📖 Syke's Warbler - Torry: 01/10/26

Just when I thought the day was done after my previous post, news broke yesterday evening that sent a surge of adrenaline through the local birding scene: a rare Sykes’s Warbler had been discovered just east of the allotments at Girdleness by Mark Lewis! With the sun already setting, heading back out wasn't an option.

Notwithstanding, I was back on site at first light, joining a crowd of at least 20 eager birders—a remarkably large contingent by local standards. Thankfully, I picked up the bird almost immediately upon arrival, though it proved elusive early on, skulking through the cover and testing everyone's patience.

Syke's Warbler

Persistence ultimately won out. The Sykes’s Warbler eventually gave fantastic, open views, allowing me to secure a few clean photographs of this stunning vagrant. Breeding in Central Asia and typically wintering across the Indian peninsula, it is an incredible bird to catch on home turf!

Syke's Warbler again from the shoreline willow.

After a 90-minute gathering, I headed off for a wander around the shoreline with Liz Summerfield to see what else was about. It was a good morning of birding, and astonishingly, I came across the Skykes once more in willow along the shoreline. The bird must have dropped down for a brief sorte from its favoured area, which was around 100 yards away. I even managed a few more images.

Whinchat at Torry Car Park

Whinchat

This Yellow-browed Warbler proved a little challenging for a photo.

Also of note before heading off were: Yellow-browed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and a very showy Whinchat in the lower west car park at Torry. Now I really must prepare for tomorrow's trip to Shetland.

NEW Scottish Life-List Since Relocating Permanently to Aberdeenshire in October 2020