Joseph N
Lothian Young Birder
Spent most of the day at the Ythan yesterday. Whilst I wasn't able to get up as far as the Snub due to birding the area by foot, it was fair to say that the estuary was very quiet. Wader numbers were at a minimum and seem to have been for the past few days. A number of Curlews, about 10 Ringed Plovers and 6 Dunlin were the only waders present from the mouth to the Waterside Bridge. There was a similar dearth of ducks, and it became apparent later in the evening that the King Eider had made an excursion to Blackdog.
20 Little Terns were in amongst the hundreds of terns at the ternery, which were all spooked by a Peregrine early on, whilst 13 Common Scoters headed north offshore. With very little else on the estuary, I decided to head up on to Forvie Moor. The highlight was getting treated to cracking views of a singing Cuckoo (pictured below) for about 15 minutes on the bushes at the northwestern end of the moor, the first one I've seen on the coast for a long while and probably the best and most prolonged views I've ever had of one. A pair of Stonechats were lovely to see here as well.
Joseph
20 Little Terns were in amongst the hundreds of terns at the ternery, which were all spooked by a Peregrine early on, whilst 13 Common Scoters headed north offshore. With very little else on the estuary, I decided to head up on to Forvie Moor. The highlight was getting treated to cracking views of a singing Cuckoo (pictured below) for about 15 minutes on the bushes at the northwestern end of the moor, the first one I've seen on the coast for a long while and probably the best and most prolonged views I've ever had of one. A pair of Stonechats were lovely to see here as well.
Joseph
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