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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joseph N" data-source="post: 2760822" data-attributes="member: 77997">Haven't posted here in a long while. It will be my last as well, as I am leaving the Aberdeen area permanently in a couple of weeks time, to Edinburgh for uni in the autumn and prior to that Glasgow.The birding throughout the year, and particularly the spring has been a fitting farewell. Red-backed Shrike and Bluethroat were much enjoyed patch birds at Girdle Ness, as was an Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Cruden Bay Brickworks. A few days after the latter I had a singing Icterine Warbler at the very nearby Cruden Bay Woods, which was elusive but my highlight of the spring. June kicked off nicely with King Eider and Surf Scoter off Murcar/Blackdog.Also this month, I did a two week volunteering stint at Strathbeg. It was superb, offering invaluable surveying and work experience and insights into parts of the reserve that are inaccessible to the public. Surveying work included monitoring the Gannet colony at Troup Head and tallying arable species. Birding wise, walking into Starnafin to discover a Spoonbill in front of the Visitor Centre on the first day was a good start. Another dutch-ringed Spoonbill was present the following week. The other main highlights included a very brief Turtle Dove whilst doing manual work, and bumping into a group of Bearded Tits at Fen Hide last week. 2 singing male Reed Warblers, several Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Short-eared Owls and great views of Badger were also much enjoyed throughout the two weeks. A Green Sandpiper over the Low Ground ended a memorable two weeks not just for birding, but for the volunteering experience as a whole and discovering parts of the reserve afresh; even after 10+ years of visiting the reserve.Just want to thank everyone who has been involved in my birding in Aberdeenshire. I have met some inspirational people, who I hope I will see again at some point. Growing up as a birder here is something that will always remain core to my birding. Sated with rares, and nurtured into a patching mentality, it's done me great service. Hopefully I will bird up here every now and then in the future. Providing I volunteer at Strathbeg again, this could well happen.Pic 1: Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Cruden Bay BrickworksPic 2: Spoonbill in front of Visitor Centre at StrathbegPic 3: Gannet at Troup HeadPic 4: Juvenile male Bearded Tit at Strathbeg Pic 5: Badger at StrathbegAll the best,Joseph</blockquote>

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