Rather hard work in the strong winds today. A Snipe was flushed from the wetlands. Three Knot were around the breakwater and a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers were again in the harbour. I didn't see the Glaucous Gull today.
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Birds fae Torry (20 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andrew Whitehouse
- Start date
Still very much in mid-winter mode here, with crisp, cold sunshine after yesterday's wind and rain. The Nigg Bay area held four Reed Buntings and I was surprised to see three Purple Sandpipers on the shore there. A Long-tailed Duck and nine Common Scoters went north. More interesting was what appeared to be a Minke Whale that surfaced a couple of times on its way northwards. It's a bit unusual for the time of year but the size, shape of the dorsal fin and behaviour all seemed to add up to that conclusion. Also a couple of Harbour Porpoises offshore. A Knot was roosting on Skate's Nose and three Red-breasted Mergansers were in the harbour.
Here are a couple of Reed Bunting shots, including quite a 'gingery' female.
Here are a couple of Reed Bunting shots, including quite a 'gingery' female.
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Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
There has been an Iceland gull kicking around here of late - I had it briefly on Wednesday last week, and then briefly again today. It's a juv/2cy
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
There has been a slavonian grebe here on and off this week, either in the harbour or in greyhope bay. Shows very well from time to time...
Rather glorious weather here this weekend. I didn't see too much yesterday, although a Lapwing over Tullos Hill was new for the year and a male Stonechat was on the south bank.
Today was slightly more interesting, particularly around the waterworks. A Yellowhammer had joined the small Reed Bunting flock and a Coal Tit was heard calling. Slightly more surprising was a Woodcock flushed from the willows. Two Chiffchaffs were presumably the birds that were around earlier in the winter rather than new arrivals. A Goldcrest was with them.
Two Goldeneye flew north off the Coo. There are still two Knot around. Not sure I can remember that species wintering at Girdle Ness before. They're normally pretty scarce at this time of year.
Today was slightly more interesting, particularly around the waterworks. A Yellowhammer had joined the small Reed Bunting flock and a Coal Tit was heard calling. Slightly more surprising was a Woodcock flushed from the willows. Two Chiffchaffs were presumably the birds that were around earlier in the winter rather than new arrivals. A Goldcrest was with them.
Two Goldeneye flew north off the Coo. There are still two Knot around. Not sure I can remember that species wintering at Girdle Ness before. They're normally pretty scarce at this time of year.
I didn't get out today but I did see a good bird from home when I picked up a presumed 2cy Iceland Gull flying around the harbour mouth at about 3.45pm. It eventually settled on the short pier near Footdee. That was, rather surprisingly, a house tick. I guess it's likely to be the same bird Mark was seeing the other week.
Chilly and blustery here today, but with quite bright sunshine. Things were fairly quiet around the waterworks but a Jack Snipe was flushed from beside the reedy pool.
Rather little else was about but we did see some movement on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
201
Always good to crash through the 200 barrier. Also still two Knot.
Oh, and I had a surprising patch tick Calmac ferry. Do you think it took a wrong turn?
Rather little else was about but we did see some movement on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
201
Always good to crash through the 200 barrier. Also still two Knot.
Oh, and I had a surprising patch tick Calmac ferry. Do you think it took a wrong turn?
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LOL Andrew... perhaps they're planning a take-over bid!!
Mid-March is often a bit of a quiet time, but there was a bit of interest today. The Nigg Bay area was again at the heart of the action. Three Yellowhammers and at least five Reed Buntings got the ball rolling. I again flushed a Jack Snipe from the edge of the reedy pool. This was soon followed by only my second ever patch Moorhen, an adult swimming briskly away at the far end of the pool. I wonder if it might have been prospecting the area.
Not too much was out to sea except for ten Red-throated Divers and a Harbour Porpoise. A Lapwing was on the rocks at Greyhope Bay. 156 Purple Sandpipers were beginning to gather to roost. Three Red-breasted Mergansers and four Goosander were around the harbour and my first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year came into bathe.
Here are some artful compositions.
Not too much was out to sea except for ten Red-throated Divers and a Harbour Porpoise. A Lapwing was on the rocks at Greyhope Bay. 156 Purple Sandpipers were beginning to gather to roost. Three Red-breasted Mergansers and four Goosander were around the harbour and my first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year came into bathe.
Here are some artful compositions.
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Dmacaskill
Well-known member
nice close up of Robins plumage!
Dean
Dean
Thanks Dean!
Just discovered this forum while trying to find out if any puffins had been spotted up the coast. Wow, had no idea I had this variety of birds on my doorstep? I used to birdwatch as a kid, and have only recently bought a pair of bins again, but I'm at the beach/torry battery loads and rarely see anything exciting! Eider ducks and cormorants are about the most interesting birds I spot here! Obviously need to start looking harder 
Hi sazzaa and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.
I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.
I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.
Just discovered this forum while trying to find out if any puffins had been spotted up the coast. Wow, had no idea I had this variety of birds on my doorstep? I used to birdwatch as a kid, and have only recently bought a pair of bins again, but I'm at the beach/torry battery loads and rarely see anything exciting! Eider ducks and cormorants are about the most interesting birds I spot here! Obviously need to start looking harder
I've not seen any Puffins around Girdle Ness yet this year. It's perhaps still a bit early and I only tend to see them regularly round there in the summer e.g. late May to July. Even then they're usually flying past well offshore, so a telescope is essential to pick them out. If you visit spots where they breed (e.g. Bullers of Buchan) you might have more luck and they could start appearing fairly soon.
Yeah I was up at Bullers of Buchan on Saturday, lots of kittiwakes, razorbills and shags but no puffins... I'll go again in the next few weeks! I've seen them in Iceland before, but, like the northern lights, I want to see them at home too
Rather a cloudy, grey day but with a few hints of spring. Two Common Snipe were flushed around the marshes. A Chiffchaff was showing well in the small bushes near the burn - presumably one of the wintering birds. Out in Nigg Bay, four drake Long-tailed Ducks were gathered, perhaps offering a hint of the regular spring build up. Larger numbers of the commoner seabirds are gathering or moving offshore at the moment.
Funny that we were talking about Puffins the other day because, well, I did see one today in Greyhope Bay. It wasn't in the best of shape though (see picture). Quite a surprise to see one in any condition in here in March.
We had some resounding movement on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
213
Great job! Also still one Knot roosting.
Funny that we were talking about Puffins the other day because, well, I did see one today in Greyhope Bay. It wasn't in the best of shape though (see picture). Quite a surprise to see one in any condition in here in March.
We had some resounding movement on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:
213
Great job! Also still one Knot roosting.
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Another reasonably interesting day, in slightly brighter and milder conditions. The best bird was a Snow Bunting, which flew up from the small beach on the north side to the wall at the base of the breakwater. A couple of Sanderling were roosting on Greyhope Bay, where the late Puffin still resides. Four Long-tailed Ducks were again in Nigg Bay, where eight Lapwings were flying about. 25 Pink-footed Geese, mostly in one group, flew north. The waterworks area produced a Snipe and two Redwings.
