📖 Shetland 2026 : 06-07/10/26

With the weather settling after Monday’s gales, I began Tuesday with my usual pre-breakfast walk around Hoswick. The calmer conditions brought immediate results down along Hoswick Burn—a Yellow-browed Warbler was calling and occasionally giving good views among the cover, while the lingering Pied Flycatcher was still present in the area.

After breakfast, I found myself heading back over to Gott for a Greenish Warbler, and although I heard it calling a few times, I, along with a dozen others, never connected. The majority of Tuesday turned into a proper grind, spending hours working through various habitats without a whole lot to show for the effort. That all changed in the mid-afternoon when news broke of an Arctic Warbler over at Fladdabiter.

I made a quick dash across and settled in for the wait. After what felt like an eternity of scanning, patience paid off—we finally got good views of the bird feeding high up in a sycamore.

Barred Warbler at Hoswick - Looking a little drab after the rain!

To round off the day, reports came in of a Barred Warbler near the Hoswick Visitor Centre, prompting a return to home turf. Dodging heavy showers, I managed some reasonable looks in a local garden, with a bonus Lesser Whitethroat sharing the same spot—a good way to end a tough but rewarding day in the field.

Wednesday morning broke with glorious weather—a promising sign for Dazza’s flight later in the afternoon when she joins me for the rest of the week. With clear skies overnight, my pre-breakfast walk around the village was quieter than usual. The regular Pied Flycatcher had finally moved on, and even the Orca Hotel car park, which my accommodation overlooks and normally holds a selection of common species, was quiet.

The morning highlight came from offshore: a pod of Minke Whales feeding reasonably close in near Mousa. I managed to grab a few decent images as they surfaced.

Minke Whale at Mousa

Dazza’s flight arrived early, aligning perfectly with a flurry of good sightings around Loch of Spiggie. Our first stop yielded a drake American Wigeon on the loch, followed quickly by news of a Western Bonelli’s Warbler just up the road at Skelberry. Another trudge across muddy fields and burns paid off with superb views of both.

Western Bonelli's Warbler - A few record shots 

Before heading back, I spent an hour working a crop field near the loch—while Dazza caught up on a conference call from the car (we’ll keep that quiet!). The walk was well worth the effort, turning up Linnet (a scarce species up here in Shetland), a flock of Twite, and a stunning Red-backed Shrike to round off a fantastic afternoon.

Red-backed Shrike - A good end to the day.

📖 Shetland 2026 : 04-05/10/26

The last few days have remained relatively quiet, at least by Shetland's standards. Today, Monday 5th, ferocious winds battered the island, with gusts over 50 mph, making field birding a proper test of endurance.

Sunday 4th started quietly enough with another first-light walk around Hoswick. Little had changed since the previous day, though the reliable Pied Flycatcher was seen once again, happily feeding along Hoswick Burn.

This Pied Flycatcher has remained along Hoswick Burn since I arrived on Friday.

The real morning highlight came at Fleck, where two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were feeding remarkably close to the roadside alongside a mix of Golden Plover and Ruff. A subsequent high-tide drive around the Pool of Virkie yielded a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Later in the day, after missing it yesterday, I was thrilled to finally catch up with the Great Grey Shrike at Bixter—even if it insisted on staying somewhat distant throughout the encounter. Since moving to Scotland 6 years ago, I've only seen two of these predatory songbirds, both in Shetland.

One of two Buff-breasted Sandpipers along the roadside near Fleck.

Monday dictated a slightly later start given the severe conditions. I decided to head up to Sumburgh Head to begin to see if a brief seawatch might produce anything interesting during the gale. Watching Northern Gannets plunge-diving into the whitecaps is always a breathtaking sight. The highlight was a flock of at least fifty Barnacle Geese battling their way in off the open sea, fighting hard against the prevailing winds.

Leaving Sumburgh, I made another pass around the Pool of Virkie with the tide nearly in. It proved worthwhile, turning up a single Curlew Sandpiper amidst a mix of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, and a solitary Sanderling.

A Sanderling at Virkie taken from the car.

By afternoon, I set off toward the Busta House Hotel near Brae to search for a reported Red-breasted Flycatcher. En route, news broke of an Arctic Warbler at Gott. Being only five miles away, I diverted immediately and joined the crowd of onlookers. Despite an hour of searching, the warbler gave us all the slip, although I read it had been seen again later, albeit briefly. I resumed the journey north to Busta House, where I was rewarded with good views of the Red-breasted Flycatcher—a brilliant highlight to wrap up a challenging, wind-swept day.

