Week 15 - Scotland Big Year

Week 15

 9 – 15 April 2025

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

April 10 - Day 100: 139

Today, with our piano teacher, Yoshiko, we went for a hike at Glen Callater. Along the way, we stopped in Braemar for lunch at the Flying Stag. After lunch, we drove the remaining 10 minutes to Glen Callater. It didn't take long to spot the many Meadow Pipits, flying around. As we walked, I noticed what I believe was my lifer Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly flying in front of us. While we stopped for a break on the bank of the stream, I saw a couple Buzzards and a Red Kite. After the break, I got my first Red Grouse of the year. Soon, some other people pointed out a large herd of Red Deer at the top of one of the ridges. Nearby, I also got digiscoped photos of Red Grouse and a Wheatear eating a butterfly. While packing up my scope, a Black Grouse flew over our heads, sadly, I couldn't take a picture in time. After a little while, my sisters and piano teacher stopped for a rest while my parents and I walked to the loch, where we saw a couple Common Gulls and heard a Curlew. On the way back to the car, we saw some more Curlews and a Dipper in the stream.

April 11 - Day 101: 140

Today, with Yoshiko and Raymond, we went to the new Slains castle in search of Puffins. When we arrived at the cliffs, we saw Fulmar, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shags, Cormorants among the more common birds. After exploring the castle, and dipping on the Puffins, we decided to go to Cruden Bay for lunch. Just before reaching the car park we found the local Lapwing pair that often breed nearby, one bird was very tame and allowed great photos while it fed in the pools formed in a ploughed field. While enjoying a delicious burger in the warm sunshine of Cruden Bay, Raymond and I simultaneously shouted "Sandwich Tern!" referring to the sharp call of the newly arrived spring migrant. We soon got eyes on the 2 Sandwich Terns, as they dived underwater in search of fish.

April 12 - Day 102: 143

Today was the first of many sessions of Girdlenesting (finding nests at Girdleness). After Raymond picked me up at quarter to seven, we met up with some other GRG members to search for nests. After only 10 minutes, I had found the start of both a Linnet nest and a Skylark nest. As we made our way towards the lighthouse, I watched a Meadow Pipit with nesting material and pinned its nest, while the others were watching the Ringed Plovers. Near Walker Park, I found my 4th nest of the day, a Woodpigeon building in a gorse bush. In Walker Park itself, Raymond found a building Skylark. After an hour's karate lesson, we came went back to Girdleness. While we were gone, Raymond the others had got Willow Warbler, a would-be Scottish year tick for me. Unfortunately, it was gone by the time we had arrived. While searching for more nests, the others had thought they had seen a Willow warbler, I rushed over, but it was hard to tell since it was skulking in the brambles. The primary projection fitted for Willow, but the call was more intermediate between Willow and Chiffchaff. After a picnic with Raymond, we went to St Fittick's since Mark Lewis had said that he had heard Willow warbler and Blackcap there. Once arrived at St Fittick's I saw Moorhen and Mallard and heard the distinctive song of the Willow warbler, unfortunately, I missed the Blackcap. I met Andrew Whitehouse, who pointed out a hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow and a Swallow, a year tick for both of us. After a quick chat, we headed back to Torry Battery because Mark Lewis had spotted the Iceland gull that has been hanging about recently. Sadly, we had missed it. A few hours later, my dad got a text on ABZ rare bird from Andrew, that an immature Glaucous gull was on the south pier at Girdleness. We texted Andrew directly, asking if the bird was still present. With confirmation, we drove back to Girdleness, getting all the red lights on the way. Luckily, as we scanned the gulls on the breakwater, the Glaucous gull stood out like a sore thumb, among many Herring gulls and Great Black-backed gulls. Not only was this a year tick, but a lifer! For a few minutes, we watched the bird before having to go back home to finish homework.

Day 100: https://ebird.org/checklist/S224394550

Day 101: https://ebird.org/checklist/S224603547

Day 102: https://ebird.org/checklist/S224826627 + https://ebird.org/checklist/S224931884

Scots pine forest on the way to Braemar

Still snowy peaks

Red Grouse

Red Grouse

Wheatear

Wheatear with a butterfly snack

Hopefully not my lifer Pearl-bordered Fritillary!

