Boatbirder.com

📖 Rain, Reeds and a Flash of Blue

Friday, March 6th 2026: It was a bit of a "moody" day here in Mijas—definitely cooler than yesterday at 12°C with some heavy showers rolling through.

Since the weather wasn't playing fair, I opted for a bit of "comfort birding," sticking to shorter walks and using the car as a mobile hide. I managed to squeeze in two of my regular locations before meeting friends for lunch in Malaga: Cantera Los Arenales (Mijas Quarry) and the unique habitat at Zapata.

Mijas Quarry: A Resilience Check.

The fire of 2022 at its peak

My regular readers will remember the devastating wildfire in July 2022 that tore through the landscape above the quarry. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I pull into the car park; the rocky outcrops and shrubs there luckily escaped the flames. It’s usually my reliable 'go-to' for Black Wheatear and Dartford Warbler, but after 45 minutes of scanning my usual hotspots, I'm sad to report they were nowhere to be found today. I've pencilled in a revisit of the whole site when I'm back here in May.

However, the pines and scrub still offered up some high-quality regulars: Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Sardinian Warbler and Common Crossbill.

Sardinian Warbler

Zapata: The Airport’s Wild Side.

I headed over to Zapata. For those who haven't visited, this extraordinary stretch of land runs along the Rio Guadalhorce on the north-west fringe of Malaga Airport (essentially the "other side" of the Guadalhorce reserve). It’s a brilliant mix of reedbeds and scrubland.

Today I focused my efforts on the reeds along the river. Despite the grey skies, the area was buzzing with activity. On the airport perimeter fencing, Stonechats and Corn Buntings were perched prominently, while Barn Swallows and House Martins were busy overhead.

Notable sightings included: Cetti's Warbler (loud as ever!) Zitting Cisticola (Fantailed Warbler) with a pair actively carrying nesting material—a lovely sign of the season. Crested Lark, Chiffchaff, Serin, and Greenfinch.

Bird of the Day: The absolute highlight, however, was a Bluethroat. It briefly popped out into a small gap in the reeds to take a quick drink before vanishing back into the shadows.

Bluethroat - Taken in 2024 in almost the same spot!

📖 Spring’s First Arrival: Guadalhorce

Date: March 5, 2026

Location: Desembocadora del Guadalhorce, Málaga

After yesterday’s relentless deluge, waking up to clear blue skies felt like more than just a change in weather—it felt like a gift. While the morning started with a brisk 8°C chill, the Andalusian sun soon worked its magic, warming the reserve to a comfortable 16°C.

As I crossed the bridge, the Rio Guadalhorce was running fast and a little high. The air was thick with the "explosive" calls of Cetti’s Warblers and the song of Blackcaps and Serin in the shrubs below.

European Serin

The True Signal of the Seasons

One of the highlights of the morning came as I headed toward the Laguna de la Casilla Hide. Looking up, I caught sight of a mixed group of Barn Swallows and House Martins slicing through the pristine air. For any birder, seeing the "first of the year" is a major milestone. It’s the definitive proof that the seasons are shifting and the great migration is underway.

The scrub along the tracks was equally alive:

Chiffchaffs calling and Goldfinch singing provided a constant chatter from the bushes.
A Zitting Cisticola (Fantail Warbler) made a brief appearance, punctuating the air with its relentless, monotonous "chipp."
High above, a Booted Eagle soared, while the ever-present, noisy Monk Parakeets ensured they were never out of earshot.

Hide Highlights: Conservation in Action

At the Laguna de la Casilla Hide, I was treated to a sight of five Marbled Ducks. Knowing how successful the reintroduction program has been in this specific pocket of Málaga makes every sighting feel like a personal win for local conservation.

Marbled Duck at Guadalhorce

Moving on to the Del Río Viejo Hide, the pace slowed down. Four Northern Shovelers were tucked up fast asleep on the bank, while a dozen Black-winged Stilts—the elegant staples of the Guadalhorce—roosted on the island alongside a few Redshanks. Just as I was moving on, two more Booted Eagles drifted southward overhead.

Booted Eagle

Shoreline Diversity

I paused at the De Aves Marinas lookout. Despite the harsh glare of the sun hitting the water, the gull diversity was excellent. I managed to pick out various numbers of:

Mediterranean Gulls
Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Yellow-legged Gulls
Black-headed Gulls

From here, a walk along the beach revealed the aftermath of the recent storms, with debris strewn across the sand. Here, Sanderlings patrolled the tideline with their characteristic clockwork run, while a few Crested Larks picked through the tideline remains. The overhead appearance of a magnificent Osprey was the cherry on top.