Red-breasted Flycatcher showing some of its downy base feathers.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Virkie.

Record shot of the distant Great Grey Shrike.

📖 Shetland 2026 : 02-03/10/26

I arrived at Sumburgh on Friday’s 6:30 Loganair flight from Aberdeen, a quick 50-minute trip compared to the 14-hour ferry crossing. Half an hour later, I was back on the road for my sixth consecutive October week in Shetland. This year, I’m staying in Hoswick—one of my favourite spots on the islands. With its sheltered gardens, sycamores, and coastal cover, it’s a classic east-coast migrant trap where every hedge feels full of possibility.

My accommodation for the week

Unfortunately, A look at the long-range weather forecast brings a classic Shetland reality check: steady south-westerlies with no sign of the easterly flow every autumn birder hopes for.

Still, if six years here have taught me anything, it's that these islands always deliver. Westerlies just mean checking the coastal voes, working the cover a little harder, and keeping an eye out for Nearctic strays, so let’s see what’s out there.

A Pied Flycatcher feeding low in the willow along Hoswick Burn.

After my first two days, a first-light routine is already locked in. The morning starts with a sweep of the local gardens and a walk down the Hoswick Burn—which separates Hoswick from Sandwick as it meanders through the valley—before tracking its final stretch across the pebble beach into the bay.

A Whinchat along Hoswick Burn

Highlights thus far around the village have included a Barred Warbler along the burn, along with other common migrants such as Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whinchat. I'm also surprised at the number of Swallows still around! Redwings and Brambling have been arriving, and both Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese are already here. A Merlin has been actively chasing Meadow Pipits, and the local Ravens are regularly cronking overhead, one in particular seen chasing a Sparrowhawk across the rooftops on Saturday morning.

This Queen Eider at Lerwick 

Further afield, I had great views of this Queen Eider at The Knab, Lerwick, in among Common Eiders on Saturday afternoon.

Apparent 1st-winter Siberian Stonechat

Just a five-minute drive from my accommodation at Lavenwick, and after two attempts I eventually caught up with an apparent 1st-winter West Siberian Stonechat. Which I believe is a bird that breeds from European Russia east through Western Siberia. Fortunately, the bird perched briefly on the fence line, allowing for a few images before moving out of sight.

A stop at Wester Quarff for a Firecrest. In this instance, I was particularly lucky as, just after arriving, the bird flew into the open and perched at the base of the branches of a sycamore, giving brief but excellent views. I also struck lucky when I arrived late in the day for an Olive-backed Pipit. Interestingly, in the same garden where I saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler in 2022. In the pouring rain and poor light, the bird emerged from the base of a 'spider plant' to offer great views of the facial and breast features. A good end to my first few days.

Of course, autumn birding on Shetland wouldn't be complete without a reminder of how quickly opportunities slip away. My 'dip of the day' was a Great Grey Shrike near Bixter. I arrived shortly after it had been reported perching on a fence line, only to learn it had just glided off across the open moor. Despite a thorough search, it was lost to sight with no further sign.

📖 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

📖 Visible Migration: 30/09/26

The heavy, damp wind from the southeast had set the stage overnight, and as I pulled up to Girdleness this morning, everything about the weather screamed migration. Low grey clouds hung heavy over the coast, framed by a stiff breeze and occasional driving showers, with the sea battering the breakers. I’d hurried over after a report of a Rustic Bunting popped up, another great find by Andrew Whitehouse, and I was hoping to connect with it before heading north for my annual trip to Shetland on Friday.

Stepping out into the coastal air, the place's energy was palpable. Sheer numbers of Meadow Pipits blanketed the golf course, while overhead, a steady stream of thrushes cut through the gloom, tumbling in directly off the sea. It was visible migration at its absolute finest—the kind of raw, dynamic birding that makes mornings in bad weather entirely worth it.

I eventually bumped into Mark Sullivan and Ian Broadbent, who were also scanning the turf and scrub for the Rustic Bunting. While the target bird eluded us, their persistence had already paid off with a Lapland Bunting. As luck would have it, the bird flushed right in front of me the moment I arrived, took flight with its distinct call, and disappeared low over the links. Talk about immaculate timing.

For the next ninety minutes, I threw myself into the pulse of the arrival. Every bush was systematically searched, and every single pipit was scrutinised in the hopes of picking out a gem. Though the Rustic Bunting eluded us all, the sheer variety moving through the coastal patch was staggering. Waves of Song Thrushes and scattered Redwings and Blackbirds continued to drop in, and by the time I headed back to the car I'd encountered Yellow-browed Warbler, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Wheatears and my first Brambling of the season. 

