Birds fae Torry (9 Viewers)

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 2, 2019

A good inch or so of snow was on the ground in Torry this morning. Most of the marsh in Nigg Bay was frozen over, but waterbirds were still along the burn: eight Teal, at least five Snipe, three Moorhen and fairly showy Water Rail. A Fieldfare and a Bullfinch were are also about.

The best bird in the afternoon around the Ness was a Short-eared Owl, showing nicely around the Battery. Two Mute Swan flew north offshore before settling in Aberdeen Bay. Several Purple Sandpipers were unusually close by, on the shore below the Battery.

Ian Bell · Feb 3, 2019

Super photos,Andrew

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 3, 2019

Thanks Ben! It was a similar story this afternoon, with the Short-eared Owl again showing well. It was also good to see the pair of Stonechats again, though the male and female were quite some distance apart from one another, the male in Greyhope Bay and the female by the Coo. A male Red-breasted Merganser was in Aberdeen Bay and a Goldeneye flew south. I saw the pair of Mute Swans again, flying northwards over the harbour at dusk.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 4, 2019

I had a quick look around this afternoon. Not many birds (no sign of the owl) but there was this Otter eating a fish on the harbour breakwater.

amilne · Feb 5, 2019

I was around in the afternoon as well. My bird recognition skills are not a patch on yours, both visually and aurally, so I'm never surprised that I don't spot a fraction of the species which you detect. I always spend time looking for otters though, and have some chance of separating them from seals. I am most dischuffed, therefore, that I missed the otter. I have not spotted one for some time, but I will now redouble my efforts when I cycle through the area, as I do, every couple of days.

burnie · Feb 5, 2019

Some nice images, not been to Torry yet, must make the effort once I'm fit again, due in hospital for a bit of minor surgery next week, so I hope the Otter will hang around for a while, we don't usually see them in daylight down at Montrose.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 5, 2019

Thanks for the comments. I seem to see Otters here a lot more often than I used to so keep your eyes open. Exposed areas on the breakwaters around the harbour mouth are good places to look. The north breakwater is particularly good.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 10, 2019

Some interest in Torry over the weekend. Yesterday was unexceptional, with a female Red-breasted Merganser in the harbour about the best of it. A female Stonechat was again in Greyhope Bay.

Today the highlight was a Siberian Chiffchaff, hanging around with the tit flock in the small conifers west of the Nigg Bay waterworks. It showed quite well on occasions, although I didn't hear it call. It looks as if something's tried to rip its tail out. Also around were two Goldcrests, ten Teal and six Moorhens. A flock of at least ten Yellowhammers was near the marsh - the highest count I've ever had here.

Jimmycq · Feb 16, 2019

Torry owl

I was around the Ness yesterday for a couple of hours with nothing out of the ordinary to report, dropped by today with wife in tow, (who is not into birding in any form) and met this beauty near the Battery car park. Headed off and landed on the small hill behind the allotments.

Jim

delia todd · Feb 16, 2019

Mmmmm..... nice one Jim.

That had to impress your wife, surely? LOL

Ian Bell · Feb 22, 2019

Down at Victoria Bridge,a pair of Goosander were on the Dee.Nothing strange about that,I know.However,the male was at the waters edge,eating bread from a lady and her young son,as they threw It In the water.

The female kept her distance but the male came In very close.I've never seen that before.

Stonefaction · Feb 22, 2019

We've got a few (up to about 10 or so) that turn up in winter on a local pond in Dundee and compete with the Mallards and gulls for the bread etc. Tamest ones I've seen were on the Ness at Inverness a few years ago which looked like they would've taken food from your hands.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 9, 2019

It's been a while since I've been able to get out around the Ness. Not too much this afternoon in blustery conditions. A Red-breasted Merganser was around the harbour mouth, where there was also plenty of Bottlenose Dolphin activity. The best bird was a Shelduck heading north out to sea - often a tricky bird to catch up with here.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 10, 2019

A look around the Nigg Bay area this morning was much as expected. 16 Teal were in the marsh - quite a high number - and there were also four Moorhen and three Snipe. A Water Rail was seen fairly well along the burn. A pair of Bullfinches were near the embankment. Around the waterworks there were at least five Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff was heard (and sounded like a 'regular' Chiffchaff).

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 18, 2019

A bit quiet here over recent days, but at least there was some better weather today. Yesterday there were three Yellowhammers by the allotments. Today a sign of spring was my first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year. At sunset I had prolonged views of an Otter, busily feeding in the shallows at the edge of the harbour. What sharp teeth they have.

amilne · Mar 20, 2019

A glorious day on my early trip from Cove Bay to Torry today. Rafts of Auks near Cove, increased numbers of Eider inshore, swarms of flies in the light breeze, still only Lesser Celendine in flower really, Trump's turbines inactive, the harbour development looking about a year behind. Spring looked to be really coming.

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 23, 2019

I tend to have low expectations in March but today produced a somewhat anticipated patch tick. I was walking along the railway embankment near the waterworks late morning when I heard a deep rolling call. I looked up and saw a large corvid overhead. It then soared about over the marsh, gaining height and calling as it went. It glided around for several minutes before disappearing from view: my first patch Raven. In fact it's the first I've seen anywhere near Aberdeen city. News that they've recently become established south of the city had encouraged me to think they might eventually find their way to the Ness, so this was a little bit on my radar. This bird seemed to be doing a territorial flight, so hopefully it will appear again and on a regular basis.

Otherwise, a Chiffchaff was singing by the waterworks, a Water Rail gave good views along the Burn and there were two Redwings, eight Snipe and five Teal.

delia todd · Mar 23, 2019

It's always nice to spot a Raven, isn't it Andrew. I hope they do manage to get established beside you.

Ian Bell · Mar 24, 2019

"Well Done" with the Raven,Andrew. :t:

Andrew Whitehouse · Mar 24, 2019

A quiet day today in rather blustery conditions. There was some significant progress Purple Sandpiper Totaliser-wise:

259

Boom! Not much else, although the male Goosander (one of three) was showing well in the harbour.

Birds fae Torry (9 Viewers)

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