Red Deer herd (males+females)

Even the Fulmars are getting too hot!

View from one of the windows at Slains Castle

#140 celebration (with a photobomber, Maya Joly)

Skylark Nest

Glaucous Gull and Cormorant

Glaucous Gull

Delighted after a Glaucous Gull encounter

Week 14 - England (Scotland Big Year!?)

Week 14

2 - 8 April 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the fourteenth week's recap. This week, I have betrayed one of my rules for this year: to not leave Scotland. We will be spending the next few days in Southern England, in Oxford and in Exeter. The number next to the day indicates my year list at the end of that day. Birds written in italics indicate year ticks.

April 02 - Day 92: 138 (UK) 136 (Scotland)

Today, after working around the garden, my dad and I went for an evening outing to RSPB Otmoor. On the way there, I noted a melanistic Pheasant on the side of the road. We arrived rather late, at half past seven. As we walked along the hedges and marshes, we heard many Cetti’s Warblers, a rare bird in Scotland. After a while, I saw a moorhen-sized bird fly in front of us and into the reeds. I thought it was a moorhen until it started calling and revealed its identity. A Water Rail! Suddenly, we heard a deep booming sound. Bittern! Once very rare in the UK, with as little as 11 booming males in the country, only on the Somerset levels, in the late 1990s. They have now made an incredible comeback from the brink of extinction and now over 283 booming males are found all over the country, excluding the north of Scotland. Eventually, we had to turn back since it was getting very dark. We even saw some bats flying around on the way back to the car. 

April 03 - Day 93: 143 (UK) 136 (Scotland)

Today, we woke up early to arrive to Exeter on time for my mother's job interview at the hospital. After some delicious pastries from the Waitrose - it's a shame there's not one in Aberdeen. We dropped off my mum and drove a few minutes to the Riverside Valley Park. Here, we met a local man, who was running a stand for the Devon Wildlife Trust. We had a lovely chat while hearing the now ever-present singing Chiffchaffs. As we walked along the banks of the river Exe, towards Exeter Quay, we found a Little Egret, a pair of Teal and a Greenfinch, among the more common species. Eventually, we spotted some hirundines flying quite high. Using my scope, I found that they were Sand Martins, my first for the year. A little later, while we were watching the Mallards and a Coot, a Swallow flew low over us, giving us dark but still delightful views. As we approached the more urban and built-up areas of the city, we saw a couple of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls mixed in between the Herring Gulls. As we walked over the bridge, we noted a Canada Goose, a Mute Swan and some more Mallards. We walked back down the river towards the car, spotting a Wren, some Dunnocks, Robins, Goldfinches and a Long-tailed Tit. My mum had finished with her interview, so we picked her up from the hospital and walked down-river. Before long, we found another sign the spring had arrived, the song of the male Blackcap. Although some birds overwinter in the UK, this species is predominantly a summer migrant. Just before turning back to the car, I found a Stock Dove nesting in a tree cavity, as well as a couple of Goldcrests showing well in a tree.

After getting back to the car, we drove about 20 minutes south to the Dawlish Warren NNR, in search of Cirl Bunting and, potentially, Dartford Warbler. After enduring the tremendous heat of 20 °C (we're still in Britain!), we arrived at the small village of Dawlish Warren, where we got a Cornish hot dog and ice cream, we set off after the Cirl Buntings. After a quick visit of the visitor centre, where we found out that they had been seen that day, we kept walking. Soon, we had arrived at a small pond, from which I heard my first Willow Warbler of the year. As we walked past the pond and onto the heathland, I kept both my eyes and my ears peeled for the chance of finding any of our two targets. We heard many Linnets, which often confused us, and a Stonechat. While my dad and my sisters left to play on the beach, my mum and I spotted an immature bunting perched on the branches of some brambles. Sadly, we didn't have the camera and, by the time the others had arrived, it was gone. We scoured the area, not finding the bird and getting quite disappointed. Just before we were about to leave, I walked up to the fence, near where we had seen the immature bunting, earlier on. When I looked down behind the grass bank, the Cirl Bunting was there! I slowly retreated to not scare the bird and got the camera in my possession. I walked back slowly, getting a few shots of the bird before it flew. Suddenly, near one of the many Stonechats, my parents spotted something walking in the grass. It was an adult male Cirl Bunting. Luckily, it didn't see me approach it, so I got great pictures before it flew.