It was an electric, utterly absorbing session—exactly the sort of grounded, high-anticipation birding I enjoy. If this morning at Girdleness was just the warm-up act, I can’t wait to see what Shetland has waiting for me in a couple of days.

📖 Wader-Quest: 23/09/26

Leaving the house in near-torrential rain, I took a leap of faith. A quick check of the previous night’s local forecast and the morning’s rain radar gave me just enough confidence that the storm would clear by the time I reached Cairnbulg for the 10 a.m. RSPB Local Group outing. Honestly, given the dire conditions, I wasn't expecting much of a crowd—so it was a nice surprise when ten hardy souls turned up, ready to brave the gloom and heavy rain for a proper wader hunt! 

Today's group on Inverollachy Beach

We set off along the shoreline toward the Water of Philorth, and our perseverance was soon rewarded. Redshanks, Curlews, and Dunlins were feeding along the shore. Suddenly, two small waders with striking white rumps zipped past us, heading back toward the car park before disappearing—Curlew Sandpipers. Unfortunately, only a few members of the group managed to spot them.

A scan of the rocks revealed Turnstones, Oystercatchers, and two roosting Bar-tailed Godwits. Flitting among the washed-up seaweed were Starlings, numerous Rock Pipits, and a single Wheatear. Remarkably, as the rain began to ease, a Skylark soared overhead, singing in full voice! Additionally, a group of five Snipe flew over the harbour.

Bar-tailed Godwit

At the mouth of the Philorth River, there was a raft of Eiders on the water, alongside a large gathering of gulls that included Great Black-backed, Herring, Common, and Black-headed gulls. Resting on the nearby beach was a small group of terns, primarily consisting of Sandwich Terns, with a few juvenile Arctic Terns among them.

At this point, the weather improved: the rain subsided, and patches of blue sky began to appear. As we retraced our steps, we spotted a Knot feeding alongside the Dunlins, providing everyone with an excellent side-by-side comparison of the two species.

We checked the eastern side of the harbour in hopes of refinding the Curlew Sandpipers, but with no luck. Instead, we spent a wonderful stretch of time watching Gannets in every stage of plumage—from all-brown juveniles to striking full adults—diving into the open sea. Nearby, Cormorants and Shags adorned the rusting shipwreck on the rocks.

Juvenile Gannet

Deciding to squeeze a bit more out of the trip, we drove the short distance over to Inverallochy to check the shoreline there. We first scanned the high-tide roosting rocks, picking out a couple of Curlews and Oystercatchers. Then came the bird of the day. Cruising past at relatively close range, a Sooty Shearwater came into view. The sheer proximity allowed everyone in the group to get good, clear views of this true oceanic wanderer—marking a memorable "lifer" for a few of the group!

Gulls in anticipation!

Continuing along the edge of the golf course, we watched in awe as a Peregrine swooped in, plucked a stricken wader straight off the surface of the sea, and carried its catch away into the dunes. A Red-throated Diver flew south, while a flock of Golden Plover rested on the rocks alongside a few Ringed Plover. Most notable was a group of nine Bar-tailed Godwits—quite a large count for this site. We had planned to walk the beach to scan the gull flock, but a dog walker with four unleashed dogs reached the shore just ahead of us, scattering the roost before we could get a look.

Oystercatchers & Gold Plover

Returning to the cars for a well-earned lunch, we decided on a slight change of plans. We headed back to Cairnbulg Harbour and retraced a stretch of the shoreline to see if any new waders had moved in. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers flew past, and scanning a flock of Black-headed Gulls revealed two first-winter Mediterranean Gulls among them. As we stood watching the water and hoping for a surprise, a small raptor shot past right in front of us—a lightning-fast Merlin!

Thoroughly satisfied with the coastal action, we made our way to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg for a change of habitat. 

One of the four Great White Egrets seen today.

From the visitor centre, the reserve immediately delivered in style. We were treated to a family of Cranes—two adults and a juvenile—along with four Great White Egrets standing out on Starnafin Pools. Up above, a count of three Marsh Harriers: likely the resident female and the two juveniles fledged on the reserve this year. Lapwings were added to our growing wader tally, and in the distant fields and main loch we noted Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans. There were also a few passing Swallows during our stay.

Common Crane - Juvenile in centre!

