edenwatcher
Well-known member
Heading north again on the A90, Daniel was able to check the latest bird news. A hoopoe at St Cyrus came with less than clear directions, so we filed that away for later. Then came Iberian chiffchaff at Tipperty... I smartly pulled into the first layby and consulted the OS map! Only just off our route and a Scottish mega (looks like 5th record) - power up the quattro!
The new Aberdeen bypass smoothed our passage and we readily located Mill of Tarty. A single birder was just leaving, but decided to accompany us back to the site. As we got nearer its chosen plantation of small spruces the distinctive song could be heard and before long we were both adding Iberian chiffchaff to our lists. We stood and ate lunch whilst enjoying good views and its remarkably distinctive song (a consistent three part song - no mixed singing here!). From here it was short drive down to the mouth of the Ythan at Newburgh. Here we spent some time, mainly watching terns - adding common and arctic to the year list but failing to find any little. Also here were a couple of whimbrel. We then stopped a couple of times at the various car parks on the way upstream. Nothing much at Inches Point, but at The Snub I had a good scan. There were plenty of pinkfeet in the field opposite but no visible cranes. At that point I picked up two large birds in the distance flying towards us. These were clearly common cranes and Daniel was soon on to them. The kept flying downstream towards us but landed out of sight behind a hump in the same field as the geese. Reasoning that they should be visible from the Waulkmill hide, we drove round and had some nice views - lifer number 2 for Daniel. A cacophony of whimbrel calls came from a flock of at least 23 which flew round and landed again.
Heading further north we called in at Slains and Bullers of Buchan - getting puffin for Daniel's year list, plus other seabirds. It was now around 3:30 so it was clear that Strathbeg was a step too far. We decided to head back south and after another failed attempt for little tern began our journey home. As we were going round the Aberdeen bypass clear directions for the hoopoe came through - "field by the visitor centre" - game on! It proved tricky to find the right turning but once at the car park we could see 3 birders gazing intently. The bird was out of view in a dip but we edged forward and it gradually emerged - Daniel's third British tick of the day. Before long it flew further away and we set off for home. A final stop in Guardbridge to add a few species to the day list including osprey and black-tailed godwit bringing us to 82 and then it was scampi and chips to celebrate. Daniel has commitments both days next weekend so we will be closer to home.
Rob
The new Aberdeen bypass smoothed our passage and we readily located Mill of Tarty. A single birder was just leaving, but decided to accompany us back to the site. As we got nearer its chosen plantation of small spruces the distinctive song could be heard and before long we were both adding Iberian chiffchaff to our lists. We stood and ate lunch whilst enjoying good views and its remarkably distinctive song (a consistent three part song - no mixed singing here!). From here it was short drive down to the mouth of the Ythan at Newburgh. Here we spent some time, mainly watching terns - adding common and arctic to the year list but failing to find any little. Also here were a couple of whimbrel. We then stopped a couple of times at the various car parks on the way upstream. Nothing much at Inches Point, but at The Snub I had a good scan. There were plenty of pinkfeet in the field opposite but no visible cranes. At that point I picked up two large birds in the distance flying towards us. These were clearly common cranes and Daniel was soon on to them. The kept flying downstream towards us but landed out of sight behind a hump in the same field as the geese. Reasoning that they should be visible from the Waulkmill hide, we drove round and had some nice views - lifer number 2 for Daniel. A cacophony of whimbrel calls came from a flock of at least 23 which flew round and landed again.
Heading further north we called in at Slains and Bullers of Buchan - getting puffin for Daniel's year list, plus other seabirds. It was now around 3:30 so it was clear that Strathbeg was a step too far. We decided to head back south and after another failed attempt for little tern began our journey home. As we were going round the Aberdeen bypass clear directions for the hoopoe came through - "field by the visitor centre" - game on! It proved tricky to find the right turning but once at the car park we could see 3 birders gazing intently. The bird was out of view in a dip but we edged forward and it gradually emerged - Daniel's third British tick of the day. Before long it flew further away and we set off for home. A final stop in Guardbridge to add a few species to the day list including osprey and black-tailed godwit bringing us to 82 and then it was scampi and chips to celebrate. Daniel has commitments both days next weekend so we will be closer to home.
Rob