Birds fae Torry (29 Viewers)

[delia todd]

Enjoyed your photo,Andrew.Takes me back a few years but such bird photos were normally accompanied with some domestic Item from a Kitchen.

I think Aberdonians must have cleaned up their act Ian! It's been an awful long time since we last had any glimpse of rubbish in the area!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I think Aberdonians must have cleaned up their act Ian! It's been an awful long time since we last had any glimpse of rubbish in the area!

The beach cleaners are very enthusiastic these days

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

There were a few more bits and pieces today, before the weather deteriorated. A pair of Collared Doves were new for the year along Victoria Road. Another Woodcock was flushed at St Fittick's. Other birds there included six Teal, two Water Rails, eight Stock Doves, a Mistle Thrush, three Redwings, two Repolls and six Siskins. Ten Common Scoters were again in Nigg Bay and there were eight Long-tailed Ducks.

Offshore, there were more Kittiwakes than yesterday and looking through them eventually produced a juvenile Little Gull. My first Gannet of the year went north and another Common Scoter was on the sea. Sadly, no domestic appliances were found .

 

[Ian Bell]

To continue on the Collared Dove theme,there were 4 of them In the fenced off garden at the Victoria Road/Abbey Place junction this morning,as I waited on my bus,calling to each other.

 

[Cucurrucucu]

What do the ducks eat in Nigg Bay? It is a very disrupted, newly created substrate, wouldn't have thought there would be much down there.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

What do the ducks eat in Nigg Bay? It is a very disrupted, newly created substrate, wouldn't have thought there would be much down there.

I guess there must be something, otherwise they'd go somewhere else. Maybe there's some shellfish. Long-tailed Ducks used to use the area in spring so I suppose there may be vestiges of the shellfish and other things they used to feed on then.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Not too much to report over the past few days. Yesterday (26th) I looked around St Fittick's in the drizzle. A couple of Water Rails showed and there were at least 20 Redwings. Things were also quiet around the headland today, with 143 Purple Sandpipers roosting, along with a reasonable count (by recent standards anyway) of 60 Redshanks. Ten Common Scoters and four Long-tailed Ducks were in Nigg Bay. A calling Linnet along the south bank was my first of the year.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

A fairly low-key day in mild, breezy conditions. St Fittick's had a bit of activity, including two Teal, two Water Rails, a Mistle Thrush, four Siskins, five Redpolls, two Redwings and 31 Rooks. A flock of Long-tailed Tits were my first of the year. The Common Scoter count was up to 13, 12 of them in Nigg Bay along with five Long-tailed Ducks. The headland was very quiet, although the Redshanks count was up to 72.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a fairly quick look round today, with quite a strong wind again. Not too much was doing. There were 11 Common Scoters and five Long-tailed Ducks in Nigg Bay. The only new bird for the year was a male Pheasant on Tullos Hill.

 

[tjbw]

I also had a walk around today, and saw the same birds, plus a single Teal.

There were 2 Roe Deer near Wooden Bridge, and another 4 left Triangle field going towards Ian's feeders.

Barry

 

[tjbw]

I had an enjoyable walk around this afternoon. There was a gentle breeze, and clear blue sky. It actually felt warm, though some frost remained in shaded locations.

I started at Torry Battery, and found 220 Purple Sandpiper mostly on the inner and outer breakwaters, along with 16 Ruddy Turnstone, 11 Common Ringed Plover etc.

9 Common Scoter and 4 Long-tailed Duck were still present in Nigg Bay, as were Pheasant, Water Rail and Teal in St Fitticks, along with 7 Roe Deer.

More than 90 Pink-footed Goose flew north.

Barry

 

[Ian Bell]

I had an enjoyable walk around this afternoon. There was a gentle breeze, and clear blue sky. It actually felt warm, though some frost remained in shaded locations.

I started at Torry Battery, and found 220 Purple Sandpiper mostly on the inner and outer breakwaters, along with 16 Ruddy Turnstone, 11 Common Ringed Plover etc.

9 Common Scoter and 4 Long-tailed Duck were still present in Nigg Bay, as were Pheasant, Water Rail and Teal in St Fitticks, along with 7 Roe Deer.

More than 90 Pink-footed Goose flew north.

Barry

Great to have you back,Barry

 

[tjbw]

Thank you Ian, great to be back, despite the cold and stormy weather.

I had a quick look along the shore between allotments and Greyhope Bay. Same birds as previous visit, but also 1 Redshank and 1 Goosander.

At Nigg Bay there were 6 Long-tailed Duck and 11 Common Scoter.

I also saw a Redshank on the riverbank at Victoria Bridge.

Barry

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a quick look around late afternoon today, in very mild conditions. 151 Purple Sandpipers were roosting. Nigg Bay held eight Long-tailed Ducks and 11 Common Scoters. Seven Teal were in the marsh at St Fittick's.

 

[delia todd]

WOW!! They're doing well this year!

 

[tjbw]

I returned to St Fittick's and Nigg Bay on Friday afternoon.

There were 3 Roe Deer on Triangle field, and a Water Rail was calling at Concrete bridge. Then, when I was standing beside a holly bush, north of the concrete bridge, a 4th Roe Deer ran just behind me and crossed over the bridge!

The Pheasant was present again on Tullos Hill, and a couple of Siskin, also 16 Rook were seen too.

Barry

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It was a little cooler today but still quite pleasant most of the time. I began around St Fittick's in the morning. There were at least 14 Teal in the marsh. Other birds included four Stock Doves, the Pheasant, three Water Rails, a Kestrel and three Redpolls. A Grey Wagtail around the waterworks and five Bullfinches were both new for the year. Eleven Common Scoters and six Long-tailed Ducks were in Nigg Bay. 34 Rooks around Tullos School was (I think) a record count. I continued on to the river, where a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the woodland.

I went round the headland in the afternoon. The bird of the day was a Short-eared Owl that showed nicely between the allotments and the Battery. Presumably, it's one that had drifted over the river from the King's Links. Five Linnets were in Walker Park.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Didn't see too much today, although still 11 Common Scoter, seven Long-tailed Ducks and six Teal. The Bottlenose Dolphins are conspicuous at the moment, and were jumping around to good effect.

 

[Cucurrucucu]

Seventeen magpies in one tree on Balnagask this morning. What makes them flock together? Is it an extended family or are they sizing each other up for the mating season? An aerial lek?

 

[delia todd]

I don't really know C. I saw a big party of them last summer in S Wales. Presumed that was a family group though, they weren't very close so couldn't check if there were any young ones there. It was middle of June, but I don't even know when they fledge. Sorry, I'm no use to you!!!

There'll be someone who knows LOL