After the group finally left, I took a stroll to the hides. Where I came across a large flock of Tree Sparrows among the Hawthorn, a regular find here, plus a singing Chiffchaff, and I enjoyed better views of the Cranes.

📖 Monster Wader Days: 18/09/26

Wilson’s Phalarope, 18 Wader Species, and Late Osprey on the Ythan.

The return of the Pink-footed Geese.

I've enjoyed a few remarkable days of birding along the Ythan this week. The estuary has been packed with waders, and returning Pink-footed Geese have been filling the skies. Among the highlights, I counted about 23 Ruff during my visit on Thursday, and today brought the first Whooper Swans of the season. However, the highlight of the week was the discovery of a Wilson's Phalarope at Meikle Loch on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, I had a couple of distant views of the bird, but today (Friday) I joined David Leslie, who had not yet seen it, and Mark Sullivan to see if we could improve our observations.

Ruff - Some good numbers along the Ythan currently.

Pulling into the car park at Meikle Loch, the initial news wasn't promising—a Peregrine, which we'd seen flying over the road bridge on route, had flushed the phalarope earlier, and it hadn't been refound. Thankfully, a quick scan of the shoreline revealed the Wilson’s Phalarope feeding alongside Lapwings at the far end. It was constantly on the move along the bank, occasionally dropping into the water to swim. Though still a long-range view, the softer light made for vastly superior views compared to yesterday's harsh glare.

The loch was bustling with activity as well: Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, double-figure Snipe, and a lone Whimbrel. The usual wildfowl was present, and a few Skylarks overhead were heading south.

Waulkmill Hide & The Snub

Curlew Sandpiper - I've managed to see several over my visits this week!

Moving on to Waulkmill Hide, we were greeted by thousands of birds covering the exposed mud. Our main targets here were Curlew Sandpipers, and it didn't take long to pick out three among the carpet of Dunlin. The mudflats were an absolute hive of activity, holding Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Greenshank, Redshank, and a mixed gathering of Greylag, Pink-footed, and Canada Geese.

At the Snub lay-by, a small flock of Whooper Swans had just alighted on the estuary water, my first of the season. A Peregrine overhead, likely the same bird as earlier, sent shockwaves through the wader flocks, while a surprisingly late Osprey fished directly over the main channel. Little Egrets and Grey Herons lined the banks, with Shelduck, Goosanders, and Eiders dotted the water, and another Curlew Sandpiper was tucked in with Redshanks on the far shore.

Tarty Burn & Inch Road

A quick check at Tarty Burn paid off immediately when Mark picked out a Spotted Redshank on the riverbank. It briefly vanished, but following the channel around the corner revealed not just one, but three Spotted Redshanks feeding together.

Our final Ythan stop at Inch Road pushed our tally over the top: Dozens of Knot feeding on the open mud along with hundreds of Golden Plover resting on the shingle banks and a handful of Turnstones working the rocky stretches, plus at least five Little Egrets gathered on the Foveran Burn

Final Tally

The Knot and Turnstones officially brought our daily wader total to an incredible 18 species. To cap off a brilliant morning, David spotted a pair of Brent Geese resting on the far bank just as we were heading back to the cars. A fantastic morning out with great company and a stellar lineup of autumn migrants.

A Few More Images of the Week...

Dunlin

Turnstone

Little Egret

📖 Rattray & Cairnbulg 8/09/26

Things have quieted down since the recent easterly winds brought a wonderful fall of common migrants to the Aberdeenshire coastline, but a shift in the weather is already shaking things up. We are now experiencing the predictable autumnal flow of north-westerlies. As I type this post, the very first reports of Pink-footed Geese arriving across the region from Iceland are starting to roll in. 

While I'm not a hardcore twitcher per se, I have to admit I was more than a little tempted when news broke last week of a Scottish first Egyptian Nightjar over on Shetland! Still, my usual October one-week-a-year twitching exploits on Shetland are more than enough to keep me happy—especially with my annual trip just a few weeks away, so I avoided the temptation!

View from Cairnbulg watching the 100s of diving Gannets! 

This morning, a walk to the Rattray Lighthouse cottages from St. Mary's Chapel with Ruth Howie was quite productive, starting with a female Marsh Harrier quartering the newly combined fields. A large flock of some 100 Tree Sparrows was a sight to behold around the farmland, and along the track a few Yellowhammers appeared to still be feeding young. There were also plenty of Swallows and House Martins across the fields, a few Skylarks passing south, and around 80 or so Lapwings before we arrived at the cottages, where we bumped into Mark, Matt, and Fran Sullivan.

