Wild in Aberdeen - City and Shire (10 Viewers)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Couple of us coming over for some migrant hunting tomorrow. Any gen on the Desert Wheatear and the Dusky Warbler - my bogey - appreciated!

Some info on the Desert Wheatear here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=215394
If it's still around in the morning it should be fairly easy and, if the weather is fine, there should be some good photo opportunities as it's fairly approachable.

The Dusky Warbler is at Balmedie Country Park in bushes next to the children's play area. Haven't seen it myself though (and wouldn't mind doing so!).

Maybe see you tomorrow.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Some info on the Desert Wheatear here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=215394
If it's still around in the morning it should be fairly easy and, if the weather is fine, there should be some good photo opportunities as it's fairly approachable.

The Dusky Warbler is at Balmedie Country Park in bushes next to the children's play area. Haven't seen it myself though (and wouldn't mind doing so!).

Maybe see you tomorrow.

Thanks Andrew - top find - we're heading over for first light.

We have a leapers moon in Inverness - just hope it sticks - never seen a male.

 

[RecoveringScot]

What looked like about 40 Waxwing flew over Great Western Road, Aberdeen NE towards the city centre at 14:50, followed by a Sparrowhawk two minutes later.

Cheers

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I spent most of the day in the car park at Balmedie beach hoping for a lifer in the shape of the Dusky Warbler that's been there for the past couple of days. Well, in almost five hours I managed to get reasonable binocular views for around five seconds. It's really rather a challenging bird to see. It was calling intermittently, perhaps every twenty minutes or so, at least until around 2pm when it went quiet. The trouble was, when it was calling it also seemed to be on the move and as soon as you got anywhere near where the sound was coming from it called again from somewhere else. When it wasn't calling I presume it was lurking out of sight in the fairly dense scrub. The only reasonable views I had were when it appeared without calling at the edge of the thicket for a few seconds. A really frustrating bird.

 

[Stonefaction]

Having spent a fair amount of time last weekend trying to see the Arbroath Dusky Warbler (and finally accidentally chancing upon a second bird), I can certainly sympathise, Andrew. Trying to get a decent photo is even harder - I managed a few blurry shots, but nothing that was much use as anything other than a record shot.

 

[Joseph N]

I spent most of the day in the car park at Balmedie beach hoping for a lifer in the shape of the Dusky Warbler that's been there for the past couple of days. Well, in almost five hours I managed to get reasonable binocular views for around five seconds. It's really rather a challenging bird to see. It was calling intermittently, perhaps every twenty minutes or so, at least until around 2pm when it went quiet. The trouble was, when it was calling it also seemed to be on the move and as soon as you got anywhere near where the sound was coming from it called again from somewhere else. When it wasn't calling I presume it was lurking out of sight in the fairly dense scrub. The only reasonable views I had were when it appeared without calling at the edge of the thicket for a few seconds. A really frustrating bird.

I can understand your frustrations Andrew, had a similar situation with a Radde's down in Norfolk this year, which I waited for ages to see and barely saw, let alone good enough views to year tick (luckily managed one on Fair Isle last year). That Dusky Warbler sounds as I expected it would be, but I'm glad you saw it. I'm going to go for it later this week if its still about. My hopes aren't too high though on any views, let alone brief views! Many congratulations on the Desert Wheatear find though, top quality stuff especially considering that's your second at the Ness!

Joseph

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I can understand your frustrations Andrew, had a similar situation with a Radde's down in Norfolk this year, which I waited for ages to see and barely saw, let alone good enough views to year tick (luckily managed one on Fair Isle last year). That Dusky Warbler sounds as I expected it would be, but I'm glad you saw it. I'm going to go for it later this week if its still about. My hopes aren't too high though on any views, let alone brief views! Many congratulations on the Desert Wheatear find though, top quality stuff especially considering that's your second at the Ness!

Joseph

Thanks Joseph - it was my second Desert Wheatear at a Ness, but the other one was at Fife rather than Girdle! The Radde's Warbler at Girdle Ness a couple of autumns ago was really hard, although at least there was a little bit less cover for it to hide in than there is at Balmedie for the Dusky.

 

[Joseph N]

Thanks Joseph - it was my second Desert Wheatear at a Ness, but the other one was at Fife rather than Girdle! The Radde's Warbler at Girdle Ness a couple of autumns ago was really hard, although at least there was a little bit less cover for it to hide in than there is at Balmedie for the Dusky.

Apologies for the mistake should have realised, still a great achievement to have found two though! I never saw that Radde's at Girdle Ness, I was away in Corsica at the time. Shall cast that aside though and focus on this Dusky Warbler as its a lifer, sounds like its moving around the area quite a bit at the moment.

Joseph

 

[Ian Bell]

A Woodcock outside Marischal College this afternoon.

 

[Joseph N]

As to be expected with the current winds, today was a passerine day. I started the day off at Balmedie where I went for the long staying Dusky Warbler; the first opportunity I had had to go for this all week so I'm glad it stuck around. On the way there a Pallas's Warbler came through on ABZ Text also at Balmedie Car Park, so there was more than one bird to go for here. However, as I was already aware, it wasn't going to be easy. Meticulous checks of the bushes round the car park proved unsuccessful for at least an hour for both birds. However shortly after this time, I got a call from my Dad to say he was watching the Pallas's Warbler in the bushes behind the toilet block and I was soon watching the little beauty in idyllic conditions with great views down to 40ft with a few Goldcrests and interestingly a Treecreeper. It was a mobile bird, but when apparent showed very well; cracking little thing and my second of this species.