Laguna Grande: The "Smartest" Gulls in Town

The high water levels from the recent rains have significantly reshaped Laguna Grande, pushing the waders into smaller, more concentrated pockets.

Species	Observations
Greater Flamingo	12 not so pink sentinels.
Avocet	7 feeding in the shallows.
Black-necked Grebe	4 diving in the fresh influx of water.
Shelduck	4 keeping a watchful eye.

Greater Flamingo - Laguna Grande

However, the undisputed stars of the show were the three Slender-billed Gulls. There is something uniquely elegant about them; with their elongated necks and refined profiles, for me, they truly are the "smartest" looking gulls in the region.

Slender-billed Gull at Laguna Grande

*Worth mentioning that I didn't visit the Laguna Escondida today due to a large school party, but I'm aware that at least five White-headed Ducks were showing well.

White-headed Duck - From a previous visit to Guadalhorce

Final Thought

While the flooding submerged some of the usual wader scrub, the influx of fresh water has clearly revitalised the reserve. Between the first swallows of the year and the rare beauty of the Marbled Ducks, today was a vivid reminder of why the Guadalhorce estuary is such a vital sanctuary.

📖 A Retreat in the Sierra de Mijas 04/03/26

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you combine long-term friendship with exceptional birding. Yesterday, I touched down in Malaga after my flight from Edinburgh to spend ten days with a lifelong friend who has called the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas home for over 15 years. I’ve been visiting for nearly as long. Yet, even after a decade and a half, the novelty remains undiminished. I love to visit in March as it usually heralds the beginning of Spring migration.

The View from the Terrace

There's something inherently timeless about the vista from David’s terrace. When the sky plays nice, you are perched high enough to watch the white-washed architecture of Fuengirola spill down toward the Mediterranean. On those crystal-clear days, the horizon offers up the rugged, shimmering silhouette of the Moroccan coastline—a reminder of just how close these two worlds sit.

A Familiar March Rhythm

View from the terrace today, looking east.

However, today is far from a "postcard" day. Outside, the landscape is blurred by low clouds and a steady, rhythmic rain, occasionally punctuated by a rumble or two of thunder. I’ve started to notice a recurring theme: My March visits to Andalusia seem to have a personal vendetta against my birding exploits. This isn't the first time my spring visit has been greeted by a deluge. March 2025

The Garden Residents

Still, even in the rain, you don't have to leave your morning coffee behind to start ticking off your day list. The grounds are a constant hive of activity:

Firecrests: These tiny, restless jewels are a constant delight, often flitting through the pine needles.
Crested Tits: With their jaunty "mohawks" and sharp calls, they are regular visitors to the grounds, adding a bit of character to the local canopy.
Sardinian Warblers: The quintessential sound of the Mediterranean scrub; these bold little birds with their bright red eye-rings and dark caps dart in and out of the bushes, chattering incessantly.
Black Redstarts: These charismatic birds spend the winter around the villa and often perch on terracotta roof tiles or stone walls, quivering their orange tails as they keep a watchful eye on the garden.
Eagle Owls: As the sun dips, the atmosphere shifts. At dusk, the deep, resonant hoot of these magnificent owls can be heard echoing from the scrubland below. Last night was no exception.

Firecrest

Crested Tit

While the birds dominate the day, the local mammals make their presence known at night. Wild Boars are regular visitors to the area, though David’s electric fence ensures they remain "background characters" rather than garden guests!

Recent Wild Boar damage to the grounds, although the electric fence prevents further incursions.

Eyes on the Skies

While the garden offers intimacy, the sky offers drama. Depending on the season, the thermal currents rising from the Sierra provide a highway for some of Europe’s most impressive raptors. It’s not uncommon to look up from a book and see:

Booted Eagle: Spain's smallest Eagle, often seen overhead in both pale and dark morphs, slicing through the mountain air.
Short-toed Eagles: Easily identified by their bright underparts and distinct, "owl-like" hovering hunting style as they scan the brush for reptiles. However, I believe that today both eagle species will likely be perched in cork oaks or on sheltered cliffs, waiting for the weather to improve.

Short-toed Eagle over the villa in 2023

The Art of Stillness

Whether you’re a seasoned "birder" or just someone who appreciates the rhythm of nature, there is a profound peace in the Sierra de Mijas. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best birding isn’t found by trekking miles into the wilderness, but by simply sitting still and letting the migration come to you.

📖 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!