[Fat Paul Scholes]

I had my first trip round the ness this morning in what seems like a very long time. There was a distinctly springlike feel, with Dunnock, skylark, green and goldfinches, and linnets all singing away...which was very pleasant to hear.

No spring migrants around...the best of it was 9 common scoter north and 4 extremely handsome long tailed ducks in Nigg bay.

[Ben Nevis]

Two pair of Goosander on the Dee,at Victoria Bridge.The males plumage is in fantastic condition.I would Imagine this is them pairing up,before heading up water for the breeding season.

[Joseph N]

I'm going to have a look at Girdleness when I get out birding this weekend. If any spring migrants or anything of note is around, I will make sure I post back in here.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Well, lets hope it improves for you by tomorrow Joseph! Not much around today (although it was very windy which made things tricky) or yesterday. Hightlights, if you could call them as such, were a rook yesterday, and 4 lapwings in greyhope bay today. The great crested grebe was still in Nigg bay Yesterday, with a drake common scoter.

[Joseph N]

Looks pretty quiet by the sounds of it, but still, you're not going to see anything at all at Girdleness if you don't even check it.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Had a look round late in the afternoon. It wasn't too exciting. Roosting on the Skate's Nose were 17 Purple Sandpipers, 36 Turnstones and 35 Redshanks. On Nigg Bay there was a Red-throated Diver and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, the latter the largest group I've seen for some time. A Linnet was back on territory on the south side. Undoubtedly the strangest sighting was a Rook flying north just off the Coo, before heading across the bay to who knows where. Maybe it had come from the hill behind the water works, which has been thoroughly divested of its vegetation. Alec mentioned to me last week that this has something to do with pipes being put in to remove gas from the landfill.

One strange incident to recount. I was standing with my scope by the road on the south side of Walker Park and was looking out to sea. A large rangerover came past and slowed down. The owner wound the window down: 'Fit are you doing?' he asked, really rather insistently. Puzzled I said, 'I'm birding'. 'Oh you're a birdwatcher,' he replied and then drove off. Very weird. I'm used to being asked what I'm doing by people who are curious but this was a bit like you get asked by a snooty landowner when you're on their land.

[delia todd]

This thread used to be sub-titled "Discarded Clothing".... it seems it's now going to be "Strange Comments".

D

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Originally Posted by delia todd

This thread used to be sub-titled "Discarded Clothing".... it seems it's now going to be "Strange Comments".

D

What I'm wondering is whether the same people are responsible for both. Hmm...

[Ben Nevis]

Originally Posted by Andrew Whitehouse

One strange incident to recount. I was standing with my scope by the road on the south side of Walker Park and was looking out to sea. A large rangerover came past and slowed down. The owner wound the window down: 'Fit are you doing?' he asked, really rather insistently. Puzzled I said, 'I'm birding'. 'Oh you're a birdwatcher,' he replied and then drove off. Very weird. I'm used to being asked what I'm doing by people who are curious but this was a bit like you get asked by a snooty landowner when you're on their land.

As an "Incomer" to Torry Andrew,you may not know,that the area was/is still popular,with men taking "ladies of the night" for a conversation..! However,that may not have anything to do,with the Range Rover but he maybe thought he was missing out,in seeing something..!

On the Football Pitch,just along from the Sewage Works,I had six Roe Deer grazing at 6.30am this morning.I know its nothing to do with birds but a lovely sight,all the same.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Originally Posted by Ben Nevis

As an "Incomer" to Torry Andrew,you may not know,that the area was/is still popular,with men taking "ladies of the night" for a conversation..! However,that may not have anything to do,with the Range Rover but he maybe thought he was missing out,in seeing something..!

On the Football Pitch,just along from the Sewage Works,I had six Roe Deer grazing at 6.30am this morning.I know its nothing to do with birds but a lovely sight,all the same.

I saw four Roe Deer in that area yesterday - I wonder if they've been displaced from the hill by the earth works.

[Ben Nevis]

Originally Posted by Andrew Whitehouse

I saw four Roe Deer in that area yesterday - I wonder if they've been displaced from the hill by the earth works.

There are a few of them,that roam the "Gramps" and they can be seen anywhere on the hill,even as far over as the dual carriageway.I also had two Buzzards soaring over the earth works today,being mobbed by crows.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Some migrants at last today...but not really what I was hoping for! Fieldfare and Redwing at the battery, and good numbers of lesser black backed gulls, with about ten on the flat roof of the water treatment works. Also a goosander in the harbour, and a lot of bottlenose dolphins putting on quite a spectacular display.

Just a matter of days now till the migs start coming in....

[Fat Paul Scholes]

14 whooper swans went north over Nigg bay this morning, with 16 red breasted mergansers and 9 long tailed ducks in the bay itself. 2 redwing at the sewage works along with a singing reed bunting. Still no summer migrants!!!

