Today a group of us from the Aberdeen RSPB members group attempted a winter big day. 4 of us did a summer version in June, seeing 102 species so we were interested to see how we’d go with the reduced daylight.
We started before dawn at Loch of Skene with the hope of seeing the Snow Goose which has been seen recently with the Pink-footed Geese. As we approached the Loch the first bird of the day was a Buzzard, with the noise of geese seemingly everywhere. As well as thousands of Pink- footed Geese we also saw Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Mute Swan, Cormorant and Mallard, along with four gull species. No sign of the Snow Goose though!
We headed back through the woods, adding Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Wren, as well as a couple of Red Kites giving great views overhead.
We detoured away from Skene through some back roads, stopping at a small wooded area where we added a lot. Brambling, Long-tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit were added, before Fieldfare and Pheasant were seen in the fields on the way out of the area. After a bit of shuffling of cars we had a brief visit to my house for Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and a bonus Mistle Thrush, but no House Sparrow.
Then on to the Ythan. A walk of the golf course loop from Beach Rd was very productive, with Grey Plover and Common Scoter the highlights, but hundreds of Knot and Golden Plover put on a great show. Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone and Bar-tailed Godwit were also spotted, as well as Red-breasted Merganser and Eider.
Near the Foveran Burn there were plenty of Wigeon and Teal, and a bonus Little Egret, and the only Meadow Pipit we saw all day.
Inches Point in Newburgh had lots of Dunlin, Redshank and a Grey Heron, and we then continued on to the Snub Car Park upstream on the Ythan. Shelduck, Greenshank, Lapwing were spotted quickly, and we were lucky when 3 Black-tailed Godwits landed on the shore below us.
We lunched at the Collieston view point where we saw Rock Pipit, Shag, quite a few Red-throated Divers, Guillemots and Razorbills. A real bonus was when 2 Ravens flew past really close overhead and we also spotted a few Porpoises offshore.
Through the back roads we added Stonechat, before a stop at Meikle Loch provided good views of Coot and Kestrel with a few unexpected Long-tailed Ducks also on the Loch. The day was drawing to a close now but we had a little time left so we headed to the Don at Diamond Bridge. The long staying Whooper Swan was ticked, as well as Moorhen and a Sparrowhawk overhead. A Stock Dove flew across the river, and a couple of Dippers were working their way along the far bank.
The final stop was the links at the Donmouth. A couple of Short-eared Owls were hunting over the long grass, giving great views, and there were also two Kestrels. We finished with coffee and cake at the beach, having failed to add House Sparrow to the day list!
We finished with 82 species for the day, which was higher than any of us thought we’d get. We were lucky with the weather, which helped, and had a few lucky spots, so overall a really good day. Thanks to Ruth, Mark and David for the company, and also to Rob for his company and for driving.
I did a quick total up, and between the two big days this year we saw 122 species - a great effort, and shows the variety of species that can be seen in Aberdeenshire.
