Nice on..... er eight!!!
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Wild in Aberdeen - City and Shire (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ken Hall
- Start date
Nice on..... er eight!!!
I had a few hours on Saturday morning on the River Ythan.As expected,wading birds appeared all along the shore,as the tide was out.
Greenshank were spread out all along the shore,as were Redshank,Turnstone,Oyster Catchers and Dunlin.Foveran Burn held several Lapwing and where the burn meets the river,60+ Golden Plover.On the mudflats beside the Quay,were 14 Bar tailed Godwit. From Waterside Hide,there were plenty Canada and Greylag Geese.At the Inches,there were 4 Little Egret and a fishing Osprey,which landed a fish on It's fourth dive.Possibly the last time I see an Osprey this year.A productive walk in lovely sunshine.
Greenshank were spread out all along the shore,as were Redshank,Turnstone,Oyster Catchers and Dunlin.Foveran Burn held several Lapwing and where the burn meets the river,60+ Golden Plover.On the mudflats beside the Quay,were 14 Bar tailed Godwit. From Waterside Hide,there were plenty Canada and Greylag Geese.At the Inches,there were 4 Little Egret and a fishing Osprey,which landed a fish on It's fourth dive.Possibly the last time I see an Osprey this year.A productive walk in lovely sunshine.
I have been visiting the River Ythan and Forvie,since the early 1970's,when l first got hooked on birding.l was even a Voluntary Warden for part of the 1980's.
I always compare things from the past,to what ls seen nowadays but this morning took lt to another level.
I spotted a Little Egret fishing a channel at low tide and while sitting watching,there was a sudden splash ln front of lt and out of the water,onto a large stone,a Kingfisher appeared after a successful fishing trip.
I never seen these species here ln my early days,let alone on a snow covered,early January morning.How things change.
Also around were,Redwing,Fieldfare,Common Buzzard,Teal,Wigeon,Mallard,Eider,Pink footed Geese,Dunlin,Lapwing,Common Snipe,Turnstone,Greenshank,Redshank,Golden Plover (approx 100) Goldeneye,Goosander and Red breasted Merganser.
A nice way to start the years birding.
I always compare things from the past,to what ls seen nowadays but this morning took lt to another level.
I spotted a Little Egret fishing a channel at low tide and while sitting watching,there was a sudden splash ln front of lt and out of the water,onto a large stone,a Kingfisher appeared after a successful fishing trip.
I never seen these species here ln my early days,let alone on a snow covered,early January morning.How things change.
Also around were,Redwing,Fieldfare,Common Buzzard,Teal,Wigeon,Mallard,Eider,Pink footed Geese,Dunlin,Lapwing,Common Snipe,Turnstone,Greenshank,Redshank,Golden Plover (approx 100) Goldeneye,Goosander and Red breasted Merganser.
A nice way to start the years birding.
Had a drive over the Cairn O'Mount yesterday, then along the South Deeside Road up to the Glen Shee ski centre. Little out of the ordinary on the way up, one Red Kite on the Cairn, but in Glen Clunie we had three Golden Eagles together. Was filming Red Deer when they flew over, we got great views for several minutes, but I just could not film them with the big camera with a long lens on.
Here's the Deer
Here's the Deer
I deserted the patch this weekend and hired a car. With good weather and a few interesting birds around, I thought I might see quite a bit. It turned out that I didn't see that much at all!
I spent Saturday on Deeside. I began at Scolty Hill near Banchory, hoping for a few raptors to be on the wing. I suspect it was a bit too cool and cloudy when I was there and the only activity was a couple of distant Red Kites. In the afternoon, I headed to Loch Kinord. It was a bit of a struggle, particularly as easy access to the north side is more restricted these days (a recurring theme over the weekend). Several Red Kites and Buzzards were on the wing but there weren't any other notable raptors.
I headed back towards Aberdeen, stopping at Tarland to watch a flock of several hundred Pink-footed Geese. I then had a brief look at Cullerlie Pools, which is a site I'd not been to before. A Barnacle Goose was with large numbers of Pink-feet and a female Pintail was on the pool. I finished at Loch of Skene. I was impressed with the very large numbers of Goldeneye (365) but there wasn't too much else to see.
Today I headed to the Moray coast, with a particular focus on divers. This was a bad idea. At Portsoy, a Great Northern Diver was on the sea and a Red-throated Diver flew past. That was about as good as it got! I had a pleasant time scanning from Sandend, Findlater Castle and Cullen but didn't see a great deal. A fairly pure looking Hooded Crow at the pig farm at Findlater was perhaps the most notable bird. I stopped at Loch Oire for lunch, hoping some of the white-winged gulls that regularly feature there would appear but none did. A single Whooper Swan was on the loch. I had time for a quick stop at Loch of Skene on the way back to Aberdeen and was hoping to find the Lesser Scaup that was seen earlier in the day. Sadly, the boats were out and I didn't have much time to look before I had to get the hire car back, so that was unsuccessful too. Nice weather though.
I spent Saturday on Deeside. I began at Scolty Hill near Banchory, hoping for a few raptors to be on the wing. I suspect it was a bit too cool and cloudy when I was there and the only activity was a couple of distant Red Kites. In the afternoon, I headed to Loch Kinord. It was a bit of a struggle, particularly as easy access to the north side is more restricted these days (a recurring theme over the weekend). Several Red Kites and Buzzards were on the wing but there weren't any other notable raptors.
I headed back towards Aberdeen, stopping at Tarland to watch a flock of several hundred Pink-footed Geese. I then had a brief look at Cullerlie Pools, which is a site I'd not been to before. A Barnacle Goose was with large numbers of Pink-feet and a female Pintail was on the pool. I finished at Loch of Skene. I was impressed with the very large numbers of Goldeneye (365) but there wasn't too much else to see.
Today I headed to the Moray coast, with a particular focus on divers. This was a bad idea. At Portsoy, a Great Northern Diver was on the sea and a Red-throated Diver flew past. That was about as good as it got! I had a pleasant time scanning from Sandend, Findlater Castle and Cullen but didn't see a great deal. A fairly pure looking Hooded Crow at the pig farm at Findlater was perhaps the most notable bird. I stopped at Loch Oire for lunch, hoping some of the white-winged gulls that regularly feature there would appear but none did. A single Whooper Swan was on the loch. I had time for a quick stop at Loch of Skene on the way back to Aberdeen and was hoping to find the Lesser Scaup that was seen earlier in the day. Sadly, the boats were out and I didn't have much time to look before I had to get the hire car back, so that was unsuccessful too. Nice weather though.
I was able to do a bit of casual birding around Donmouth today, armed with just bins and my phone camera. Of course, there were inevitably some interesting birds around. A pair of Gadwall were a surprise - quite a rarity locally. At least 50 Sandwich Terns were also gathered. Even better came just off Aberdeen beach a short distance to the south, where a lovely summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe was swimming about a hundred metres or so offshore. It's several years since I've seen one locally.
