eiders, some with young and sporting a mix of plumages, and Grey Seals lounged midstream, while across the water at the Forvie ternary, the air buzzed with activity. Arctic Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, and at least four Little Terns, the rarer of the four, were endlessly diving into the estuary, fishing for food to bring back to their siblings.

Little Tern on the prowl.

Our concentration was abruptly broken at one point when an Osprey glided overhead. It caused absolute mayhem, flushing everything in sight and temporarily putting an end to our careful scanning!

The Verdict

Suffice it to say, luck wasn't on our side with the Bonaparte's Gull—it managed to elude us completely and hasn't been reported since. However, the Ythan rarely leaves you empty-handed. We were well compensated for our efforts by picking out four Little Gulls.

An excellent morning on the extended patch with great company!

Braving the Elements at RSPB Fowlsheugh: Seabirds and Fish and Chips

This past Wednesday, the 10th, I joined our RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group for what was supposed to be a leisurely evening stroll along the spectacular Fowlsheugh cliffs. The plan? Take in the incredible sights and sounds of the bustling seabird colonies, and top it all off with a well-deserved fish and chip supper in Stonehaven.

Nature, however, had other ideas! It turned out to be a rather wet and wild encounter, but a little rain wasn't enough to dampen our spirits (or spoil the views).

You can catch the full write-up of our soggy adventure over on the group's webpage here, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of the evening in photos: