Birds fae Torry (13 Viewers)

Andrew Whitehouse · Oct 27, 2019

A brisk northwesterly and regular showers gave some hoped for seawatching today, so that was where most of my attention went. It was mostly rather quiet but the highlight were a few groups of Whooper Swans coming through: three groups totalling 15 birds. Other wildfowl moving included a Goldeneye and five Mallard. 15 Red-throated Divers also passed through but little else was moving. A Long-tailed Duck was in the industrial complex we used to call Nigg Bay. There was also a bit of progress on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

78

I suspect more are about, as this wasn't quite the high tide roost. A Lapwing clipped southwards over the Battery.

Andrew Whitehouse · Nov 2, 2019

A fairly mucky day here but the rain mostly relented by late morning. There were certainly a few birds new in with thrushes quite prominent. Lots of Blackbirds and there were also 18 Redwings, a Fieldfare, three Song Thrushes and, along Victoria Road, my first Mistle Thrush of the year. Migrants weren't all that obvious otherwise, however, with just a single Goldcrest and a female Blackcap. A pair of Stonechats were along the north side of the golf course.

A tramp around the Battery almost simultaneously brought up a Woodcock and a more showy Short-eared Owl. We also had a bit of upward momentum on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

94

Andrew Whitehouse · Nov 3, 2019

Another rainy day in Torry, with some prolonged and heavy showers. The rain only relented enough for me to cover the Nigg Bay area. I had the distinct impression of things being 'interesting' so it would have been good to cover more of the area.

The highlight was my first flock of Waxwings of the winter, which were in the rowans just uphill from Tullos School. There were nine in total, mostly adults, and they posed nicely before disappearing up the hill.

Thrushes were again prominent with at least three Mistle Thrushes and a Fieldfare. Other migrants were less conspicuous but again included a Blackcap and a Goldcrest. Two White Wagtails were on the rooftops in Torry and six Grey Wagtails was a high count.

The marsh (or the 'Torry Washes' as I'm tempted to call it at the moment) held 18 Mallard, at least eight Moorhens and a Snipe. The most left field sighting of the day was a Shelduck flying above the railway line towards the sea. I suspect that might be the first I've seen here in November.

Andrew Whitehouse · Nov 9, 2019

A cold day here in Torry and the birds were fairly wintery too. A couple of Mistle Thrushes were again in the Victoria Road area. Despite searching, the Nigg Bay area was pretty quiet with a Bullfinch and a Goldcrest the best of the passerines. Two Water Rails were seen fairly well along the Tullos Burn. This species has been inconspicuous since early in the year, so it's good to see them around again.

It was very quiet around the Ness in the afternoon. I had some hopes things might be happening offshore but the only birds of note were three Teal north and a Common Scoter on the sea.

Ian Bell · Nov 10, 2019

26 Waxwings at the junction of Tullos Place/Tullos Crescent at 11.15am.Plenty berries to keep them there but the local Magpies are disturbing them.

Andrew Whitehouse · Nov 17, 2019

I was away most of this weekend but I did get out around Nigg Bay yesterday morning. The highlight was a large flock of around 60 Siskins feeding in the alders. I think this is probably the biggest flock I've ever seen here. Other birds included four Mistle Thrushes, a Redwing, a Bullfinch, a Goldcrest and several Long-tailed Tits. A couple of Water Rails were calling.

Andrew Whitehouse · Nov 30, 2019

It's a bit quiet on this thread but if you think that means it's been quiet for birds lately... you'd probably be right.

Last Saturday was fairly gloomy. A fairly thorough look around produced a Common Scoter offshore and a Snipe, two calling Water Rails, 14 Long-tailed Tits in two groups and two Siskins around Nigg Bay.

A quick look around on Thursday didn't produce much aside from two Redwings at the Battery and some solid action on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

130

Today was icy but clear with a reasonable amount of activity around Nigg Bay. The best was a Treecreeper along the railway embankment. There were also seven Bullfinches, a Goldcrest and two Snipe. 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Victoria Road.

