Birds fae Torry (5 Viewers)

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 3, 2018

Bit quiet on here lately, don't you reckon? That's partly because I've been away and partly because there hasn't been very much.

I had a fairly good look around today. The Nigg Bay marsh held a pair of Teal, three Moorhen, and eight Snipe. A nice feature recently has been a fairly large flock of Goldcrests that tend to be found in the small conifers around the waterworks where they give very pleasing eye level views. Today I saw around 15 but there have been at least 20.

Otherwise not that much else was around. 183 Purple Sandpipers were roosting and there were a few more common seabirds around than there have been.

Although I've not been seeing much, I did see a species I didn't get at all last year on 21st January - a Fieldfare over the waterworks.

Ian Bell · Feb 4, 2018

Nice to have you back Andrew. :t:

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 4, 2018

Ben Nevis said:
Nice to have you back Andrew. :t:

Thanks Ben!

It was a pleasant afternoon here but not too much was about. Three Kestrels were together over the golf course, calling quite a bit to each other.

The big news was some frankly rip-roaring action on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

270

Monster! I think that's the highest count here for several years.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 17, 2018

Still a bit quiet round here. The morning was spent around Nigg Bay. A pair of Teal showed nicely. Four Bullfinches along the railway embankment included three males. Otherwise just a Snipe, a Coal Tit, a few Moorhen and six Rooks.

The afternoon around the Ness was even less bird-packed, partly because the waders roosting on Skate's Nose were booted by an amorous couple who decided the pier was the best place for them to share a tender moment. Sweet. A Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill were showing well in the harbour. Nine Common Scoters went south.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 18, 2018

Another quiet day in Torry. A Collared Dove was singing along Victoria Road in the morning and a Siskin flew over the waterworks. 192 Purple Sandpipers were roosting on Skate's Nose. There was plenty of dolphin activity to please the crowds but not much happening otherwise.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 25, 2018

Typical February here today: cold, grey and no birds. Well not many at least. Still a pair of Teal on the marshes. Quite a lot of auks around on the sea and in the harbour. With onshore winds continuing through the week there may well be more come in. Lots of dolphin action again too.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 4, 2018

Some invigorating weather here in Torry this week. The weekdays were wild and snowy, though the snow was never that prolonged. Large numbers of gulls, mostly Common and Herring, came into the harbour.

The weekend has been grey and sleaty and the snow has started to melt. Fieldfares have been a conspicuous arrival, with 38 seen today in various flocks. Three Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour yesterday. The most cheering sight was of a male Stonechat on the north bank. I'm always a bit worried they'll get wiped out in hard weather, but at least one lingers on.

The marsh today produced my first Jack Snipe of the year. A Woodcock was also flushed near the waterworks, where a male Pheasant was seen well. A Water Rail appeared briefly on the Burn and the pair of Teal were still finding some open water.

Here's a Rook in the snow and a desperate plea for help from the wave-drenched breakwater.

Ian Bell · Mar 5, 2018

Not aware of any "Save The Gingers" campaign In Torry but shall Investigate.

etudiant · Mar 5, 2018

Ben Nevis said:
Not aware of any "Save The Gingers" campaign In Torry but shall Investigate.

Maybe some kind of cat variant?

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 7, 2018

Improved meteorological clemency encouraged me out for a walk in the afternoon. Two Woodcock were flushed from near the railway embankment. A pair of Stonechat in the plantation by the marsh were good to see. The male appeared to be unringed, so must be a different bird to the one I saw at the weekend. The best birds were a pair of Stock Doves feeding in the short grass on Tullos Hill near the railway bridge. Not a species I get every year, although they breed nearby.

Not too much elsewhere, though 162 Purple Sandpipers were roosting. No gingers - perhaps it's too late to save them.

Gander · Mar 7, 2018

Andrew Whitehouse said:
No gingers - perhaps it's too late to save them.

Looks like they might be heading the same way as poor old Jim.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 11, 2018

Nice weather here in Torry today. The birding was mostly quiet but was enlivened by rather flukily picking up an immature Iceland Gull heading south across Nigg Bay around midday. Other stuff included single Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Snipe around the waterworks and a female Red-breasted Merganser in Greyhope Bay.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 14, 2018

A late afternoon wander out into some fairly belligerent winds produced one drake Long-tailed Duck flying out of the harbour. The female Red-breasted Merganser was again in Greyhope Bay. Lots of dolphins jumping in the heavy seas, with a few making their way into the harbour.

Ian Bell · Mar 15, 2018

Andrew Whitehouse said:
A late afternoon wander out into some fairly belligerent winds produced one drake Long-tailed Duck flying out of the harbour. The female Red-breasted Merganser was again in Greyhope Bay. Lots of dolphins jumping in the heavy seas, with a few making their way into the harbour.

Did you by any chance see Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead ? He was In my work today and was telling me,he was heading to Old St Fitticks Kirk to film,as there Is an ancestor of his buried there.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 15, 2018

Ben Nevis said:
Did you by any chance see Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead ? He was In my work today and was telling me,he was heading to Old St Fitticks Kirk to film,as there Is an ancestor of his buried there.

Sadly not, though I probably wouldn't recognise him anyway. That seems a strangely appropriate spot for someone from the Walking Dead to be heading to.

Ian Bell · Mar 16, 2018

Andrew Whitehouse said:
Sadly not, though I probably wouldn't recognise him anyway. That seems a strangely appropriate spot for someone from the Walking Dead to be heading to.

Very true. :t:

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 17, 2018

Fairly rugged conditions again in Torry today, although the sun was out for most of the time at least. The Nigg Bay area still held a pair of Teal and around nine Snipe. A Water Rail (possibly a ringed bird?) was seen quite well in flight. A family of Long-tailed Tits were along the railway embankment and I again saw a pair of Stock Doves on Tullos Hill near the railway bridge. Given that I also saw a pair of Collared Doves on Victoria Road it was a rare 'four pigeon day' in Torry.

There wasn't too much elsewhere in the rough conditions. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers in the harbour were about the best of it.

Ian Bell · Mar 18, 2018

You deserve a medal for heading out ln those conditions.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 18, 2018

The conditions were slightly less medal-inducing today, when it was actually quite sunny if cold. It was a good day to watch the waves crashing into the breakwater, which is what most people seemed to be doing. The birds were much lower key. I saw two different Water Rails along the Tullos Burn. They seem to be quite showy at the moment. My first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year was in the harbour. The week ahead looks a bit more spring-like, so perhaps a few migrants might start appearing.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 25, 2018

Slightly more spring-like weather here in Torry over the weekend, although it cooled down this afternoon with a few brisk showers. Yesterday was pleasant but not all that exciting. The marshes held five Snipe, a calling Water Rail and three Moorhen. Two Long-tailed Ducks flew north offshore. Otherwise that was about it.

A wander around the north side late afternoon today was a bit more productive. The best bird was an adult winter Little Gull around the harbour mouth, following the line where the river waters meet the bay. Off the Coo a Sandwich Tern was amongst the Kittiwakes. A Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merganser were in Nigg Bay.

Birds fae Torry (5 Viewers)

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