A Yellowhammer with food.

During my last visit here on the 28th, the cottage gardens had held Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, and Lesser Whitethroat. Today it was a bit quieter, although Mark had seen a Lesser Whitethroat. A walk down to the Lighthouse produced Wheatear and Meadow Pipits, and along the shoreline we found Sanderling, Knot, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, and a surprise couple of Pale-bellied Brent Geese. A few Grey Seals were keeping a wary eye, with Gannets and several passing Sandwich Terns and Kittiwakes. Shags and Cormorants were sunning themselves on the lighthouse, and a few Eider Ducks were lingering. The walk back to the cottages produced a fly-by Sparrowhawk.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Rattray.

Back at the cars, a quick look over towards the Loch produced both Little Egret and Great Egret, and endless Mute Swans. After bidding farewell to Ruth, I headed over to Cairnbulg, where I spent an enjoyable hour watching the hundreds of Gannets diving and photographing the waders, which included: Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover. The absolute highlight, though, was counting at least 10 Wheatears, which just seemed to be everywhere. My kind of birding!

One of double-figure Wheatears at Cairnbulg.

Knot at Cairnbulg.

Wheatear

Bar-tailed Godwit Cairnbulg

Yellowhammer

Sanderling on Rattray beach

Dunlin on Rattray beach

📖 Great Crested Grebes: A Rare Breeding Success 30/09/26

I thought this was worth sharing: 

Since my car was booked for a service in Aberdeen today, I couldn’t resist making a quick detour on my way home. I stopped by Loirston Loch, a small loch located south of the city, to check in on the local pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Adult Great Crested Grebe with two youngsters.

On the water, the adult pair were surprisingly located at opposite ends of the loch, each accompanied by two impressive, well-grown juveniles. Great Crested Grebes are quite rare in Aberdeenshire, and it is likely that this is the only successful breeding pair in the entire city and county this season. Witnessing all four striped juveniles thriving and actively feeding alongside their parents was a great sight; let's hope they stay around for the winter.

📖 A Case of FOMO 30/08/26

What a difference a day makes in birding. Missing yesterday’s Wryneck while out for lunch with friends was a sting that every birder knows all too well, especially after it had already teased us earlier in the week by showing up in the exact same spot at Girdleness. By the time Dazza and I finally made it over, the bird had predictably gone to ground, leaving behind only that familiar mix of FOMO and quiet determination. I consoled myself by remembering I already have a Wryneck on my Aberdeenshire list, but the urge to see this one was still strong.

Aberdeen Beach looking across the harbour entrance from the golf course.

With a decent influx of common migrants dropping onto the coastline alongside local gems like Barred and Greenish Warblers, I couldn't resist setting an early alarm. I headed back out to Girdleness at first light, nursing the quiet hope that the Wryneck might give us a second chance.

It didn't reemerge, but the morning was far from a loss. I ended up spending a fantastic three hours working the site, ultimately logging fifty species. My initial focus was on the shoreline and the coastal scrub, working through the gorse and willow in search of fresh arrivals. The passerine highlight came just below the allotments, where I managed to pick out a single Pied Flycatcher tucked away in the large sycamore. Tucked just behind in the harbour entrance, nine Goosanders were busy feeding, while the allotments themselves were lively, producing three Tree Sparrows and a pair of Common Redstarts. Pushing along the edge of the golf course toward the lighthouse, a check of the gorse yielded a third Common Redstart alongside a single Common Whitethroat. Meanwhile, back down at the shoreline, a couple of Wheatears skipped along the rocks, and plenty of Meadow Pipits were kept on their toes, constantly being chased off by feisty Rock Pipits.

Common Redstart at the allotments

One of three Common Redstarts seen today. 

The shoreline and surrounding habitat held a solid variety of waders, including a pair of Whimbrel alongside Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers, Curlews, and Redshanks. I wrapped up the morning with a half hour of seawatching, which turned out to be remarkably busy. A pair of Common Scoters pushed south, while steady numbers of terns filtered through—mostly Sandwich alongside several Arctics. Guillemots were bobbing about and constantly calling, joined by a few Razorbills. The breakwater held the usual hordes of Eiders and roughly a hundred roosting Kittiwakes, while plenty of Gannets streamed past and Fulmars put on a masterclass in sheer flying enjoyment. The absolute highlight of the seawatch, however, was a pair of Arctic Skuas moving smartly north.

It might not have delivered the elusive Wryneck, but a crisp, productive morning with fifty species on the tally is never a bad way to start the day.