📖 Visitors, Heat & New Horizons 26/06/26

I have to admit I’ve been a bit tardy on my posts lately! With visitors up from the south and family over from Spain, life has been beautifully busy—but I’ve still managed to sneak out on the odd occasion into the field.

When we have guests, it’s always a treat to take them to the Bullers of Buchan to see the Puffins. Everyone’s absolute favourite, and they certainly didn't disappoint! Living up here on the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire has plenty of perks, and recently, the European heatwave has been one of them. Apart from a blistering 29°C on the 23rd, unlike further south and west, we’ve enjoyed a spell of ideal weather ranging from 18–24°C with a gentle breeze, so for this I'm grateful!

One of several breeding Puffins at Buller's of Buchan

Exploring New Horizons: A Visit to Pitfichie

On Wednesday the 17th, I took a short drive to Pitfichie to meet up with a few other members of the local RSPB committee. Our mission was to explore the hillside and assess opportunities to boost biodiversity as part of a potential upcoming project. Though heavy showers dominated the earlier part of the day, the weather cleared into a warm, humid afternoon—perfect for bringing out the local wildlife. We enjoyed a fantastic array of sightings, including Roe Deer and Dark-green Fritillary butterfly. The birdlife certainly didn't disappoint either; our checklist for the walk included Osprey, Common Buzzard, Cuckoo, and Red Kite, alongside wonderful smaller species such as Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Redpoll, and Common Whitethroat.

Yellowhammer

Dark Green Fritillary - Seen during my 2nd visit on Tuesday

Painted Lady - Seen during my 2nd visit on Tuesday

Discovering this beautiful spot—which lies just five miles from my front door—was an absolute revelation, and I have promptly added it to my regular patch birding walks. In fact, I couldn't resist a second visit just a few days later on the 23rd! This time, the weather played a completely different role, with the temperature soaring to a blistering 29°C, making for a much sweatier but equally rewarding trek.

📖 Unsettled Week 12/06/26

It has been an extremely unsettled and chilly week for June, delivering everything from sudden thunderstorms to heavy hail showers. That said, I managed to pick the absolute best morning on Tuesday for an early high-tide visit to the Ythan Estuary.

Ythan Estuary looking across towards the ternary.

The main goal for the morning was to meet up with Ruth Howie, a fellow RSPB Aberdeen committee member. We were hoping to spot a first-summer Bonaparte’s Gull that had been hanging around for the past few days, mostly visible from the 'Tin Hut'.

A Lively Walk to the Water

Even before reaching the estuary, the short walk down from the car park past the gorse bushes was absolutely alive with birdsong. Keeping me company along the path were Willow Warbler, Wren, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Yellowhammer, and Meadow Pipit.

Meadow Pipit

The tide hadn’t yet reached its peak, leaving a stretch of exposed shingle that attracted a few waders. I spotted plenty of Ringed Plovers, a handful of Dunlin, and four Red Knots. The highlight was a lone Curlew Sandpiper, just beginning to take on its summer plumage.

Scanning from the Tin Hut

I met up with Ruth at the Tin Hut, and we settled in for a solid ninety minutes of intense optics work. We meticulously scanned the hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and Sandwich Terns lined up along the opposite shoreline.

The usual Eiders, some with young and sporting a mix of plumages, and Grey Seals lounged midstream, while across the water at the Forvie ternary, the air buzzed with activity. Arctic Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, and at least four Little Terns, the rarer of the four, were endlessly diving into the estuary, fishing for food to bring back to their siblings.

Little Tern on the prowl.

Our concentration was abruptly broken at one point when an Osprey glided overhead. It caused absolute mayhem, flushing everything in sight and temporarily putting an end to our careful scanning!

The Verdict

Suffice it to say, luck wasn't on our side with the Bonaparte's Gull—it managed to elude us completely and hasn't been reported since. However, the Ythan rarely leaves you empty-handed. We were well compensated for our efforts by picking out four Little Gulls.

An excellent morning on the extended patch with great company!

Braving the Elements at RSPB Fowlsheugh: Seabirds and Fish and Chips

This past Wednesday, the 10th, I joined our RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group for what was supposed to be a leisurely evening stroll along the spectacular Fowlsheugh cliffs. The plan? Take in the incredible sights and sounds of the bustling seabird colonies, and top it all off with a well-deserved fish and chip supper in Stonehaven.

Nature, however, had other ideas! It turned out to be a rather wet and wild encounter, but a little rain wasn't enough to dampen our spirits (or spoil the views).