Andrew Whitehouse · Jan 12, 2020

Back in Torry after a bit of a hiatus. It was rather a fine day with a reasonable amount of bird activity to get the patch year list underway. The Nigg Bay area was first up. It was mostly the usual stuff but two Bullfinches, a Snipe, a Goldcrest and a Siskin were good. A pair of Water Rails were calling and a group of 37 Pink-footed Geese went north.

Things were quiet around the Ness but the big news was happening on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

278

Woah! That is, I'm pleased to say, an all-time record. I'll be on the blower to Norris McWhirter.

delia todd · Jan 12, 2020

LOL Is he still alive Andy?

Andrew Whitehouse · Jan 12, 2020

delia todd said:
LOL Is he still alive Andy?

Do you know, I think he might not be. Shocking isn't it. They'll be telling me Roy Castle's pegged it next

.

delia todd · Jan 12, 2020

Yes, poor Roy, I liked him. You know it was the first time I'd heard of such a thing as passive smoking!

Back on thread.... great news that for the Purple Sandpipers isn't it!

Ian Bell · Jan 13, 2020

Good to have you back Andrew. :t:

Andrew Whitehouse · Jan 18, 2020

Thanks all! Fairly quiet in Torry today, although I was pleased to see a male Stonechat near the Coo.

Andrew Whitehouse · Jan 19, 2020

A fairly casual stroll around the Nigg Bay marshes this afternoon produced some good views of a couple of Water Rails around the reedbed. At least three birds were calling. Not too much else about, although there was a Mistle Thrush around Baxter Place.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 2, 2020

Have been a bit slow in updating things lately. Last weekend was midly interesting. On 25th, a Treecreeper was just off Victoria Road (see picture). It's another species that seems to be getting more frequent these days. This was my sixth record in the last three years or so, although it's unusual to get one in the early part of the year. In the Nigg Bay area, a Woodcock was flushed at very close range. A Peregrine cruised over and there was also a Bullfinch.

Today was quieter. The best were probably three Redwings and a Collared Dove in Torry. Not much was around Nigg Bay, although there was a Goldcrest and a Water Rail was calling from the reedbed.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 8, 2020

Not too much around in the wind today. Two Fulmars were my first of the year and a Red-throated Diver gave good views as it flew into the harbour. Also lots of Bottlenose Dolphin happenings, as there often has been so far this year. And a high, but not totaliser busting, 245 Purple Sandpipers roosting.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 9, 2020

A similar selection of birds was around in the wind today. The Purple Sandpiper total was up to 253. Twenty Pink-footed Geese went north and there were two Redwings in Torry.

delia todd · Feb 9, 2020

Gosh! Those sandpipers are doing really well aren't they Andrew.

I don't remember you having counts like that for a long time.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 9, 2020

delia todd said:
Gosh! Those sandpipers are doing really well aren't they Andrew.

I don't remember you having counts like that for a long time.

I think the numbers have certainly been higher over the past one or two winters. I'm not sure why.

Andrew Whitehouse · Feb 10, 2020

I popped out round Nigg Bay for a bit of fresh air this afternoon, not expecting to see much in breezy conditions. It turned out to be quite interesting though. A pair of Teal on the burn were my first of the year. A Snipe was in the marsh. Better were a pair of Stock Doves, up in their usual position on Tullos Hill. Things improved further when two Ravens flew south across the bay from the golf course.

On the way back home things turned really weird. I was walking up between the houses just off Balnagask Road when I noticed a small bird scuttling about on the grass out of the corner of my eye. It turned out to be a Siberian Chiffchaff, and proceeded to hop about on the pavement and steps. It was possibly eyeing up the nearby fat ball feeders, which normally just get lots of House Sparrows. I've been hoping for one this winter but didn't expect one to turn up in such an unlikely situation.

Birds fae Torry (13 Viewers)

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