Birds fae Torry (7 Viewers)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

A cool and mostly cloudy day in Torry today. There were fewer migrants around than last weekend but in some ways the birds were similar. Around Nigg Bay I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler several times but didn't see it. A Jack Snipe was flushed from around the pools, along with a Common Snipe. I again saw a Water Rail on the reedy pools, though this time it was an adult. There were also around three Chiffchaffs. A female Stonechat was on the waste ground at the western end of the golf course.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a look round in rather serene conditions this afternoon. A Blackcap was along Abbey Road. My first Long-tailed Duck of the autumn flew south over the golf course towards Nigg Bay. Two Knot were roosting on the pier. A pair of Stonechats were seen well along the bank in Greyhope Bay. Offshore a distant Arctic Skua was chasing a gull. One Common Snipe was flushed around the Nigg Bay pools and, as dusk fell, Water Rails were almost constantly in view amongst the reeds. The juvenile was out and about most of the time and the adult was seen more briefly.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It was a pleasant afternoon here after some morning rain. Things were relatively quiet around the Ness, with not much in the way of migrants. A couple of Lesser Redpolls showed well by the allotments. A greyish but normal sounding Chiffchaff was along the railway embankment. Offshore there was a bit more interest. A rather fine near summer-plumage Great Northern Diver flew in from the south before setting down in Greyhope Bay. A Little Auk was also seen, flying out to sea from the same area. Otherwise three Knot and a pair of Stonechats were the best of it.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Missed the GND and the little auk - but did spot a Whitehouse in the distance. I had a short-eared owl come in-off today, several redpolls overhead, but that's it really.

Some potential for next week...

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

A little bit of interest today, with a certain amount of patch scarce going on. A Mistle Thrush was along Victoria Road and two more flew over the waterworks. Several Redpolls were again about. A male Pheasant was seen briefly by the railway embankment and a couple of Bullfinches, a female and a scrappy looking young male, were in the trees. A Chiffchaff, different to yesterday's bird, was also about.

The most interesting bird was a local rarity, but was perhaps even better than that. Walking along by the railway embankment, I heard and then briefly saw a Treecreeper. I was quite struck by how cleanly white it looked underneath and resolved to get better views. I managed this a bit later in the willows around the waterworks and noticed that it showed quite a strong and white supercillium. Nothing conclusive, but it looked promising for Northern Treecreeper. I saw it three more times afterwards, but never for long. It mostly accompanied a large tit flock that included at least five Long-tailed Tits.

Not too much was around the rest of the Ness, but I had fairly close views of a Little Auk going south offshore.

 

[Zephyrus Carrington]

Short-eared Owl hunting the slopes of the S side of Nigg Bay at dusk tonight and a Woodcock flew over and landed on the recently mowed slopes of the old landfill.

 

[Ian Bell]

Flock of 30+ noisy Fieldfare over St Fitticks Park this morning,heading over the Tullos Football Pitches.

 

[GusHawk]

Had 1 Jack Snipe and 2 Lapland Buntings in the puddly car park at Girdle Ness yesterday afternoon, plus a Short-eared Owl in-off, plenty Redwings, Fieldfare and actually a lot more Blackbirds than other thrushes. 1 Woodcock came in-off and landed in the vegetation by the radar tower (I think that's what it is?) below the lighthouse and a couple of Wheatear were lingering on the beach by the sewage works. 2 Red-throated Divers hanging about quite close in too.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Some good stuff there Gus! Lapland bunting are pretty rare in NE Scotland (I don't see any at girdle ness, most years). Have you considered getting yourself on ABZ rare birds (an email group) to report your sightings? With something as good as Lapland bunting it would be good to get the news out to people.

 

[Tattiemannie]

Bay o Nigg development

Aye aye guys, sorry not posted, read in a while, but assume members will be as anxious as I am about the proposed expansion of Aberdeen Harbour affecting the Bay o' Nigg and the associated area land, river and sea ... and the potential environmental impact.

If so, please take a look at these two fb pages for imfo on what is going on, and about the campaign to oppose this potential environmental catastrophe, and consider ways in which you can help/support.
Thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/402491239950487/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1436879569964534/?fref=ts

 

[GusHawk]

I have subscribed to the ABZ email group now Will remember to send any sightings to the group in the future. Very happy with those 2 buntings! I was hoping to get Jack Snipe (managed) and Snow Bunting on my life list on that trip, but got Lapland instead. Not complaining...

 

[Zephyrus Carrington]

There were three monstrous drake 'Northern Bullfinchs' on Tullos Hill yesterday. Anyone seen any across the tracks?

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Had a female type bullfinch 'Northside' yesterday. Looked big compared to the lesser redpoll it was next to - but then it would...

 

[Zephyrus Carrington]

Had a female type bullfinch 'Northside' yesterday. Looked big compared to the lesser redpoll it was next to - but then it would...

There's been plenty of Bullfinchs on the hill lately (indeed they probably breed) - but it's rare that I get a conclusive look at them. I'm normally pretty conservative with claiming pyrrhula, but these 3 were beasts and worth keeping an eye out for!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Still a few migrants lingering around today but nothing all that exceptional. Nigg Bay held three Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Brambling, six Redpolls, five Long-tailed Tits, two Mistle Thrushes and a Woodcock. A Snow Bunting flew up from the beach there. A pair of Stonechats were on the south bank of the golf course.

In the afternoon I headed along the north side of the Ness in rather fine, mild weather. Not too much was about but there was a big move on the Purple Sandpiper Totaliser:

140

And also a Dunlin and two Knot roosting with them.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The weather wasn't too exciting today with bright skies and brisk southwesterly winds not really promising much. Sure enough there were very few migrants around, aside from three Chiffchaffs - one of them on Abbey Road. A Red-breasted Merganser was in the harbour, as was a single Knot. The pair of Stonechats were again on the south bank. Around Nigg Bay there were five Redpolls and a male Pheasant. Two Common Snipes, one notably tight sighting, were around the pools. The best bird by some considerable distance was a Merlin dashing across Tullos Hill - my first in the area for several years.

 

[Mark Lew1s]

I've just been told about a great grey shrike photographed in the allotments one lunchtime last week.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a quick stroll around the north side this afternoon, after the rain had abated. It was fairly quiet but I wasn't too surprised to see a Short-eared Owl flying north across the harbour towards Aberdeen beach. A female Stonechat was also about.

I did take some pictures though.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Oh and here's some gulls. Everyone likes gulls, don't they?

 

[GusHawk]

Are you allowed into the allotments without owning any or are the Black Redstarts being seen through the fence?