April 04 - Day 94: 145 (UK) 136 (Scotland)

Today, since it was our last morning in Exeter, to visit RSPB Bowling Green Marsh, in Topsham, which was about 15 minutes from our hotel. Over the past few days, a Long-billed Dowitcher, some Spotted Redshanks and up to 4 Spoonbills were being seen here, so we thought it would mean a nice visit. When we arrived in Topsham, we didn't go directly to the reserve and, instead, stopped at the bank of the River Exe. From here I saw some Little Egrets, Redshanks, and a Curlew and heard a Cetti's warbler from the Exe Reed Beds. We then parked the car and started walking towards the reserve, hearing many birds, including Chaffinches, Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Blackcaps, Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaffs, Dunnocks and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Just before arriving at the visitor centre, we saw a House Martin, and a male Marsh Harrier gliding gracefully over the reeds. Unfortunately, the others already in the hide had not seen the Spotted Redshanks nor the Dowitcher. Luckily, despite them being hidden behind tall grass, it didn't take me very long to spot the Spoonbills. Among the other birds at the visitor centre, we saw Teal, Shelduck, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron and Pintail. On the way out of the visitor centre I heard, and then saw, a Willow Warbler. Along the Goat Walk, I also saw some Black-headed Gulls, a Turnstone, more Little Egrets, some Oystercatchers and a Curlew. As we were walking back towards the car we saw many of the same species as well as a couple of flyover Swallows.

April 05 - Day 95: 145 (UK) 137 (Scotland)

Today, while we stopped for lunch near Dumfries, on the way back up to Aberdeen, I saw a flock of Sand Martins, which were new for my Scotland year list. I also dipped on a Glaucous Gull (again) at Bridge of Dee.

Days 92 - 95: https://ebird.org/tripreport/348103

Pair of Teal

Little Egret

Distant views of Sand Martin

Swallow silhouette

Coot

Canada Goose

Long-tailed Tit

Mute Swan on nest

House Sparrow

Woodpigeon preening

Goldfinch

Male Blackcap

Young Robin fell out of the nest

Comma Butterfly enjoying the sunshine

Stonechat

Stonechat

Male Cirl Bunting in the grass

Male Cirl Bunting in the grass

Male Cirl Bunting in the grass

Male Cirl Bunting in flight

Linnet

A very happy Edgar after a 

Cirl Bunting encounter

Sweating on the way back to Exeter!

Curlew in flight

Little Egret and gull (lesser black-backed???)

Redshank playing hide & seek!

Digiscoped Spoonbills

Late Pintails

Shelduck & Spoonbill

Week 13 - Scotland Big Year

Week 13

 26 March – 1 April 2025

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

April 01 - Day 91: 136

Today, we went to Girdleness for the first time in ages in search of some spring migrants. As we drove past the new harbour, we bumped into Raymond. Together, we moved over to Greyhope bay, where we saw some Ringed Plovers and Raymond spotted a Wheatear getting chased by a Rock Pipit. After a while, my dad left for a work meeting and my youngest sister, Klara went with him. While Raymond was parking the car, Maya and I saw a Skylark with nesting material in its bill. We gave it some space and watched where it landed. We showed Raymond, and he congratulated us for finding the first nest at Girdleness of the season! After some success with the Skylark nest, we took out our scopes and scanned the Shags on the pier for some colour-ringed birds from the Isle of May. Before going home, we put out some bait to try and do some whoosh netting later in the year.

While driving towards Oxford, I got a year tick in the form of an early House Martin at Bridge of Dee.

Day 91: https://ebird.org/checklist/S222247131