Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Still one YBW around - calling along Abbey road. Dead other than that though...
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Birds fae Torry (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andrew Whitehouse
- Start date
Apart from the Great Egret over Nigg Bay this morning (not seen by me)! Suspect I could have seen it from my flat if I'd have been looking too.
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Yep, I'd have got it on my list if I'd been looking out of the office window at the right time...
Another rather low key day at the Ness. I wandered about the Nigg Bay area in the morning. Three Teal and an obliging Wigeon were on the marsh. Although things were sometimes busy in scrubby areas, the best I could show for it was four Chiffchaffs, seven Goldcrests, four Coal Tits, two Siskins and a Redpoll. Five Bullfinches were also about. Apparently the ringers have caught several in recent weeks, so there are obviously good numbers about.
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While I've been hard at work during the week, earning my crust, others have been seeing a few good birds. Some remnants of the influx of migrants was still around today, and there was some interest even if the party seems to be coming to a conclusion.
Thrushes were still quite numerous around Nigg Bay, particularly Blackbirds and Redwings. There were two Yellow-browed Warblers, one seen briefly near the waterworks and the other heard calling further west. A pukka looking Siberian Chiffchaff was seen along the Tullos Burn, resolutely refusing to call. A flock of seven Whooper Swans flew over, coming from the west. Other stuff around there included a Siskin, two Snipe, four Teal, two Chiffchaffs, a Water Rail and a Coal Tit. A marauding Sparrowhawk was seen carrying off a Redwing.
A look around the rest of the Ness was pretty underwhelming though, with little in the way of migrants.
Thrushes were still quite numerous around Nigg Bay, particularly Blackbirds and Redwings. There were two Yellow-browed Warblers, one seen briefly near the waterworks and the other heard calling further west. A pukka looking Siberian Chiffchaff was seen along the Tullos Burn, resolutely refusing to call. A flock of seven Whooper Swans flew over, coming from the west. Other stuff around there included a Siskin, two Snipe, four Teal, two Chiffchaffs, a Water Rail and a Coal Tit. A marauding Sparrowhawk was seen carrying off a Redwing.
A look around the rest of the Ness was pretty underwhelming though, with little in the way of migrants.
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Still a lot of thrushes around today, with Blackbirds and Redwings into three figures. More interesting were three Ring Ouzels around Nigg Bay. Two were in the scrub along by the school fields, including one very dark looking immature. The other was an adult in flight nearer the waterworks. A Yellow-browed Warbler was heard calling nearby. A Jack Snipe was flushed from the marsh. Other bits and pieces included three Teal, four Bullfinches, two Redpolls, a Mistle Thrush and ten Goldcrests.
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Barred warbler last night (and again this lunchtime) at the west end of the north bank, around the area where the traffic cones have been creatively deployed. Also a black redstart (or maybe 2) here, and a sibe chiff yesterday. Not much anywhere else around the headland though...
A late afternoon foray produced quite good views of the Barred Warbler in the 'traffic cone tree'. It's the second time I've seen one in that specific tree, in fact. Also a female Black Redstart in the patch of trees a short distance to the west of there.
Also of note, much of the scrub at the western end of the Abbey Road patch has been ripped out today. Quite dramatic! Not sure what the plan is for that bit of ground.
Also of note, much of the scrub at the western end of the Abbey Road patch has been ripped out today. Quite dramatic! Not sure what the plan is for that bit of ground.
Some late news from Wednesday of some progress on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
93
Nice work! There wasn't much else though, and there wasn't a lot today either. It really seemed like winter, despite the mild temperatures. The best was a good view of an adult Water Rail in the marsh. Otherwise, a couple of Bullfinches and a scatter of Goldcrests was about all that was around. Two Redwings (most likely Icelandic I guess) flew in off the sea. A Common Scoter went north.
93
Nice work! There wasn't much else though, and there wasn't a lot today either. It really seemed like winter, despite the mild temperatures. The best was a good view of an adult Water Rail in the marsh. Otherwise, a couple of Bullfinches and a scatter of Goldcrests was about all that was around. Two Redwings (most likely Icelandic I guess) flew in off the sea. A Common Scoter went north.
It definitely felt like winter yesterday, with a rather biting northwesterly wind. I spent quite a while seawatching but, although there was some passage of auks and Gannets, there was little else. Single Long-tailed Ducks and Common Scoters were the best of it. A male Blackcap was in the scrub between Campbell's and Inverdee House.
It's also worth mentioning that all of the scrub and trees in the Abbey Road area have now been removed. It's pretty drastic stuff. Has anyone found out what's going to happen to it?
It's also worth mentioning that all of the scrub and trees in the Abbey Road area have now been removed. It's pretty drastic stuff. Has anyone found out what's going to happen to it?
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
2 sibe chiffchaffs in Nigg Bay this afternoon, including one that was giving the alternative ‘hweet-like’ call
alcedo.atthis
Well-known member
"It's also worth mentioning that all of the scrub and trees in the Abbey Road area have now been removed. It's pretty drastic stuff. Has anyone found out what's going to happen to it?"
Richard Nicholson is the Arboricultural Officer for the city. Send him an e-mail through [email protected]
He should know.
Regards
Malky
Richard Nicholson is the Arboricultural Officer for the city. Send him an e-mail through [email protected]
He should know.
Regards
Malky
Thanks for the email address Malky. I'll see if I can find anything out.
A lovely late autumn day in Torry today, with a certain amount of interest bird-wise. A Snow Bunting - my first of the year - flew south over the wetlands. I also had quite good views of a Siberian Chiffchaff in scrub near the school fields, giving a regular tristis flat call. There was also a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, initially along the embankment and then sitting in a willow along the burn. Other stuff in the wetlands included seven Snipe, three Teal, two regular Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, two Siskins and a Redpoll. A late Common Darter was still on the wing.