You can catch the full write-up of our soggy adventure over on the group's webpage here, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of the evening in photos:

Heavy Hail in Inverurie - Taken by a group member who didn't quite make it to the outing!

Kittiwake collecting nesting material.

Razorbills

Puffin feeling a little sleepy.

📖 From Big Sits to Rare Vagrants 03/06/26

It’s been a bit quiet on the blog lately—life has a habit of getting in the way of birding exploits! But as spring officially rolls into summer, I’ve finally managed to get back out into the field and catch up with some absolutely cracking birds.

Here is a quick whistle-stop tour of where I've been and what I've seen over the last couple of weeks.

The Strathbeg "Big Sit" (Sunday, May 24th)

Typically, our RSPB group outings are frantic and fast-paced "Big Days." This time, we flipped the script and tried a Big Sit at the Loch of Strathbeg visitor centre, anything seen from the windows from 7 AM to 7 PM. I clocked in for the first half (7 AM – 1 PM), and the rewards from just looking out the windows were spectacular.

The Highlights: Garganey - Wood Sandpiper - Green Sandpiper - Ruff - Cuckoo - Common Crane - Spoonbill - Marsh Harrier.

Drake Garganey at Strathbeg

Curious about the final tally? You can check out the full report and final species count on our group website [HERE].

Mountain Air & Local Patches (Late May)

May 25th – Glen Callater: Dazza and I headed into our "happy place" in the Cairngorms. While the Ring Ouzels successfully evaded us today, we were treated to nesting Curlews, plus Wheatear, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Raven, and Cuckoo. The absolute highlight, though, was watching a gorgeous family of Dippers.

Cuckoo

May 27th – Dalmadilly Ponds: A brilliant, sunny morning with David, Rob, and Mark on my local patch. It was a proper baby boom! We saw a Treecreeper bringing food to a nest, a Robin feeding its young, and the ultimate crowd-pleaser: a Little Grebe carrying young on her back. Throw in Sedge, Garden, and Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap, and it was a perfect morning. Also of note, a couple of Ravens, which I suspect are nesting at the local quarry!

Garden Warbler

A June 3rd Double-Whammy!

I wrapped up my recent run today with an incredible double-header of scarce and rare birds:

1. Marsh Warbler (Longhaven): Reported singing first thing from the SWT car park, this beauty showed well on occasion and sang nearly the whole time I was there.

2. Baird's Sandpiper (Meikle Loch): First identified via a photograph yesterday evening along the Ythan, this mega visitor seemed to have relocated to Meikle Loch, where I was lucky enough to catch up with it this afternoon.

📖 A Morning Walk at the Ythan Estuary 22/05/26

Despite the overcast skies and a chilly breeze pulling in off the North Sea, I headed out this morning for a low-tide walk along the River Ythan. As it turned out, the grey morning had an absolute treat in store.

Reaching the mouth of the estuary, the Terns were out in full force, they were feeding at incredibly close quarters right where the river meets the sea.

Watching these agile seabirds dive, hover, and dart through the air with perfect precision is always a sight to behold, and I make it a tradition to visit at this time of year to see the action. I'm blessed to have the Forvie National Nature Reserve just a short drive away. The Forvie Ternery is a vital breeding ground, and during the summer months, it plays host to four distinct, beautiful breeding Tern species.

Sandwich Tern: The largest of the four and often the first to arrive. 

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Common Tern: A master of elegance with its silvery-grey plumage and vibrant red bill tipped with black. Although this one was a little dishevelled after the dive.

Common Tern

Arctic Tern: Famous for undertaking the longest migration of any animal on Earth, recognisable by its blood-red bill and deeply forked tail.

Arctic Tern

Little Tern: Our smallest and rarest visitor, instantly identifiable by its tiny size and bright yellow bill with a black tip.

Little Tern

Moments like this are a wonderful reminder of how spectacular our local nature is. You don’t need blazing sunshine or perfect blue skies to witness something extraordinary—sometimes, a grey, breezy morning at low tide is exactly what you need to reconnect with the wild.

📖 Back on Home Turf 20/05/26

I'm always excited about returning home from a trip abroad. As incredible as the birding in Spain is, arriving back in Scotland means it is time to pivot, roll up my sleeves, and get back to chasing my 2026 Scottish year list.

Over the last few days, I've managed to get out to two of my favourite spots—Dalmadilly Ponds on Monday and the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve this morning. Both visits delivered that crisp, bright, deeply springlike feeling before the cloud cover eventually arrived, and both provided some stellar additions to the home list.

