📖 A morning in Portsoy and Strathbeg 14/04/26

There’s a certain magic to the Aberdeenshire coast in the springtime. It was my turn at the wheel this morning, and after picking up David and Rob Leslie just after 9:00 AM, we set our sights on Portsoy. The morning air was crisp and chilly, with ethereal pockets of fog clinging to the coastline, but by the time we pulled into Portsoy an hour later, the skies had cleared into a brilliant, biting blue.

The Portsoy Pilgrimage

Rob & David scanning from the Dolphin Sculpture

This has become something of an annual tradition for us—our third year meeting up for the "pilgrimage" to find the White-billed Diver. Portsoy is arguably one of the best spots in the country to catch these arctic beauties at this time of year.

We set up our scopes at the Dolphin Structure, bracing against the chilly breeze. It didn't take long for the trip to pay off. Rob located our target species bobbing about in the strong sunshine; while it was a fair distance out, the distinctive pale, upturned bill was unmistakable through the scopes.

Morning Sightings at Portsoy:

• White-billed Diver (Target achieved!) Red-throated Diver - Black Guillemot (5) - Sandwich Tern (3) - Rock Pipit -  Gannets, Kittiwakes, and Fulmars.

Rock Pipit against the vibrant blue sky

While we initially planned to creep further along the coast to Redhythe Point—where, as it turns out, nine White-billed Divers were reported later that morning!—a notification on our phones changed our trajectory. A Spoonbill had been spotted at the Loch of Strathbeg. With the diver already "in the bag," we decided to chase the rarity. But not before a celebratory famous Portsoy ice cream! 

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To Strathbeg

As we neared Strathbeg, we kept an eye out for the Taiga Bean Goose—the same one I’d managed to catch up with on my visit on the 8th— which was still being reported hanging around with the Whooper Swans, but there was no sign of it from the roadside.

By the time we arrived at the visitor centre, the Spoonbill had thankfully relocated to Starnafin pools, giving great views in the sunshine. Also present were at least three Little Egrets, an almost summer plumage Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard.

Spoonbill on Starnafin Pools, Strathbeg

We were in luck when a small flock of 5 Whooper Swans took off from the distant field, bringing with them the Taiga Bean Goose for a fly past, before they landed on the main loch. 

Wrapping Up

As we finished our sandwiches, two Barn Swallows swept overhead—a "year first" for David. With David on the school run duty, we had to call it a day and head back, but with a rare diver and a spoonbill under our belts, it’s safe to say the 2026 pilgrimage was a great success.