Birds fae Torry (6 Viewers)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Had a bit of a look around in the drizzle this afternoon. At least ten Goldcrests were about, mostly along the railway line. I also had my first Chiffchaff of the year in amongst them and my first Reed Bunting of the year nearby. Otherwise things were very quiet, although 14 Red-throated Divers and a Red-breasted Merganser were in Nigg Bay.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Pleasanly sultry here today, with unbroken sunshine, temperatures around 17 degrees and a few Small Tortoishells on the wing. Two Chiffchaffs were around the railway embankment, both singing intermittently. Only a couple of Goldcrests were seen today. A singing Coal Tit in the same area was a mild surprise. Six Long-tailed Ducks and five Red-throated Divers were in Nigg Bay. I was pleased to see a pair of Yellowhammers back in the area of the south bank where they bred last year.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

An iceland gull has been kicking around for the last few days, and we finally have a decent selection of migrants - willow warbler, common sandpiper and sand martin have all been present this week, and there are plenty of Sandwich terns around.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

A couple of wheatear in the walled garden last night (at last...!), and a few willow warbler around the sewage works.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

A different Iceland gull last night (i.e. different to the one that had been hanging around in the harbour/donmouth the last week or so), and a fine male black redstart today at the battery.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

The original Iceland gull was back today. Also, a bit of an influx of NW looking wheatears, with 8 in the walled garden, and northbound single barnacle goose and golden plover.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

As this was my first wander round the Ness for a few weeks there were inevitably a few new birds for the year. Given that I was reaching for hat and gloves at some stages, I'd hesitate to say that summer has arrived, but a few summer migrants clearly have. Sandwich Terns were numerous and several Willow Warblers were singing. Two male Blackcaps were accompanying one another in a surprisingly convivial way by the railway embankment. At least five Wheatears, all looking 'northwestern', were bouncing around. There were a handful of Swallows and a Whitethroat was by 'the tree' on the north bank.

Out to sea a reasonable amount was moving. Red-throated Divers were trickling through and there was also an unidentified larger diver, probably a Great Northern. A Manx Shearwater went north at some distance. A pair of Shelduck south were my first of the year and then, even better, a group of five Scaup went north. A Whimbrel over the harbour was another new one for the year.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Weird - I had a group of ten scaup go north today. Some other wildfowl passage too with 4 teal and a shelduck.

Looks like you're back in the scene in the nick of time - Monday could be interesting!

 

[Ian Bell]

Had a morning walk In the sunshine today and after yesterdays miserable weather,I was glad to get out.The highlight of the walk,was the sound of singing Skylark's that stayed with me,all the way round.Several Willow Warblers were In song also,particularly near the Sewage Works.

A pair of Ringed Plover were back In their usual nesting place and a lovely pair of Yellowhammer were In the Gorse,opposite the Bay of Nigg Car Park,with Sand Martins Inspecting the sandy bank at the top.

Linnet and Goldfinch seemed to be everywhere and a single Whimbrel was on the rocks at Greyhope Bay.Plenty Dolphin activity between the "Torry Coo" and the "Skates Nose" and Swallows and House Martins aplenty at the former Bon Accord Ale building.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I want to know what Bon Accord Ale was like.

I had a concise look round today but, although I suspect there may have been 'something' out there, it was fairly uneventful. A Common Tern going north was new for the year, as was a Lapwing on Tullos Hill. A dozen Long-tailed Ducks were about the only other birds of note. I was also admonished by a rather schoolmistress-like old woman for walking on the 'wrong' side of the road near the allotments!

A development of note recently has been that a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls are nesting on the Torry side of the harbour. This may not be that unusual but I've not noticed it happening before. It'll be interesting to see if it's a developing trend.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

I thought there was probably going to be something out there too - but after Sunday's weather, Monday was something of a disappointment. A Lesser whitethroat at the sewage works was the best of it, and my first sedge warbler, whitethroat and house martins were all very nice. But that was about it...

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Last hour of daylight this evening - the only dry part of the day - turned up single garden warbler, tree pipit and pied flycatcher.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Fantastic day on patch today.

Migrant totals as follows: 7+ tree pipit, 3 garden warbler, 3 whinchat, 3 fieldfare, 2 redwing, 2 redstart, 2 white wagtail, pied flycatcher, lesser whitethroat, 26 wheatear, and a lot of willows, chiffs, and blackcaps.

There were 6 common sandpiper, and singles of whimbrel and dunlin on the move. The ponds really delivered - a greylag was honking around at lunchtime, and best of all, a coot was present this evening. Only my second on patch.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Another very productive day - Coot still present on the ponds, and 6+ tree pipit, Lesser whitethroat, garden warbs and several blackcaps, chiff and WW around the sewage works.

Female black redstart on the shingle in greyhope bay,

Reed warbler in the big patch of dogrose on the north bank below the battery

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I failed completely to twitch the Coot earlier in the week. It didn't seem to be present today.

Still a few migrants lingering (or maybe new ones coming in) today. Two Tree Pipits showed well around the waterworks. At least fifteen Wheatears were around, most in Walker Park, where there were also three Dunlin. A Garden Warbler was exploring the enticing limbs of 'the tree' on the north side and a Sedge Warbler was singing below the Battery. Two Manx Shearwaters, eight Common Scoter and half a dozen Arctic Terns went north offshore. A Common Sandpiper was along the north shore.

One interesting sighting was of a pair of Sparrowhawks over Torry with the male display flighting. Not sure I've seen that around here before - I guess they must be breeding somewhere nearby.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

coot still present! Not a lot of other stuff seen in the rain - a couple of tree pipits and a garden warbler at the sewage works.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

coot still present! Not a lot of other stuff seen in the rain - a couple of tree pipits and a garden warbler at the sewage works.

I actually walked round the pool it's been on yesterday and didn't see it or flush it at all! I suspect it might go on to the stream at times, where it would be less obvious. Or it hides underwater and uses a reed as a snorkle.

 

[Ian Bell]

One interesting sighting was of a pair of Sparrowhawks over Torry with the male display flighting. Not sure I've seen that around here before - I guess they must be breeding somewhere nearby.

A pair has nested with regular success In the "Gramps",over the past few years.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Just had my first Swift of the year over Victoria Road. I expect a few more might be in before the end of the evening.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Reed warbler still around too yesterday - at times showing really well in the single bush next to the big patch of dogrose below the battery. Not much else though.