The week began with a walk to my local Dalmadilly Ponds, a vital wetland and open-water haven in the Don Valley that’s perfect for spotting early spring arrivals. While it’s grown popular with the rubber dinghy brigade and wild swimmers, the habitat still reliably attracts migrating birds, and Monday was no different. 

One of the highlights was spotting my first Garden Warbler of the season, along with other firsts like Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. It’s always a pleasure to see the Little Grebes, and I counted four today—such sturdy little birds and regular breeders here, they seem to handle the disruption just fine. A Red Kite also drifted over, a bird that seems to be getting more common locally.

Common Whitethroat at Dalmadilly Ponds.

This morning, I headed further west to the oak woodlands and heath of the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.

Almost as soon as I arrived, the unmistakable, iconic call of the Cuckoo echoed across the reserve. In fact, I counted two separate birds calling. Unfortunately, they seemed to know exactly where I was standing; no matter which way I walked, they stayed strictly on the opposite side of the reserve, safely hidden out of sight.

My walk down to Old Dinnet produced the usual cacophony of Willow Warblers, along with a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Treecreeper, and three Tree Pipits. Sitting at the ruins of Old Dinnet provides an open sky, and I watched a pair of displaying Buzzards and an Osprey drift silently by. There seemed to be Mistle Thrushes everywhere today, some singing and others chasing around with their young. I honestly lost count! As I strolled toward Loch Kinord, I saw several Orange Tip butterflies fluttering about, along with no fewer than four Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, probably among the first of the season.

A young Mistle Thrush - One of several today.

The highlight of the morning, however, came when I settled by the loch side. I managed to find a quiet spot and spent a deeply pleasant half hour watching a busy pair of Redstarts tirelessly tending to their nest. Just behind me, a Common Sandpiper flew along the bank, and I then heard and spotted several Swifts overhead—they are finally arriving, if not a little late this year!

Female Redstart at Muir of Dinnet today.

Male Redstart at Muir of Dinnet today.

Up in the canopy, the local specialists were putting on a spectacular show. I don't think I will ever tire of seeing and hearing the Tree Pipits as they launch themselves up into the sky and complete their classic, singing "parachute" flights back down to earth.

Tree Pipit - Muir of Dinnet.

My final stop was the Dinnet Oakwood, where I paused on the bridge overlooking the River Dee before taking a brief walk through the trees. Along the river, I noted a couple of Grey Wagtails and another Common Sandpiper. Stepping into the woods, it didn't take long to find my target bird for this stretch: the Spotted Flycatcher. In fact, there were two of them actively moving through the canopy. I finished up a brilliant day listening to the calls of a distant Nuthatch—still a somewhat rare species here in the northeast, but one that is clearly gaining momentum and establishing a real foothold.

One of two Spotted Flycatchers at Dinnet Oakwood today.

It has been a fantastic couple of days back on the patch. The Spanish sun was brilliant, but there is absolutely nothing quite like a Scottish spring when the migration is in full swing.

Time to keep ticking!

📖 Sierra Nieves: 08/05/26

The winding tracks of the Sierra de las Nieves are familiar territory for me, but this trip was special as it was Dazza’s first time experiencing this stunning landscape. Now officially Spain’s 16th National Park, the area around Mount Torrecilla is vast, covering over 18,000 hectares of rugged limestone peaks and rare Spanish Fir forests.

While my last visit in November 2024 was defined by clear skies and high teens, today felt much more like home—a "balmy" 8°C with pockets of low cloud clinging to the higher ridges. Despite the dip in temperature, the scenery remained as breathtaking as ever. 

We started the day at "The Magic Trough." I have fond memories of sitting here in the autumn of 2023 with Derek, Barbara, and Andy, watching birds drop in for a drink in the early morning light. Nature is unpredictable, however, and today the trough was quiet—not a single bird in sight.

Crested Tit at the "Majic Trough" Autumn 2023

Undeterred, we began the slow ascent toward Área Recreativa Quejigales. As we climbed, the birding picked up significantly. A stop at Mirador de la Navas offered a fantastic perspective of a Griffon Vulture circling below us, while the surrounding scrub and woodland began to reveal their residents:

Specialities: Iberian Green Woodpecker - Firecrest - Crested Tit.

Warblers: Western Orphean - Subalpine - Dartford.

Subalpine Warbler

The High Ground: Black Redstart - Rock Bunting - Choughs.

