Week 34

20 – 26 August 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the thirty-fourth week’s recap. The number next to the day indicates my Scottish year list at the end of that day. Birds written in italics indicate year ticks.

August 21 - Day 233: 193

After my first day back to school, on Thursday, my dad picked me up to drive up to Macduff of a pelagic boat trip. We wrapped up for an Antarctic expedition before meeting the other birders. Our charter boat was the “Seacat”, the same one used for the White-billed diver tours in April/May. As we went out of the harbour, we didn't see very much, other than a few Gannets and the odd Guillemot. Later on, we had a Puffin encounter, with one sitting on the sea near the boat. It was when we reached the Southern Trench and started throwing out chum, that the birds started to come in. Firstly, many Gannets started to circle the boat and dive into the water, right in front of us! Then came the Fulmars, which tailed the rear of the boat, watching for any scraps left by the Gannets. Before long, we had our first Manx Shearwater, followed by three more. A Great Skua also came to see what was going on, but soon left. Eventually, we headed back towards Macduff, however, we still we were throwing out chum, in case in of the rare seabirds in the North Sea would come in. Soon enough, a dark shearwater flew past the boat and circled around; Sooty Shearwater! I admired this bird (a lifer!) as it flew right past us countless times. Often close enough to take photos from a phone! While we were watching the Sooty Shearwater, I was alerted of a Pomarine Skua overhead. I snapped some photos since this was yet another lifer! After watching the Kittiwakes, Gannets, Fulmars and the one Sooty Shearwater, flying behind the boat, we had a couple of distant Arctic Skuas. Sadly, it was soon becoming rather late, and we had run out of fish to feed the birds. So the birds soon left. But the Sooty Shearwater, now accompanied by a second bird, couldn't leave without a final goodbye, as they glided over the water's surface, effortlessly. Back in Macduff harbour, we saw some Swifts, before leaving the other birders and heading back to Aberdeen.

August 23 - Day 235: 194

Today, we weren't planning very much until news came in of a Balearic Shearwater heading north off Todhead, from Paul Baxter. We therefore decided to go to Girdleness, to see if it will pass on its trajectory northward. When we arrived, Rob Leslie and Andrew Whitehouse were already looking for it. I set up my scope, while my dad and sister went back home, and started watching. We had many Manx Shearwaters, as well as a Great Skua and 2 Arctic Skuas. Some Whimbrel were also going past. Eventually, Andrew spotted a suspicious shearwater. Indeed, upon further inspection, it was confirmed to be the Balearic Shearwater. I barely saw it for half a second, but I couldn't have asked for much more. I had got 4 year ticks in just over a week!