Rattray & Strathbeg ~ August 22nd 2022

🌤 15C Monday 22nd August 2022 ~ With Dazza on the early flight to Birmingham from Aberdeen, it was a good opportunity to head up the coast once I'd dropped her off. Having watched a stunning sunrise on route to Rattray it was well up when I arrived, having stopped at MacDonalds Peterhead for an egg McMuffin breakfast.

First Wheatear of the day!

The first species of note as I arrived at the cottages car park was a Wheatear, which flew up onto the fence as I was parking up. Little did I know at this point that this would be one of at least 30 seen today! By the time I'd checked out the bushes and trees around the cottages, I'd already registered five.

Yet another Wheatear as I made my way down to the shoreline.

The walk down to the shoreline and lighthouse held more birds and when I finally reached the shoreline 4 were perched up along the rocky outcrop. There was yet more down on the beach!!

One of 4 Wheatear's as I reached the shoreline

The sea was particularly calm and there must have been a fish shoal just offshore as the Shags & Cormorants were enjoying a feeding frenzy, along with several diving Gannets, some of which I'm pleased to say were juveniles. Sea watching was challenging due to the strong sunshine but apart from the many Gulls, there was little passage. On the water Eider, Guillemots and the odd Razorbill. Sand Martin, House Martin & Swallow were all recorded and as this is just down the coast from yesterday's Greater Sand Plover (not seen today) I did spend a little time checking out the Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Dunlin but to no avail.

No prizes for guessing ~ Yet another wonderful Wheatear on the beach.

On route back to the car I checked out around 50/60 Golden Plover on the now dry pasture for anything interesting but nothing of note. Meadow Pipit, Stonechat and Buzzard were also noted, along with many Linnets.

One of four Osprey at Strathbeg today.

A short visit to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg for a look at Starnafin Pools and here the highlights were (4) Osprey, (3) Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine, which hunted twice unsuccessfully over the pools. Waders included (30+) Lapwing (18) Ruff, (7) Dunlin, (11) Snipe, (3) Greenshank and a single Wood Sandpiper.

Other Images of the Day...

Stonechat ~ Rattray car park

Osprey ~ Strathbeg

Dashcam Sunrise

Rattray this morning

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Greater Sand Plover ~ August 21st 2022

🌤 11C Sunday 21st August 2022 ~ With an early morning twitch to St.Combs, Aberdeenshire for a remarkably confiding Greater Sand Plover and back home in time for breakfast It seemed like a perfect opportunity to fire up the blog once more after a short break.

Greater Sand Plover ~ St. Combs beach Aberdeenshire

What a fantastic bird just 35miles up the coast and quite at home amongst the many Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plover feeding along the shoreline. A brief stop heading home at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg produced a few goodies too, with (2) Wood Sandpiper, (11) Ruff, (5) Snipe, and numerous Dunlin, all flushed briefly by a passing Marsh Harrier.

Nice size comparison of Ringed Plover, Greater Sand Plover & Dunlin

It's been a busy summer for Dazza and me with the purchase of the smaller property next door, which we intend to knock through, thus making what should now be our 'forever home'. I've also been out and about attending two trips with the RSPB Aberdeenshire Local Group and spending time along the Ythan Estuary and Muir of Dinnet NNR recording Scotch Argus and Black Darter.

Black Darter ~ Muir of Dinnet NNR

Scotch Argus ~ Muir of Dinnet NNR

In the past few weeks, wader numbers along the Ythan Estuary have begun to increase. My first Avocet since moving permanently in 2020, quite the rarity here, was noted on the 19th from the Waulkmill Hide and a single Spotted Redshank from Snub Layby. This along with Osprey at least (8) Greenshank (40+) Golden Plover a summer plumage Grey Plover, (11) Black-tailed Godwit many Curlew, Lapwing and huge numbers of Redshank. Sea watching has been a little hit and miss with a few Red-throated Divers now appearing offshore and Whimbrel have been moving through, some groups into double figures. Two Velvet Scoter were also on the sea at Collieston on the 16th. 

Seven of eleven noted Whimbrel passing Carnbulg

Sadly it seems that Avain Flu has had a devasting impact with much-reduced numbers of juvenile Gannet passing through and just two sightings of Great Skua (bonxie) thus far. A short sea watch at Girdleness on the 17th produced (18) Manx Shearwater and a single Arctic Skua.

A Great Skua (Bonxie) seen during the RSPB Local day out at Cairnbulg, Aberdeenshire

From home the nesting Swifts in the house opposite seemed to have had a good year with 10/15 entertaining us over on most evenings, my final sighting was on Sunday 14th when the weather broke, the same evening as an Osprey passed over heading southeast. Talking of weather, like a lot of England we've had little rain here on the northeast coast and most of the local flooded meadows and fields have dried up. We do have a water advisory in place and the local River Don is as low as I've seen it but not dramatically. Temperatures did hit 30C for a few days (30.3C on my garden weather station) but thankfully we've been a long way off the 40C and high 30s that the south of the UK has endured.

More Images of the Greater Sand Plover & other wildlife during August...