Raptors: Griffon Vultures - Booted Eagle - Short-toed Eagle - Goshawk .

Booted Eagle over Mirador de la Navas

After a quick lunch at Quejigales, we searched the parking area for the Common Redstarts that usually nest there, but they proved elusive today. A short walk before our descent added Nuthatches, Black Redstart and a Grey Wagtail to the day's tally.

Black Redstart near Quejigales parking area.

We finished with a detour down to Área Recreativa La Fuenfría, which proved productive. The lower, more open terrain provided great looks at Woodlark, Iberian Grey Shrike, Black Wheatear & Dartford Warbler.

Woodlark

It may have been a bit colder and greyer compared to previous years, but the sun did shine on occasion, and the Sierra de las Nieves never fails to deliver. Most importantly, Dazza loved her first introduction to this wild corner of Andalusia!

A Dartford Warbler sings - Taken from the car window

Our eBird entries for the day can be found HERE & HERE

📖 Salinas de Bonanza: 06/05/26

A Morning at Salinas de Bonanza - If you’re a birdwatcher or a photographer visiting Southern Spain, you quickly learn that the "Doñana" name covers a massive, complex landscape. While the National Park core is the stuff of legends (and strict permits), the Salinas de Bonanza in Sanlúcar de Barrameda is the open secret for those who want world-class views without the red tape. 

Technically part of the Doñana Natural Park—the vital buffer zone—these salt pans sit on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River. It’s a landscape of shimmering water, crusty salt flats, and, most importantly, thousands of birds that are surprisingly relaxed around visitors. 

Kentish Plover

The beauty of Bonanza is its accessibility. We spent the morning utilising the "Mobile Hide" strategy: staying inside the car as we navigated the tracks between the pans. 

Because the local birdlife is so accustomed to vehicles, they don’t see a slow-moving car as a threat. The moment you open a door or step out, the "flush" happens—but stay behind the glass, and you’re treated to front-row seats for behaviour you’d usually need a 600mm lens to capture from a distance.

The wader flocks were out in force today, providing a fantastic "search and find" challenge. We spent a few hours picking through the mixed groups and recorded Ringed, Grey, and the delicate Kentish Plover. Clouds of Dunlin mixed with Curlew Sandpipers, along with the energetic Sanderlings, Avocets, Redshank and leggy Black-winged Stilts. 

Non-Breeding Curlew Sandpiper

Another highlight was a Slender-billed Gull. Getting close to one is a rare treat. This particular bird, however, lacked the subtle pink wash they’re usually known for. Also of note, and perhaps a little unexpected, we also recorded a pair of Marbled Ducks flying through

Slender-billed Gull

While your eyes are usually glued to the mud, the air above the Salinas is never empty. Among the Barn Swallows and occasional Common Swift, a constant flow of Glossy Ibis moved overhead, along with several Black Kites, and two Marsh Harriers were very active. Little Terns and Gull-billed Terns were fishing, and a few Little Egrets, Spoonbills & Night Herons moved through, plus a lone Purple Heron. Yellow-legged Gulls were also about, and we recorded 8 during our stay. At one point, we watched White Storks high up, enjoying the thermals.

Black Kite - Numerous in the area

The perimeter fencelines and scrub provided a nice change of pace from the waterbirds. We spotted a Western Yellow Wagtail, a few Crested Larks, 5 Stonechat and a similar number of Sardinian Warblers, plus a single Common Waxbill.

A Few More Images From the Visit...

Female Sardinian Warbler

This Little Tern was constantly on the lookout

Western Yellow Wagtail

📖 Birding Cadiz Province - Part 2: 05/05/26

Our first stop today was the Campiña de Trebujena, a gently rolling agricultural landscape defined by its “albariza” soil—a white, chalky earth perfect for viticulture. This area is a vital refuge for birdlife, especially species that thrive in traditional, low-intensity mosaics of vineyards and olive groves, including our target species, the Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin (locally called the Alzacola). Highly sought after in this region, the species is declining across Europe and listed as “Endangered” in Spain, yet Trebujena remains one of the best places in the world to spot it. 

One of three Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robins seen during our visit today.

It didn’t take long to find one—actually, we saw three. We heard one singing almost immediately as we drove past the vineyards and olive groves, and stopped to enjoy and photograph it in the stunning surroundings.

Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin

In an era of intensive farming, Trebujena felt like a sanctuary. In this place, tradition and biodiversity haven't just survived, but are thriving, and we enjoyed a long walk around the area. 

