Birds fae Torry (5 Viewers)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a look around St Fittick's this afternoon. In general, the usual fare was on offer, which was at least helpful for adding to my year list. A Water Rail was heard and a Redpoll flew over. A Pheasant disappearing over the railway embankment was good to get out of the way early on. The Great Northern Diver was still in Nigg Bay.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Some heavy rain fell overnight and into the morning, but the day became quite bright and pleasant by the time I set off. Things began well with point blank views of a Treecreeper in the play park on Victoria Road. A bird I only managed to get just before Christmas last year. St Fittick's held the usual fare. A couple of Water Rails were chasing each other along the Tullos Burn. A Teal was heard calling but not seen. A flock of ten Redpolls was a good number.

The headland was mostly fairly quiet. Offshore produced a decent number of Kittiwakes and my first Gannet and Fulmar of the year. One thing we don't hear much about on this thread these days are 'Eiders with sails' but I noticed one just off the foghorn today.

I thought that was it for the day and was heading home when I bumped into Craig Gordon by Inverdee House. We stood chatting and after a few minutes I noticed a splendid immature Iceland Gull flying into the harbour. I got a few pictures before it disappeared behind the Caledonian Oil tanks and away. It looks like probably a 3rd calendar year, with a hint of paleness to the eye. That's two species already this year that I didn't get last year.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a fairly thorough look around today. I began at St Fittick's. Things were generally quiet but two Water Rails called and three Stock Doves included one flying over towards the headland. A forlorn Pink-footed Goose was languishing on Tullos Hill. A Goldcrest was new for the year.

I headed off from there to the river but there wasn't a lot on the water, aside from three Goosander. A Redwing was another new one for the year.

The headland was also pretty low key. I picked out four Long-tailed Ducks in Aberdeen Bay. Five Reed Buntings by the allotments were added to the year list.

 

[Ian Bell]

I met tjbw at St Fitticks Park this morning and we had a walk around.It was VERY quiet.Water Rails were being vocally active near the Concrete Bridge and I managed a quick glimpse of one.On the water at the new Harbour was a Great northern Diver and a Red throated Diver.It was overcast,with a bitter northernly wind,so I shall blame that for the lack of birds..!

 

[tjbw]

Thanks to Ben Nevis, for guiding me around St Fittick's yesterday. I was happy to see the 2 Divers, and also 4 Curlew over.

After that I went to the foghorn via the allotments. However there was little to see. On Saturday I saw about 160 Purple Sandpiper, also some Redshank, Common Ringed Plover and Turnstone. But on Sunday I saw none, though there was a Red-throated Diver at Greyhope Bay, and another birder saw an Iceland Gull in the harbour!

What a difference a cold wind makes!

Barry

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I've been out a few times in the week but didn't see a lot. The Great Northern Diver was in Nigg Bay on Thursday (19th).

Today things were mostly still fairly quiet but there were one or two notable things. The best bird appeared early on in the marsh at St Fittick's, where an immature male Shoveler was loafing about in the water. It shuffled out of sight fairly quickly but was again around later on. I wonder if it's the same bird BN saw before Christmas.

A couple of Water Rails were seen nicely from the concrete bridge and a Redpoll flew over. At least 38 Redwings were also about and 14 Teal was a good number. An even better count was the patch record 21 Stock Doves on Tullos Hill. Over just a few years, this has gone from being a rare species to one that seems pretty common locally.

Not much was around the headland in the afternoon, although the dolphins put on a good show and there were quite large numbers of auks moving north offshore.

 

[tjbw]

On Friday I had a look around St Fittick's. It seemed quiet, with just a Robin, Blue Tit and Great Tit at the feeders. As I was arriving at the concrete bridge things livened up a bit, with a Water Rail heard, then another one was walking around the reeds right in front of me. Then I saw Curlew, 3 Rook, and 10 Oystercatcher over. Other sightings near the bridge included 5+Teal, 2 Goldfinch, and 3 Chaffinch. I was told that Badgers were seen recently during daytime.