Greater Sand Plover

Knot at Cairnbulg

Emerald Damselfly ~ Muir of Dinnet NNR

Common Crane ~ Strathbeg

Glossy Ibis ~ RSPB Loch of Strathbeg August 1st

Corn Bunting ~ RSPB Loch of Strathbeg

Common Hawker (F) ~ RSPB Loch of Strathbeg

Juvenile Arctic Tern at rest ~ Ythan Estuary

Marsh Harrier from Snub Layby ~ Ythan Estuary

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📖 Invercauld Estate ~ June 18th 2022

💨🌤 18C Saturday 18th June 2022 ~ Despite the strong breeze it was still a lovely day so Dazza and I decided to pack a picnic and head off to the Cairngorms to enjoy one of our favourite walks around the Invercauld Estate near Braemar. 

View looking down towards Deeside

This waymarked circular walk begins at the estate car park and takes you around the prominent Craig Leek. At a distance of 5.25 miles with an ascent of around 1000ft, the walk normally takes around 2.5 hours. As we set off there was a small number of Common Crossbills in the surrounding trees, apparently, all three species can be found around here (Scottish & Parrot) but I've yet to connect with the latter two. 

Common Crossbill

Due to the stiff breeze, I wasn't expecting much in the way of Butterflies, in fact, the only species we managed to identify today were Green-veined White and Small Heath, although a Fritillary did zoom passed at one point, likely a Dark-green! There were plenty of Four-spotted Chaser Dragonflies but the conditions ruled out any chance of finding Northern Damselflies, which can be seen here along the lower track.

Four-spotted Chaser

We made our usual stop for a snack when we reached Felagie Burn and while here had one of those unexpected wildlife experiences! Dazza spotted something swimming in the deeper water and the last thing we expected was to see a Mole hauling itself out. We watched in amazement as he awkwardly scrambled up onto the rocks before disappearing into the nearby undergrowth. Quite a surreal moment!

A Mole ~ Apparently a pretty good swimmer when the need arises!

The birding was excellent today for passerines and I don't think we've ever managed to see so many juveniles. It seems to have been an excellent breeding season up here thus far. Willow Warblers were too numerous to count and the same could be said for Stonechats, which also appeared to be around every bend. We also managed to come across three juvenile Wheatear along with what was likely one of the parents.

This young Wheatear was one of three noted today.

At a woodland stage of our walk, we found a family of five Common Redstarts, busily being fed by both parents. Dazza first noted the youngsters all perched on lower branches but they suddenly disperced into the nearby trees. A few photos before hastily moving on, a wonderful sight nevertheless! We also came across a second breeding pair a short time later.

Two of the five juveniles Redstarts (below) along with the male parent (above)

The final length of our walk takes you back to the car park along the estate road and here we managed two displaying Tree Pipits along with Siskin, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and Meadow Pipit. 

More Images of the Day...

Soggy-looking Mole after his brief adventure!

Wheatear

Wheatear

📖 Ospreys ~ June 16th 2022

I must say I don't envy those south of the border and the chaps back at Brandon Marsh enduring temperatures in the high 20s at present. It was one of the few downfalls of living on a boat made from steel and the best option was always to head out and find a nice tree to shelter under. Ah, precious memories!! 

Thankfully the weather is quite different up here in Aberdeenshire at the moment with the odd shower and a pleasant 20C. So with no sunshine and instead of heading off to Muir of Dinnet today to look for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies, I took a drive out to the Ythan Estuary. It was a pretty quiet visit and the major highlight was watching a couple of Ospreys. One of which took a successful dive, catching what I think was a Salmon.

Despite the rain, the gloom and the distance it's still a wonderful sight! 

📖 A Day Out ~ June 13th 2022

 🌦13C Monday 13th June 2022 ~ A day out beginning at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg and then the journey home stopping off at Peterhead, Meikle Loch and the Waulkmill Hide along the Ythan.

Corn Bunting

A few Corn Bunting on my route not far from the reserve but the main target at Strathbeg was a Glossy Ibis reported yesterday on Starnafin Pools. This is where I began my day overlooking that area first from the picnic bench. A pretty overcast and chilly day with occasional spots of rain at this point. Initially, no sign of the Ibis but I noted Greenshank, Little-ringed Plover, several Oystercatchers, (5) Black-tailed Godwit and (7) Shelduck, one with a family of six youngsters. The latter often scattered a small flock of Teal that ventured too close. A female Marsh Harrier was perched up for most of my stay but eventually headed off across the reedbed.

A thriving Tree Sparrow colony at Strathbeg

I spent a pleasant hour at the bench in the company of the local Tree Sparrows, House Martins and Swallows before a leisurelywalk down to the hides. 

Glossy Ibis at Strathbeg ~ A Scottish first for me! 

Here and directly in front of the 'Tower Hide' feeding in some flooded long grass was my target bird the Glossy Ibis, a Scottish first for me which now brings my total Scottish list since moving here permanently in 2020 to 216. 

From Strathbeg a stop at Macdonald's Peterhead to pick up a coffee, which I enjoyed at Skene Street. The sea was particularly quiet but produced a few passing Gannets, Kittiwakes & Sandwich Terns but the highlight was a summer plumage Black Guillemot just offshore. Meikle Loch was also quiet with only a few Oystercatchers and a single Pink-footed Goose of note. Finally a poorly timed stop at the Waulkmill hide on the Ythan, where the tide was only just on the turn. Double figure Sandwich Terns diving was a lovely sight but on the fields opposite, (15) Canada Geese, (2) Pink-footed Geese and (2) Barnacle Geese was a nice surprise to end the day.

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