Around the rest of the Ness there were three Stonechats and a Totaliser raising 135 Purple Sandpipers.
A lovely late autumn day in Torry today, with a certain amount of interest bird-wise. A Snow Bunting - my first of the year - flew south over the wetlands. I also had quite good views of a Siberian Chiffchaff in scrub near the school fields, giving a regular tristis flat call. There was also a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, initially along the embankment and then sitting in a willow along the burn. Other stuff in the wetlands included seven Snipe, three Teal, two regular Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, two Siskins and a Redpoll. A late Common Darter was still on the wing.
Around the rest of the Ness there were three Stonechats and a Totaliser raising 135 Purple Sandpipers.
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The strong northwesterly meant that the main interest was out to sea today and I managed a fairly decent seawatch around midday. Four Little Auks were seen heading north, though most put down on the sea rather than continuing onwards. A couple were reasonably close in. Probably better was a single Black Guillemot, also heading north. Also seen were a single Great Northern Diver, two Long-tailed Duck, 36 Wigeon and two Mallard.
Elsewhere, a Chiffchaff was in the bushes around Campbells and a pair of Stonechats was in Greyhope Bay, where a party of around 20 Siskins were seen flying over the sea.
Elsewhere, a Chiffchaff was in the bushes around Campbells and a pair of Stonechats was in Greyhope Bay, where a party of around 20 Siskins were seen flying over the sea.
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A nice stroll today, mostly around Nigg Bay. The weather was bright and sunny but with a cold and fairly brisk wind. A Siberian Chiffchaff was seen nicely in the trees east of the football pitch. It was accompanied by a more normal looking Chiffchaff and a few Goldcrests. Two Jack Snipe were around the marsh, where there were also two Teal and a Wigeon. Not too much else except for six Rooks and a group of Long-tailed Tits, which were along Victoria Road. A few were ringed, so I assume this was part of the group from around the ringing station at the waterworks.
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One or two things around today, although mostly birds that have been present for a few days. I finally managed to catch up with the juvenile Great Northern Diver that's been in the harbour. It was sometimes a bit elusive, generally on the northern side of the inner harbour near the lifeboat station.
I also had very good views of the roosting Short-eared Owl on the northeastern side of the golf course (next to the third tee). I guess it's used to people standing just a few metres away from it, and is surprisingly hard to see unless you look closely.
The most unusual sighting was of a Jack Snipe that flew along the shore in Greyhope Bay before coming down out of sight in a crevice amongst the rocks. The pair of Stonechats were also along the bank adjacent to the bay. There was also some positive news on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
195
Praise be!
I also had very good views of the roosting Short-eared Owl on the northeastern side of the golf course (next to the third tee). I guess it's used to people standing just a few metres away from it, and is surprisingly hard to see unless you look closely.
The most unusual sighting was of a Jack Snipe that flew along the shore in Greyhope Bay before coming down out of sight in a crevice amongst the rocks. The pair of Stonechats were also along the bank adjacent to the bay. There was also some positive news on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
195
Praise be!
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It was a cold day here in Torry today. The Nigg Bay area was fairly quiet with not much passerine activity, aside from a couple of Redpolls. In the marsh were a Teal, two Moorhen and three Common Snipe. A Water Rail flew up briefly and I saw my first local Fox for quite a while.
Elsewhere the Short-eared Owl was still roosting in the same spot on the golf course. A Buzzard flying over Greyhope Bay looked as though it might have come in off the sea. A single Lapwing was doing something along the same lines too, although the local crows weren't quite so bothered by it. A male Stonechat was in Greyhope Bay.
Elsewhere the Short-eared Owl was still roosting in the same spot on the golf course. A Buzzard flying over Greyhope Bay looked as though it might have come in off the sea. A single Lapwing was doing something along the same lines too, although the local crows weren't quite so bothered by it. A male Stonechat was in Greyhope Bay.
Cold and bright in Torry today with an inch or two of snow still on the ground and much of the freshwater frozen. The cold weather didn't seem to have brought in huge numbers of birds, although there were several Song Thrushes and Goldcrests about. At least 17 Snipe were along the Tullos Burn, where a Water Rail was seen nicely. The biggest surprise was of a bird that had remained: the Siberian Chiffchaff showing very well as it probed low to the ground just west of the reedy pool. A Pheasant was along the railway embankment.
Around the Ness, three Stonechats were lingering, probably hoping milder weather is soon on its way. Twenty Sanderling were on the south end of Aberdeen beach. The large numbers of Pink-footed Geese flying over included two Greylag Geese. Not much was offshore but, while I was watching, a Short-eared Owl briefly appeared near the lighthouse.
Around the Ness, three Stonechats were lingering, probably hoping milder weather is soon on its way. Twenty Sanderling were on the south end of Aberdeen beach. The large numbers of Pink-footed Geese flying over included two Greylag Geese. Not much was offshore but, while I was watching, a Short-eared Owl briefly appeared near the lighthouse.
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Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
I can add a couple of snow bunting, and a little auk north. Well jel of the tristis...
Still cold here in Torry, but with fewer birds to show for it this weekend. Nigg Bay was quiet apart from a Snipe and a pair of Teal. Five Redwings flew over Victoria Road. Elsewhere a Lapwing was probing through the ice on the golf course. The best news was some resounding action on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
248
What a whopper! Think that might be the highest count for quite a while.
248
What a whopper! Think that might be the highest count for quite a while.