There was a cold breeze earlier today as I went to Girdleness. At the allotments there were 20 Starling and 6 House Sparrow. There were 30 Purple Sandpiper on the side of the pier, with 40 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Ringed Plover and a Curlew on top. On the South Breakwater there was another Common Ringed Plover and 4 Great Black-backed Gull, with a Red-throated Diver in the water nearby. I finished at Greyhope Bay, where there was a Turnstone on the rocks. There was a report of Grey Plover earlier, but I didn't see it.

Barry

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It was fairly overcast today with a chilly breeze but slightly milder temperatures than recently. I began along the River Dee, which I'm trying to check more regularly this year. This was rewarded with a Little Grebe near the suspension bridge. I also found my first group of Siskins of the year: a flock of 16 by the boat club. Another group of ten were seen later on along Victoria Road. A Goldeneye was also along the river.

Things were fairly routine around St Fittick's, with three Water Rails calling, five Redpolls and two Goldcrests.

The headland had a few interesting bits and pieces in the afternoon. The Grey Plover had reappeared on the breakwater. My first Stonechat of the year was a nice male on the seaweed in Greyhope Bay. 217 Purple Sandpipers didn't quite jolt the Totaliser into action. The Great Northern Diver reappeared on Nigg Bay. Not sure where it was hiding this morning.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a blustery walk around the headland this afternoon. My first Snipe of the year was a bit of a surprise, roosting on the rocks in Greyhope Bay. It was close to the Grey Plover, which blended into the rocks a bit more readily. I was able to scope at least 14 Stock Doves on Tullos Hill.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a look around St Fittick's today in cool, pleasant conditions. Water Rails were prominent, with two showing very well from the concrete bridge and another flushed by a Fox along the Tullos Burn. Four more were heard, so at least seven were around. Also about were eight Teal, four Stock Doves, and my first Bullfinch and Song Thrush of the year.

 

[Ian Bell]

I had an early morning walk In St Fitticks Park this morning.On approaching the Main Pond,the usual suspects were there,Moorhen,Mallard and a single Heron.As I stood there,I seen 3 Roe Deer at the back of the Pond,entering the Pines.Water Rail were calling from the Marsh,at the back of me.
On approaching the Wooden Bridge to the old Triangle Pitch,two Snipe flew quite low overhead up the Burn.Another 2 Roe Deer were near the Basketball Court,Including a buck In velvet antlers.
Up at the Feeders were Blue,Coal,Great and 5 Long tailed Tits,along with a male Chaffinch and a single Robin.
As I made my way to the Concrete Bridge,a few Magpies were showing signs of alarm and two Teal suddenly flew up and then the reason for this showed,as a Fox was working along the Burn between the Concrete and Wooden Bridges.More than likely the same one as Andrew seen yesterday.
Several Water Rail were heard at the Concrete Bridge but I had a wait of 20 minutes before I got a sighting of one,scurrying Into the reeds.A party of 7 Redwing were on the grass next to Girdleness Road,as I made for home,happy with my walk.

 

[tjbw]

I've been birding in Torry almost every day since my last message here 8 days ago. On most visits I was lucky enough to see Great Northern Diver and/or Red-throated Diver in Nigg Bay, and also a Water Rail by the concrete bridge.

Yesterday I didn't see any Divers in Nigg Bay, though there was a Red-throated Diver in Greyhope Bay. The Grey Plover was on the South Breakwater, and at St Fittick's I saw about 10 Common Redpoll, 2 Linnet, and a Reed Bunting.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I've been birding in Torry almost every day since my last message here 8 days ago. On most visits I was lucky enough to see Great Northern Diver and/or Red-throated Diver in Nigg Bay, and also a Water Rail by the concrete bridge.

Yesterday I didn't see any Divers in Nigg Bay, though there was a Red-throated Diver in Greyhope Bay. The Grey Plover was on the South Breakwater, and at St Fittick's I saw about 10 Common Redpoll, 2 Linnet, and a Reed Bunting.

Nice pictures! A note that the Redpolls are Lesser Redpolls (the common species here and the one that normally breeds in Britain) rather than Common (also called Mealy Redpoll). We do get Common sometimes but they tend to be scarce here. They are potentially worth looking out for at the moment but tend to be paler looking.

