[Andrew Whitehouse]

It's a while since I trod the green sward of Torry, the fresh northerly gale gently bending me double, my eyes ever alert for shopping trolleys and discarded household appliances. But today I once again stepped forth into the welcoming Aberdonian elements, eager to reacquaint myself with the rich and ever-changing birdlife of Girdle Ness. The reward for my endeavours was scant, but included two Wheatears on the golf course a few Sandwich Terns offshore, and nine Long-tailed Ducks and eleven Red-throated Divers in Nigg Bay. That was about my lot. It's good to be back.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

A single swallow at the allotments this evening. Also a female wheatear in the walled garden (the first female I've seen this year)(the first female wheatear, I mean).

[Ben Nevis]

Originally Posted by Fat Paul Scholes

A single swallow at the allotments this evening. Also a female wheatear in the walled garden (the first female I've seen this year)(the first female wheatear, I mean).

So,do you meet a lot of female's In the walled garden ?????

[Fat Paul Scholes]

A male black redstart in bushes at the eastern end of the allotments this evening. Also, quite a few robins about and a chiff at the battery.

[Joseph N]

Originally Posted by Fat Paul Scholes

A male black redstart in bushes at the eastern end of the allotments this evening. Also, quite a few robins about and a chiff at the battery.

Nice one with the Black Redstart Mark, seems like it could be getting into an easterly wind pattern for the next few days and the migs seem to be arriving here as of today... Perhaps a Rouzel at the Ness is on the cards?

Joseph

[Fat Paul Scholes]

It certainly sounds good out there tonight!

[Fat Paul Scholes]

A few more migrants in this morning. At least 3 chiffs, 3 wheatears, a willow warbler and still decent numbers of robins around. Could well be more stuff coming in through the day.

[Teamscotch]

I had a quick nose round the allotments and battery this evening...a nice female brambling visiting feeders in the allotments was the best I could do. Also a number of robins, chiffs, a male blackcap and my belated first Swallow of the year on wires along St Fitticks Road.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Very quiet migrant wise this morning...best of it were a pair of teal in the harbour, and my first common sandpiper of the year there as well.

[Joseph N]

Originally Posted by Fat Paul Scholes

Very quiet migrant wise this morning...best of it were a pair of teal in the harbour, and my first common sandpiper of the year there as well.

I found it similarly quiet up until 9:30 this morning. 2 Chiffchaffs in the allotments and a Willow Warbler in the battery, as well as a couple of Wheatears in Walker Park. A female Sparrowhawk was also flushed from the battery, and a gorgeous summer plumaged male Long-tailed Duck was in the harbour with the Eiders. That was that though.

Joseph

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I guess I may have 'won' today then. Not that it's a competition or anything.

My secret to winning was being lazy and not setting out till mid-afternoon. A couple of Swallows flew along Victoria Road and a Willow Warbler was singing on Abbey Road. A drake Long-tailed Duck was on the harbour. I headed up to the Battery and soon saw an interesting looking greyish passerine flit into a small patch of brambles at the northeastern end of the 'moat'. I stood by for a few minutes but the bird didn't come out, so I went a little closer. A bird suddenly flew out, but not the bird I was waiting for - it was unexpectedly bigger. It flew round and came back towards me, bright orange eyes glowing rather fiercely - a Long-eared Owl! Didn't expect that at all. It flew round a couple more times before disappearing. I thought it must have come down nearby but I couldn't find it again. The funny grey bird turned out to be one of a few remarkably pale looking Robins that were about. A female Blackcap was also around the Battery.

Offshore there were plenty of commoner seabirds moving along with my first Bonxie of the year. Twelve Red-throated Divers were also counted. Seven Wheatears and a lot of Rock and Meadow Pipits were in Walker Park.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Funnily enough, my claire is adamant she saw an owl fly past the Campbell's last night. She's no birder but she knows an owl when she sees one. Here's hoping it stays around for a few days...

[Teamscotch]

Popped in early this am...the sea was disappointing with perhaps 15 rt divers moving north, one c Scoter and a bonxie. Overhead corvid movement included two fine hooded crows.

Migrants were in short supply...a f wheatear on the golf course, a swallow and a f blackcap at the battery.

It will be interesting what the late shift gets today!

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Not much to add to that teamscotch...best of it were 2 shelduck north. And a pretty hefty hail shower.

[markhammonds]

I am pleasantly surprised to have a close view of a drake Long-tailed Duck in the harbour whilst eating my lunch.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

I'm sure the weather will have brought some stuff in today/last night, but conditions were making seeing stuff quite tricky. There were 8 wheatears in the walled garden, several of which were good northwestern birds. Also a blackcap at the battery, and a peregrine over the allotments.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

some migrants in today, but again, conditions making it difficult. A male ring ouzel was at the sycamore, a redwing was in the 'new' cover planted between the allotments and the battery, and two blackcaps were at the battery.

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Wind was making things very difficult this evening. So difficult I only managed to see two migrants. Happy days though, as one was a wryneck on the south bank (it flushed towards the steep burnt bit behind the green shed - I left it there as I didn't want to flush it again). The other was an exceedingly handsome male redstart in the allotments. With the ring ouzel at lunchtime, I think that has to be one of my most enjoyable spring days birding at the ness...

[StuartReeves]

Originally Posted by Fat Paul Scholes

some migrants in today, but again, conditions making it difficult. A male ring ouzel was at the sycamore, a redwing was in the 'new' cover planted between the allotments and the battery, and two blackcaps were at the battery.

I like the idea that that bit still counts as 'new' cover! Assuming it's the patch that was pretty new when I left Aberdeen, it must be at least thirteen years old now!

[Teamscotch]

Originally Posted by StuartReeves

I like the idea that that bit still counts as 'new' cover! Assuming it's the patch that was pretty new when I left Aberdeen, it must be at least thirteen years old now!

Time passes very slowly up here...

[Fat Paul Scholes]

Despite the best efforts of myself and Teamscotch, we couldn't relocate the wryneck this morning, or any of yesterdays other migrants for that matter. Only migs around were 10 wheatear, and a few song thrush and robin. Bit of a contrast to yesterday....

[Teamscotch]

I stopped to look at the burnt patch opposite the Nigg Bay car park tonight...more out of hope then expectation. To my great surprise the Wryneck flew in from the slope to the right of the burnt area and showed wonderfully for about 5 minutes at 17.25. I lost it, I think it may have popped over the top of the bank. First spring bird ever for me!

I bumped into Andrew at the allotments on the way home, so I ticked off both the regulars today having met Mark for the first time this morning. Nice to meet you fellas!

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Good to meet you earlier today and thanks for the tip off. Sadly I didn't manage to find the Wryneck, although I'm sure it was lurking about somewhere over there.

My best bird was an Iceland Gull, which was in the throng of gulls around the harbour mouth for a minute or two. Either a first or second winter. Not too much else besides at least four Wheatears, a Buzzard over the golf course, two Teal north, seven Red-throated Divers and eight Long-tailed Ducks in Nigg Bay.

[Teamscotch]

****! Iceland Gull has totally eluded me this year. Sadly I was under orders to get home for tea!

[Joseph N]

A look around the South Bank did not produce the Wryneck this morning, although I far from expected to see it what have the good conditions last night. There was very little in the way of any migrants; 2 Willow Warblers and a Swallow around the South Bank, and just 3 Wheatears in the walled garden. Nigg Bay held 11 Red-throated Divers, the most I've had in the bay and including a number of nice summer plumaged individuals. A group of 45+ Sandwich Terns were on the rocks at Greyhope Bay but apart from that there wasn't much else.

Joseph