📖 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.

📖 I've Finally Broken Out! - 14/15/01/26

Wednesday, 14th January 2026,🌤️ 3C ~ Wind SW @ 10 mph ~ After what seemed like an eternity, I’ve finally made it out of the village! Thanks to the local farmers who worked tirelessly to clear the side streets and roads of snow, freedom is finally here. Kudos to them.

On Wednesday, I met up with David, Mark, and Rob for a stroll around the Ythan Estuary. We usually have our annual RSPB walk there on January 2nd, but had to cancel this year due to heavy snow. With high tide at 10 a.m., we opted to walk along the north bank of the river from the Waterside car park.

Rob, David and Mark - The three Musketeers! 

As we looked upstream, there was a good selection of waders, including Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover, with Wigeon, Teal and Mallard also noted. 

As we wandered downstream, we paused for a moment at the shelter, spotting Turnstone, Redshank, and Oystercatcher, along with a few Cormorant and the first of many Red-breasted Mergansers in the channel. Dozens of Teal and Wigeon were scattered about, and a fair number of Rooks lined the shore, likely from the nearby rookery.

One of many Red-breasted Mergansers along the Ythan.

Further along, we spotted a Kestrel hunting over the snowy fields, while Eider and Little Grebe fished nearby, before we reached the sand dunes. Our main targets there were Twite and Snow Bunting. It started off very quietly, but Mark eventually found a small flock of eight Twite that were quite obliging, giving us some photo opportunities. Along the shoreline, we spotted Knot, Dunlin, and Sanderling, as well as a few Bar-tailed Godwits mingling with the Curlews. Unfortunately, no Snow Buntings this time.

One of eight Twite seen today.

On the walk back to the cars, a Sparrowhawk crossed the river toward Newburgh, and we spotted a lone Meadow Pipit along the shoreline, followed later by a couple of Goldcrests in the pines, adding them to the day’s list. After Mark and Rob headed off, David and I headed up to the Snub car park, but the tide was still too high for much activity. We did manage to add Shelduck, Mute Swan, and Goldeneye, along with another pair of Little Grebes. It was great to get out again and start the year’s birding. Thanks to David, Mark, and Rob for the company.

Twite along the shoreline

Thursday, 15th November 2026,🌤️ 6C ~ Wind SW @ 11 mph ~ This morning, after a doctor's appointment, I decided to take a quick stroll around Fetternear, parking at the Business Centre. Having dipped a few times before Christmas in my search for Hawfinch, I was hoping to have better luck today. The paths were still a bit icy with the snow lying around, but I managed to make it to Bishop's Palace and back. 

Still no sign of any Hawfinch, and I’m wondering if a sighting just before Christmas at nearby Moneymusk might have been the small group relocating, but we’ll see!

It was a pleasant walk, and I managed to add a few more year ticks. First, I spotted a couple of Dippers along the channels, as they often appear when the River Don is running fast. Then, I came across three gorgeous male Bullfinches and, just as I returned to the car, a Red Kite drifted overhead, ending another brief outing. On my short drive home, I noticed the surrounding fields, now thawing, were once again hosting the many Pink-footed Geese that frequent the area, having disappeared during the snow.

Dipper at Fetternear.

📖 No Thaw Yet! - 09/01/26

View from the back door!

Friday, 9th November 2026, ❄️ -1C ~ Wind Variable @ 2 mph ~ Since my last post on the 6th, there’s been hardly any sign of a thaw, and last night the temperature dropped to as low as -8°C. The main roads around the village are gradually being cleared, but unfortunately, our road remains challenging, with tractors and gritters struggling due to its narrowness and the snowed-in parked cars. The furthest I've actually been this year is the short walk along to the River Don.

Dazza's car

As you can imagine, the feeders are still taking a beating, and my supply is running low. I’ve placed an order, but I’m not holding my breath for it to arrive anytime soon.

I welcomed my first Bramblings to the garden on the 6th, and since then, I’ve had up to half a dozen feeding. A lovely surprise was spotting my first-ever Mistle Thrush in the garden, which appeared suddenly, fed briefly, and left after about an hour. There have been as many as a dozen Blackbirds enjoying the apples, and up to thirty Chaffinch, but still no sign of any Redpoll, Redwing, or Fieldfare, which are usually regular visitors.

My 1st ever Mistle Thrush in the garden

Here are a few more images... My Bird photos are taken through the window from my hide (The office window)

Taken from the kitchen window - 4 of the six Brambling

A few Greenfinches occasionally visit the feeders.

Goldfinch 

Brambling - The guy's been around daily since the 6th.

📖 Major Incident - 06/01/26

Happy New Year from a beautifully snowy Aberdeenshire! As you might have seen in the news, some areas are buried under nearly half a metre of snow, so my 2026 birdwatching adventures have so far been limited to home and the nearby surroundings. While I write this post, we’re in the middle of our third round of Amber Warnings with no end in sight, and Aberdeenshire Council has just declared a major incident. The local community here in Kemnay has been incredible, with farmers out in tractors clearing roads and residents pitching in wherever they can to help remove snow and trapped vehicles.

My garden

View from Kemnay Bridge over the River Don

The garden feeders have been very busy, with a large number of Chaffinches visiting. I've also had at least ten Blackbirds making quick work of the apples I provide. Today, I recorded my first sighting this year of two Bramblings. However, species like Fieldfares and Redwings, usually regular visitors to the garden, have been noticeably absent, which is quite unusual for this time of year, especially considering the current conditions. Other missing regulars include Redpoll and Siskin have also been scarce. A Sparrowhawk has been through the garden on two occasions but left empty-handed both times.