I had a fairly quiet day yesterday in pleasant conditions. Around St Fittick's there were three Lesser Redpolls, eight Stock Doves, a Teal and a few calling Water Rails (although they weren't showing yesterday). Around the headland, I saw the Grey Plover again and five Long-tailed Ducks were scoped in Aberdeen Bay. A group of 25 Skylarks on the golf course represented something of an influx.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a decent walk around today, in somewhat milder but often breezy conditions. Scoping northwards produced some good results with three Sanderling along Aberdeen Beach and seven Red-breasted Mergansers in the Bay, both firsts for the year. Two Long-tailed Ducks were in the same area. The Grey Plover was again in Greyhope Bay. A quick look around St Fittick's gave good views of two Water Rails with another couple calling. Other birds included a Redpoll and 17 Stock Doves.

Here's a Roe Deer from yesterday and an oddly juxtaposed Heron and Sparrowhawk from the marsh today.

 

[Ian Bell]

I've been birding in Torry almost every day since my last message here 8 days ago. On most visits I was lucky enough to see Great Northern Diver and/or Red-throated Diver in Nigg Bay, and also a Water Rail by the concrete bridge.

Yesterday I didn't see any Divers in Nigg Bay, though there was a Red-throated Diver in Greyhope Bay. The Grey Plover was on the South Breakwater, and at St Fittick's I saw about 10 Common Redpoll, 2 Linnet, and a Reed Bunting.

Lovely photos,Barry Hopefully meet up again soon

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Had a decent look around today, in windy conditions. The wind didn't seem to have done much and things were generally quiet around the headland. The Grey Plover was in Greyhope Bay. St Fittick's produced a Redpoll, a Water Rail and five Teal. The Great Northern Diver reappeared in Nigg Bay.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Things are plodding on here, with reasonably mild but breezy weather. I had a look around the headland on Thursday (2nd). Not too much to report but the Grey Plover was still present and a Snipe was flushed from near the Battery by a loose dog. There was lots of dolphin activity, as there seems to be most days at the moment.

I had a good look around today. 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north over St Fittick's. Also around there were four Water Rail (a couple of which showed very well), 12 Teal, 16 Stock Doves, 25 Redwings, a Redpoll and a Goldcrest. Breaking the logjam on the year list were a Mistle Thrush on Tullos Hill and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was lurking about near BN's feeders. A Buzzard was scoped distantly over the city with another later seen flying over the harbour mouth. The Grey Plover was still present. A flock of 31 Rock Pipits on the golf course was a very high count and included at least one good littoralis candidate. Four Long-tailed Ducks were flying over Aberdeen Bay.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It was mostly a pleasant day in Torry today, with some fairly mild, though breezy, conditions. St Fittick's featured most of the usual stuff. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was flying about along the railway embankment. A Treecreeper was seen briefly near the concrete bridge. 19 Stock Doves were on Tullos Hill. The highlight was a very close view of the Great Northern Diver in Nigg Bay - certainly the best views I've had of it.

The headland was generally quiet in the afternoon. The Grey plover was still present.

 

[Ian Bell]

Lovely photos of the GN Diver,Andrew
Nice to know there's a Great spotted Woodpecker around,as I've not seen one down there for a while.I cleaned and topped the Feeders up on Friday,as I knew I would'nt be down this weekend,so always good to know what Is around.One Water Rail allowed some great views from the Concrete Bridge on Friday,also.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a good look around this afternoon in fairly mild, breezy conditions. The headland was pretty quiet. Nine Long-tailed Ducks were scoped in Aberdeen Bay. The Grey Plover was still about and 163 Purple Sandpipers were counted on the breakwater.

St Fittick's held the usual stuff. Two Water Rails showed very well from the concrete bridge and at least three more were heard. At least six Teal were busy displaying. A Mistle Thrush was again on Tullos Hill. Other birds included five Redwing, three Goldcrests and a Redpoll. As dusk fell, up popped the immature male Shoveler at the eastern end of the main marsh. It's presumably the same bird that's been seen a couple of times previously this winter. Goodness knows where it goes when it's not in view. I hung around after dark to see if any Snipe were about and was able to come to a very precise of zero on that front.