[Ken Hall]

Well, Mark was the closest, only one day out. Cracking male Northern Wheatear this morning, first in Walker Park (as predicted) then a bit later on the edge of the golf course, south side of the Battery. Might have been a different individual of course.

Also noted round the Ness today, 4 Long-tailed Ducks in Nigg Bay, Ringed Plovers displaying in the Greyhope Bay car park (have they no shame?) several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The rain and the fog finally got the better of me.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Originally Posted by Ken Hall

Well, Mark was the closest, only one day out. Cracking male Northern Wheatear this morning, first in Walker Park (as predicted) then a bit later on the edge of the golf course, south side of the Battery. Might have been a different individual of course.

Also noted round the Ness today, 4 Long-tailed Ducks in Nigg Bay, Ringed Plovers displaying in the Greyhope Bay car park (have they no shame?) several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The rain and the fog finally got the better of me.

Well done Ken. The rain and the fog got the better of me before I even went out!

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Yep, nice one Ken...It's always a great thrill seeing the first wheatear of the year. It seems like the foggy conditions also downed a few other migrants. This afternoon I had two male wheatears, two chiffchaffs (different birds at the battery and the battery willows) a goldcrest in the battery willows and a snow bunting in Nigg bay. Also good numbers of blackbirds around....could well be worth a look round tomorrow morning.

[Ben Nevis]

Its what they call a "pea souper" locally,so conditions should be perfect for a morning walk round the Ness.Too bad I have a 6am start at work.

[Joseph N]

I thought this weather may provide a little something in terms of migrants. Well done on the first Wheatear at Girdleness Ken, and well done for finding the first Chffichaffs Mark. As already said, in the current weather conditions it is probably worth a look round Girdleness. A pity that I'm busy this weekend. However if the weather is ok tomorrow afternoon it may be ok to get out for a little while, and I might either head to the Ness or up to the Ythan (Bewick's Swan seen there yesterday).

I've been noticing that two Alpine Swifts were seen in Kircaldy yesterday before flying north. If the weather persists as it does, it would be great if one ended up at the Ness. Obviously the chances are unlikely but it is worth a look out for any hirundines that pass through.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Out early doors this morning. To be fair it was slightly disappointing although there was a little bit around. My only summer migrant was a singing Chiffchaff in the 'Nightingale Bush' - possibly the one Mark had yesterday. There were also a couple of Goldcrests (one in the allotments and one at the Battery) and two Fieldfares (allotments). Otherwise there were quite a few Blackbirds, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails around. A Golden Plover flew north and 209 Purple Sandpipers were roosting - the most I've counted for a while. Four Red-breasted Mergansers flew south off the Coo and one Red-throated Diver went north.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Certainly not disappointing this morning for me!

Chiffchaff and a female blackcap along the railway embankment, snow bunting and 5 lapwing in nigg bay, 2 wheatear and 2 goldcrest on the south bank, black redstart and chiffchaff at the battery, chiffchaff and goldcrest in the battery willows.

[Joseph N]

Down giving the Ness a thorough look this afternoon after school. Had a careful look for the Black Redstart which you reported, Mark, and couldn't see it either at the Battery or the second most likely place that it would be (on the rocky shore from the sycamore to the Battery). However, 2 Chiffchaffs were seen (1 near sycamore and the other in the Battery), my first migrant species of the year. Also there were two Goldcrests at the Battery. Weirdly enough, no Wheatears were present in Walker Park or on any of the rocks stretching from the Coo to Nigg Bay. Offshore however were a few Kittiwakes (my first of the year oddly enough), and a Song Thrush could be heard singing at Nigg Bay. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were present in good numbers too.

It looks like you went to the Ness just at the right time. I think either that Black Redstart has now passed by, or it is being very skulky.

Joseph

[Ken Hall]

The best I could come up with today was 2 Chiffchaffs together in the little nook almost at the base of the south breakwater, where there is a small sycamore tree and some other scrub. Numerous Blackbirds, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Still a few chiffchaffs lingering in various spots, and at least three wheatears about this lunchtime. A sandwich tern went north too. Not much else about though....7 long tailed ducks in Nigg Bay, and 5 very handsome common scoter with the eiders off the foghorn.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Nothing new on the migrant front, the best bits of today in the form of three greylags south over the sewage works, and two velvet scoters north. Over the sea....not over the sewage works. Obviously!

[choughed2bits]

Very late post from the weekend:

The black redstart was still around the battery on Saturday about midday although it kind of disappeared after i saw it.

Thanks very much to the chap that pointed me in it's direction. Very helpful of you - and i bagged a lifer!

kev t