A classic example of an old Andalusian cortijo (farmhouse) that has fallen into disrepair.

From the nearby ruins, we watched Lesser Kestrels nesting and flying in and out, but couldn’t spot any Little Owls, which apparently are regular nesters here. During the walk, we encountered: Nightingale, Bee-eaters, Melodious Warbler, Red-rumped Swallows, Crested Lark, Zitting Cisticola and Corn Bunting.

A confiding Crested Lark at Trebujena

Our next stop was Laguna La Mejorada: A former aggregate quarry located just on the edge of Los Palacios y Villafranca, about 25 minutes south of Seville.

A Black-crowned Night Heron at Laguna La Mejorada

Despite limited vantage points for open water access, the site delivered a high density of sightings. The tamarisk nesting sites revealed a multi-species colony with Black-crowned Night Herons, Cattle Egrets, and Little Egrets, alongside Glossy Ibis. On the water, we noted at least two active Great Crested Grebe families. The perimeter of the lagoon provided a rich acoustic backdrop, where the distinct purring of the Turtle Dove and the songs of Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, and Nightingales were heard.

Nightingale

The sky above the quarry was equally active throughout our stay. We recorded more than eleven Black Kites maintaining constant thermal activity, two Lesser Kestrels hunting the perimeter, and a lone Purple Heron on a flyover. A Kingfisher was also noted in transit across the water. However, the true star of the show occurred during our departure when a Little Bittern broke cover, crossing the track at low altitude to provide a rare, close-up look at this elusive species. 

A full species listing can be found on my eBird HERE

A fly-by Purple Heron in the heat haze

Beyond the avian life, the lagoon’s microclimate supports a vibrant population of dragonflies. We noted high Odonata activity levels, specifically observing Violet Dropwings and Northern Banded Groundlings.

Violet Dropwing

📖 Birding Cadiz Province - Part 1: 04/05/26

Back in Mijas and unpacking the gear after a brilliant few days exploring Cádiz Province with Dazza. Based in the charming Sanlúcar de Barrameda, we hit the region's legendary hotspots. But first, some highlights of the trip west:

---

The Straits & Cazalla Bird Observatory

The Strait of Gibraltar looking across to Morocco

Our journey kicked off with a planned stop at the Cazalla Bird Observatory on the route. Early in the day, it was quiet, but birding requires patience. Soon enough, we were treated to the incredible sight Cazalla is known for: this time around 50 Black Kites gliding across the Straits from Africa, just an eight-mile hop away, circling with ease in the rising thermals. Adding to the moment, a few Griffon Vultures passed over, and a Melodious Warbler sang just below the observatory, providing the perfect soundtrack to our brief stop.

The Changing Face of La Janda

A drive through the historic La Janda was a bittersweet experience. It’s hard not to feel a pang of disappointment seeing how much the landscape has shifted. The paddy fields now replaced by ploughed fields and the vibrant heronry we marvelled at in 2020—which once boasted over 3,000 pairs of Cattle Egrets and a mix of Glossy Ibis and Squacco Herons—has completely vanished.

Beware, if you intend to leave the track at the Km 48 marker on the N-340, the track has collapsed!!

The canal-side reeds held Cetti's and Common Reed Warbler but were missing the usual chatter of Great Reed Warblers, and the Black-winged Kites were nowhere to be found today. There are much smaller numbers of White Storks too. 

However, La Janda always keeps a few aces up its sleeve.

Despite the habitat changes, we focused on the positives. We managed to secure some fantastic sightings that made the dusty tracks of La Janda well worth the effort: Spanish Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Praticole and Greater Short-toed Lark all recorded.

Short-toed Eagle

Our next stop was La Barca de Vejer, arguably the most famous and accessible site in Europe to see the Northern Bald Ibis. Unlike many rare species that require hiking into remote wilderness, the Bald Ibis at La Barca de Vejer nest on a sandstone cliff face right next to a busy road. While here, a few Honey Buzzards drifted over, along with Black Kite and more Griffon Vultures.

The Northern Bald Ibis - Such a prehistoric-looking bird!

Late in the afternoon, we decided to head over to Chipiona before going to our accommodation. While the town is famous for its towering lighthouse (the tallest in Spain!), birders know the real stars at the marina are the Little Escapots (Little Swifts). This town holds the largest breeding colony in Europe. 

Little Swift - Persistence and sheer luck with the camera! 

We spent ages watching them, and after 200 or so attempts, I finally nailed one with the camera! A great end to the journey across.