Whilst watching the Pallas's we heard the Dusky Warbler call for the first time close by but couldn't see it. It appeared to move further into the bushes, at which point I went in to flush it. I suceeded, but did not manage views myself, whilst others waiting for me got views of it dipping into another set of bushes. I was frustrated at this point and was giving up hope until 20 minutes later it flew back into the original set of bushes, where I got flight views and then all present got reasonably good views of it on the ground for a minute or so; relieving but great stuff. Whilst waiting for the Dusky I had 4 Greater White-fronted Geese flying south; seems to be a good number of these in the county today. Also large numbers of Blackbirds, several Reed Buntings and a pair of Stonechats in the gorse out towards the dunes, the latter particularly relieving to see considering how much of a hammering they've had in recent winters and for that reason my first in the county this year.

Played with the idea of going for 22 Taiga Bean Geese near Portlethen but opted to continue northwards and search for more passerines. A check of the bushes at Collieston produced a Chiffchaff and a female Blackcap but little else. 3 Chiffchaffs were seen at 3 different clumps of bushes along the Whinnyfold road, but yet again nothing else. With a Firecrest reported at Rattray we popped in to see this late afternoon. On arriving we managed brief but great views of the Firecrest in the B&B garden when it showed; it spent most of its time skulking in a bush but what a little gem! Also present here was a female Bullfinch which was strikingly pale; seemed a good candidate for Northern for this reason but could not say for sure. An immensely enjoyable day.

Joseph

 

[Ian Bell]

A Woodcock outside Marischal College this afternoon.

Not as exciting as what was seen along the coast but another Woodcock on Great Northern Road,this afternoon..! Are they following me ?

 

[Joseph N]

Attached is a record shot of the Hume's Warbler that has been at Foveran Bushes since Saturday and which I saw this afternoon. It was very mobile and long periods of time were spent trying to locate it, but on several occasions decent views were had, particularly when viewed on the bushes' edge from outside the bushes, where I managed this shot. A cracking bird; its been a good warbler week in Aberdeenshire.

Joseph

 

[Tree Sparrow]

Great Grey Shrike

The Great Grey Shrike is back in the vicinity of Clashindarroch Forest car park.
NJ 429268

Fiona

 

[Joseph N]

The Great Grey Shrike is back in the vicinity of Clashindarroch Forest car park.
NJ 429268

Fiona

Congratulations Fiona, have put this out on the local bird news service. Good to see this bird has returned for what will be its third successive winter, is that right?

My first Waxwings of the year in Aberdeen on Friday, with 6 flying over Aberdeen Grammar School. Hoping more will crop up as winter progresses.

Joseph

 

[Tree Sparrow]

Congratulations Fiona, have put this out on the local bird news service. Good to see this bird has returned for what will be its third successive winter, is that right?

My first Waxwings of the year in Aberdeen on Friday, with 6 flying over Aberdeen Grammar School. Hoping more will crop up as winter progresses.

Joseph

Thanks for passing on the info for me Joseph. Yes it is it's third winter as far as I know. Being such an under watched area it's perfectly possible that it has been missed in the past previously.

Excellent about the Waxwings. If I don't see any this year I am going to be very disappointed!

Fiona

 

[Joseph N]

Thanks for passing on the info for me Joseph. Yes it is it's third winter as far as I know. Being such an under watched area it's perfectly possible that it has been missed in the past previously.

Excellent about the Waxwings. If I don't see any this year I am going to be very disappointed!

Fiona

No worries, thanks for clarifying the situation, you could indeed be right that its been missed in previous years - would be interesting to speculate on that...

Thanks, there have only been a few Waxwings in the county/city thus far so I'm quite happy with the 6 I managed. The largest flock so far has been 20 in Aberdeen near Bridge of Don, which goes to show how small numbers have been so far. Of course last year we had a large influx; wonder if there will be any sort of substantial influx this winter or if only a few will come through.

Joseph

 

[bombycilla]

45 Waxwings in Aberdeen yesterday but a lack of berries means they ain't gonna hang around. Loads of cotoneaster so hopefully there will be some birds available in to the new year.

LC

 

[RecoveringScot]

No worries, thanks for clarifying the situation, you could indeed be right that its been missed in previous years - would be interesting to speculate on that...

Thanks, there have only been a few Waxwings in the county/city thus far so I'm quite happy with the 6 I managed. The largest flock so far has been 20 in Aberdeen near Bridge of Don, which goes to show how small numbers have been so far. Of course last year we had a large influx; wonder if there will be any sort of substantial influx this winter or if only a few will come through.

Joseph

Hi Joseph,

See post #943.

Cheers

 

[Joseph N]

Hi Joseph,

See post #943.

Cheers

Hi Phil,

My apologies, thanks for directing me to that post, wasn't aware that this was the largest total. I've noticed the cotoneasters doing well in several places in the city so I'm a little surprised that the flocks (albeit small) haven't really stayed around. Someone had a group of 6 Waxies on Craigton Road during the weekend and considering I had 6 heading due west in that direction over Aberdeen Grammar School on Friday it could be that these were the same birds, in which case it shows the rate that they are going through the city.

Joseph

 

[bombycilla]

Hi Phil,

My apologies, thanks for directing me to that post, wasn't aware that this was the largest total. I've noticed the cotoneasters doing well in several places in the city so I'm a little surprised that the flocks (albeit small) haven't really stayed around

Largest flock was yesterday, pushing 50. Waxwings do not eat contoneaster until the New year when they 'become good to eat'. Couldn't locate that flock again despite searching ! Probably in Dundee/Fife by now....

LC