Northeast Aberdeen and Donmouth (1 Viewer)

[alcedo.atthis]

Conservation bodies have been culling Greys for years now. "The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) project has won funding to continue for two years beyond March 2012". Aberdeenshire was one of the areas which the cull concentrated on. Greys up here are now very scarce.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/red-or-dead-grey-squirrel-cull-goes-on-1-2141924

 

[davidblades]

Thank you for the information. The folk we are buying from mentioned seeing reds quite often in the garden. I've walked the area quite a lot and have never seen any.

 

[nicklittlewood]

Reds have been recorded in last year or so in Seaton Park - e.g.: http://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/news/article/a-pleasant-surprise-in-an-urban-trap/ There are certainly still Greys around in the city but in decreasing numbers. If you are interested in the region's mammals, you should certainly get your hands on the forthcoming NE Scotland and Cairngorms Mammal Atlas (http://www.nesbrec.org.uk/mammal-atlas/) currently due for publication in late February 2017.

Cheers

Nick

 

[andycoventry]

There are both Red and Grey Squirrels in the area around Seaton Park and the River Don to Donmouth. There are Authorized Grey Squirrel trappers too so the numbers are being kept in check. I've spotted at least 3 Red Squirrels this year in Seaton Park mostly in the treeline surrounding the student halls of residence and one on the north bank at the Brig o balgownie. The Reds seem to travel around being spotted from the Botanic Gardens and the Chanory Gardens to the Cottages at the Brig o Balgownie.

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

If you are interested in the region's mammals and in the forthcoming Atlas that Nick mentions above, you might also want to come and hear Nick (who was too modest to mention that he's the Lead Editor) speak about it to the local SOC branch on Monday. He'll also hopefully throw in a bit about camera-trapping.
The meeting will take place in The Sportsman’s Club, 11 Queen’s Rd, Aberdeen, AB15 4YL at 7.30 pm on Monday 7 November. There is free parking available behind the venue and a bar for refreshments. To cover the hire of the room a moderate charge is requested - £2 for SOC members and £3 for non-members.

 

[roougers]

Might pop along to that.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Actually found a nice bird at work today: a smart male Black Redstart on the MacRobert Building at the University of Aberdeen (just a few hundred yards from my office!). Quite a pleasant thing to see as I walked across a car park on my way to invigilate an exam! I wasn't actually too surprised as I had a very brief glimpse of what appeared to be a Black Redstart in the same area last Friday. Hopefully it might hang around for a bit.

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

Actually found a nice bird at work today: a smart male Black Redstart on the MacRobert Building at the University of Aberdeen (just a few hundred yards from my office!). Quite a pleasant thing to see as I walked across a car park on my way to invigilate an exam! I wasn't actually too surprised as I had a very brief glimpse of what appeared to be a Black Redstart in the same area last Friday. Hopefully it might hang around for a bit.

Nice find Andrew, even without it having an orange belly! Hope it sticks around.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Nice find Andrew, even without it having an orange belly! Hope it sticks around.

Still in the same area this morning, Hugh.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The Black Redstart was again showing nicely at the MacRobert Building today. Here are some photos from today and yesterday.

 

[Ian Bell]

Lovely shots Andrew. :t:

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

Still present this morning. Cracking wee bird.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Thanks for the comments and glad to hear the bird is still going strong.

 

[andycoventry]

Scaup

Scaup still showing well from the boardwalk linking seaton park and donside village today

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Had an enjoyably spring-like walk along the River Don through Seaton Park to Donmouth today, with 56 species a fair return. Plenty of activity in the woodland, with Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Treecreepers, Long-tailed Tits and Stock Doves all in evidence. Pairs of Moorhens, Grey Wagtails and Dippers were both along the river. A Chiffchaff was singing between Brig o' Balgownie and Bridge of Don - most likely a returning bird.

The river mouth held four Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Along the northern part of the beach at least eight Sanderling and a Purple Sandpiper were found. Offshore were four Long-tailed Ducks, a Common Scoter, ten Red-breasted Mergansers and three Red-throated Divers. A pair of Stonechats were on the Kings' Links.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I had a rather pleasant walk this evening from Donmouth up to Murcar, in warm temperatures. I found the male White-winged Scoter relatively easily late afternoon at the southern end of Murcar. Further north there were two drake Surf Scoters, showing quite well in the main scoter flock. Lots of Eiders, Common and Velvet Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers too. There was a scattering of migrant waders around, including several Sanderling and Dunlin.

At Donmouth an Osprey flew south along the shore and I then watched it continue through Aberdeen Bay to the Dee. It probably more-or-less flew over my house! I spoke to someone earlier in the day who mentioned they'd seen Osprey there recently so I suspect it might be quite regular in the area at the moment. There was also a Red-throated Diver on the River Don and an impressive nine Common Sandpipers around the bridge.

 

[RecoveringScot]

At Donmouth an Osprey flew south along the shore and I then watched it continue through Aberdeen Bay to the Dee. It probably more-or-less flew over my house! I spoke to someone earlier in the day who mentioned they'd seen Osprey there recently so I suspect it might be quite regular in the area at the moment. There was also a Red-throated Diver on the River Don and an impressive nine Common Sandpipers around the bridge.

I had a dark-backed medium-sized raptor at a distance being mobbed by a Black-headed Gull briefly from the back window today about 15:30. Looked good for Osprey but the view was literally 10 seconds as it went behind a building going east. They're regular on the Dee about this time of year post-breeding.