I've added several photographs below; those of the birds are taken from my office window.

Brambling on the feeders

A very stern-looking Greenfinch

Siskin - Normally a regular but unusually scarce at the moment

Brambling

Siskin

Brambling

Brambling

Fetternear Estate

The main road through the village

The River Don from Kemnay Bridge

📖 Merry Christmas

This past year has felt like two distinct halves, and I think that, on odd occasions, the birding gods—usually so generous to me over the years—have both abandoned and favoured me!

Earlier this year, I took my usual trip to Spain in March, staying at my friend’s villa in Mijas. Unfortunately, during my two-week visit, the weather was a real problem, with flooding causing chaos across much of Andalusia and forcing me to cancel several planned outings. Still, I think I got off lightly compared to the devastation in Valencia!

Guadalhorce River, Malaga

In May, I enjoyed ten days in Poland with Dazza, where we visited the stunning Białowieża Forest and Biebrza Marshes National Park. Unfortunately, we did not experience the park at its best. The region was affected by unusually dry weather, resulting in record-low water levels in the Biebrza River and a severe drought. Unlike the typical spring floods in the park, the water levels in the Biebrza River dropped by 30 cm, turning the wetlands into tinderboxes.

The amazing Bailoweiza Forset 

This drought, combined with the severe dryness of the marshes from the previous year, contributed to a devastating fire in Biebrza National Park in April 2025. The fire spread rapidly, fueled by dry reeds and sedge meadows exacerbated by the drought conditions. It caused extensive damage to the park's natural habitats, including reed beds, sedge meadows, and even forested areas. However, we made the most of our stay and created many memorable moments walking over 85 miles in 10 days.

Shortly after returning from Poland, I began experiencing significant issues with my left ankle, which resulted in a diagnosis of a stress fracture. As I write this on December 30th, I am still dealing with ongoing issues and, in fact, had yet another scan this morning. Because of these issues, my annual October trip to Shetland was quite different from past visits. Most of my birdwatching ended up being frustratingly done from the car, and I only managed a few short walks. Suffice it to say, my birding during the latter half of the year has been rather limited.

So, as the year comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on the past 12 months, and I thought I'd highlight some of my favourite photographic moments from 2025. I'm sure you'll agree it wasn't all doom and gloom!

Additions to my Scottish Life List for 2025 included: American Golden Plover, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Eastern Nightingale, Ortolan Bunting, Cory's Shearwater, Bridled Tern, Roseate Tern and Siberian Thrush.

Spain, 14th March - During my visit to Spain in March, I made one of my regular trips to a somewhat flooded Guadalhorce. Despite seeing them regularly during my visits to Spain. This Black-eared Wheatear was my first sighting at this particular site in over 10 years.

Spain, 15th March - A fantastic visit to Fuente de Piedra revealed the lagoon brimming with water after the recent storms. While usually native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Lesser Flamingo has steadily increased its presence in Europe over recent decades, with small numbers seen in Spain year-round and breeding regularly since the early 2000s. The species is now listed in Category A of the Spanish bird list.

Spain, 16th March - During a local visit to the quarry at Mijas, I was amazed to see this Golden Eagle, probably a second-year bird, hovering over an Iberian Ibex. Could it really have been thinking of taking it on?

Spain, 19th March - One of six Little Bustards (1st image) during a visit to Huétor Tájar, a municipality and town located in the province of Granada. I had some of the closest views I've ever had, with a total of six sightings recorded. At one point, two males had a brief skirmish, which worked in my favour as they startled a very surprised Stone Curlew.

Spain, 19th March - During the same visit to Huétor Tájar, this pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos from the car window feeding on hairy caterpillars. Two of fourteen seen today! Quite a remarkable total.

Poland, 17th May - Penduline Tit at Dojlady Fish Ponds, such a treat to see one so close. Their colouration closely resembles that of a miniature Red-backed Shrike!

Poland, May 19th - A 4:30 AM start to see this Pygmy Owl. It was a lifer for both Dazza and me.

Poland, May 20th - A Black Woodpecker at its nesting hole deep inside the Bailowieza Forest.

Poland, May 21st - A Great Snipe during a lek at a secret location.

Poland, May 21st - This European Bison took us by surprise while walking through the forests. It's amazing how stealthy Europe's largest land mammal can be.

Poland, May 22nd - Middle Spotted Woodpecker. One of the seven species of Woodpecker seen during our stay in Poland.

Musselburgh Lagoons, September 6th - This Marsh Sandpiper was seen while away for a weekend with the RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group. Another 2025 lifer for me.

Shetland, October 3rd - Thanks to Andy Hale for this image of the long-staying Siberian Thrush (lifer) at Loch of Asta. Although I saw the bird many times over my week on Shetland, I failed miserably to get any decent photos. 

Aberdeenshire, October 21st - This Eastern Nightingale (golzii) was discovered by Andy Carroll at Rattray and fortunately remained for a few days, showing exceptionally well.

These are just a few photographic highlights from 2025. While it’s not always possible to capture every amazing moment out in the wild, I think I did pretty well, all things considered. My final total for the year was 212 species for Scotland. Here’s to 2026—remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint—but like you, I’ll be out there in the new year, ready to start growing my 2026 list!

Scotland Life List Since Moving Permanently in October 2020