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Birds fae Torry (1 Viewer)

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
Well at least it's airborne - makes a change from discarded trousers and shoes, doesn't it.

A lovely purple sand totaliser that Andrew - can't remember what your best count has been though?

Glad you enjoyed the balloon. And the Totaliser. I think the highest count was 272 from 2008. Clearly we've taken our eye of the ball since then.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
A quick scan from home this morning revealed that the Great Northern Diver is still present around the harbour mouth. Only the second one for the house list - nice!
 

Joseph N

Lothian Young Birder
I spent most of the day at the Ness today. It was a windy affair, a brisk and unrelenting southerly battering the area, but despite this it still felt noticeably mild. Things were pretty quiet first off, with a Red-throated Diver in the harbour and 35 Turnstones on Skate's Nose being the best of it at very high tide.

Things started to pick up offshore at the Coo, where things were more interesting than anticipated. The highlight was a single Little Auk south at fairly close range early on, whilst the Great Northern Diver seemed to have found a companion, the two of them heading towards Aberdeen Bay. A few ducks struggled against the wind , including a smart drake Long-tailed Duck and a pair of Goldeneye south and 11 Common Scoters north. At least 80 Gannets moved through during the hour, whilst 4 Red-throated Divers were dotted around.

The South Bank and sewage works were quiet, the latter holding a couple of Goldcrests. Whilst making my way back towards Greyhope Bay a Buzzard winged its way southwards over the golf course. With no more than half an hour light left, I headed speedily along the North Bank. As I neared the first breakwater an almighty squeal sounded as I flushed something from right under my feet on the path. It headed quickly for the cover with legs dangling; a Water Rail . I climbed up onto the bank in an attempt to flush it again. A few muffled squeals were heard, but it proved typically recalcitrant despite being in dead cover. Mark appeared and we both tried to bash it out till dark, but needless to say to no avail. This is apparently only the third record for the Ness. A very nice end to a rather more productive day than originally expected.

Another nice find (?) today was this quaint little couch at the foot of South Bank. Thought this might be a good birthday treat for you to indulge in Andrew, unless you'd already discovered it previously? Hope you enjoyed your day.
 

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Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
Quiet again today, with nothing to report except one Red-breasted Merganser on Nigg Bay, four Red-throated Divers and 29 Purple Sandpipers. Quite a bit of dolphin goings-on too.
 

Teamscotch

Well-known member
Crossing the Queen Elizabeth bridge this morning I saw a flock of 55 Waxwings (or Jedward's Hypocolius as we should now call them) flying out of the Torry 'hood and across the Dee. They landed in trees alongside Riverside Drive and were commuting across the road to a small berry bush in Riverside Business Park.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
Not a great deal happening at the Ness today. Single Knot, Dunlin and Grey Wagtail were about the best of it. At least four Bottlenose Dolphins were on the go in the usual manner, and ten Long-tailed Tits were at St Fittick's. The quiet winter has set in.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
Another day of low returns in rather eye-wateringly chilly weather. Single drake Red-breasted Mergansers were on the harbour and Nigg Bay. A Knot was in Greyhope Bay. Not too much was happening on the sea apart from three Red-throated Divers, two Common Scoters and a couple of Gannets. A flock of 28 Mallards going south over Nigg Bay was a bit unusual.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
I forgot to mention that I had a look round last Sunday (2nd December). This was probably because I didn't see much but it did include some important action on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

189

High five! The only other stuff was a Long-tailed Duck north and six Red-throated Diver. The long-staying sofa on the south bank had been joined by a microwave - I think the first I've seen at Girdle Ness.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
Today was a little bit livelier and there'd clearly been a small influx of birds with the hard weather. Thrushes were more numerous than of late, with a Redwing on Abbey Road and four Song Thrushes. A rather deep sounding Redpoll flew over the allotments. The best bird was a showy Great Northern Diver in the harbour, just upstream of the sycamore tree and quite close to the shore. I've never seen one so far up the river. Other stuff included a Red-breasted Merganser, two Long-tailed Ducks, a Common Scoter and a Dunlin. A Snipe was along one of the channels at St Fittick's.
 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis
The great northern diver is still around, showing very nicely as it feeds on crabs just a few yards offshore. If anyone is interested in getting photos of it, high tide seems to be the best time for it hanging around in front of Inverdee house...seems not to be too disturbed by passing boats, cars or people.
 

markhammonds

Well-known member
The great northern diver is still around, showing very nicely as it feeds on crabs just a few yards offshore. If anyone is interested in getting photos of it, high tide seems to be the best time for it hanging around in front of Inverdee house...seems not to be too disturbed by passing boats, cars or people.

Had good views this afternoon and wondered what is was feeding on. Didn't realise it was crabs. Hopefully there's enough to keep it in the area a while longer. Chap who sits opposite me went to get some photos but I don't know how they turned out. A male Red-breasted Merganser was also seen near the Diver.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
After last night's storms I reckon they might have to rebuild the existing harbour before beginning on a new one. Quite a lot of destruction going on, I guess with the wind and rain combining with a high tide. Debris was strewn up on to the road in places, and the fence at the base of the Skate's Nose had been smashed to pieces. The hand rail alongside the steps up to the Battery has also shifted its position markedly.

The birds were unperturbed by all this and lots of waders and gulls were picking about the profuse debris from the storm. There wasn't too much of great interest though. I didn't see the Great Northern Diver at all, but two Long-tailed Ducks were sheltering in the harbour. Six more passed the Coo, along with 22 Common Scoter, five Red-throated Divers and a Red-breasted Merganser. Around 180 Purple Sandpipers were busying themselves in Greyhope Bay.
 

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