Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Week 21 - Scotland Big Year

Week 21

21 – 27 May 2025

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

May 24 - Day 143: 177

Today, since our friend Raymond was doing a ringing demonstration at Glen Tanar for the Deeside Nature Festival 2025, Girdlenesting was not happening. We, therefore, had 9 o'clock brunch, and then got a report of a Marsh Warbler at Girdleness from Andrew Whitehouse on the ABZ Rare Birds WhatsApp group. We exchanged a few messages with Andrew and made our way to Girdleness at about twenty to eleven. When we arrived, at five to, we immediately saw Rob Leslie and Craig Gordon, watching over an area of gorse and brambles, SE of Torry Battery. We joined them, hearing the bird from the reeds. Within seconds of waiting, the Marsh Warbler jumped out of the vegetation and sat up to sing for a brief moment. A lifer! We followed the bird around the bushes, South of Torry Battery. Eventually we said goodbye to Rob, and then Craig, who wanted to check out the Glaucous Gull that Andrew had just reported. We waited around and got some more very brief views of the Marsh Warbler as well as seeing a few Reed Buntings, Dunnocks, Linnets, Goldfinches, and Skylarks. We walked back to the car park, bumping into Ian Broadbent on the way. He said that he had seen three Arctic Skuas off South Pier, so, after telling him where the Marsh Warbler was, we headed that way. We saw Craig again, who had the gull in view, however it looked very long-winged and very small for a Glaucous Gull, and looked more like an Iceland Gull. Later, we found out that Andrew was reporting a different bird, and that the bird that we saw was indeed an Iceland Gull. Sadly, we didn't see the Arctic Skuas, but not a reason to complain, as Marsh Warbler is the 200th bird species I've seen in Scotland. Once we got home, I edited some sound recording that I managed to get and the few very blurry photos that we also got.

May 27 - Day 147: 177

Today, like most Tuesdays and Thursdays, I visit Fittie, to see what's about. With the Iceland Gull being seen relatively frequently, I started by scanning North Pier, seeing many Kittiwakes, Commons Gulls and Herring Gulls but no Iceland Gull. While seawatching, I noticed a pale gull land in front of my telescope. I turned the focus dial to find out that the Iceland Gull had landed right in front of me! I managed to get some great photos as it sat on the pier, within several metres of me! Before long, it flew north, up the beach. I sent a message with a photo to my dad, who had been walking along the beach. I decided to try and re-find the Iceland gull, which didn't take long, since it had landed in a flock of gulls on the South of Aberdeen Beach. I watched it surfing on the waves and slowly drifting away from the Common Gulls and Herring Gull. I was putting the news on RBA and on ABZ Rare Birds, when my dad came over and got the bird. In fact, the Iceland Gull was so pale, that it could be picked out with the naked eye from the other gulls! Luckily, I was already packing up my scope when the heavens opened, and we rushed back to the car.

Day 143: https://ebird.org/checklist/S241853011

Day 147: https://ebird.org/checklist/S241853011

A screenshot of the ABZ WhatsApp

Group chatting about the Marsh Warbler

Iceland Gull

Marsh Warbler wing tip

Why the branch !?😭!?

Possibly our best Marsh Warbler photo! 😅

Dunnock posing

A sonogram/spectrogram showing

the song of Marsh Warbler

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull, cropped

Iceland Gull

Showing off those

white wing-tips

Iceland Gull

Surfing the waves

Surfing the waves

Iceland Gull

Thursday, 22 May 2025

Week 20 - Scotland Big Year

Week 20

14 – 20 May 2025

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

May 17 - Day 137: 176

Today, while my family was preparing for my sister, Maya's, birthday party, David Leslie came and picked my up from our house, to try to find Ptarmigan and a few other upland species - Black Grouse ect. We arrived at the Cabrach at around 7:30am. Unfortunately, no sign of the Black Grouse, however we saw a family of Stonechats, and many waders, such as Lapwing, Curlew, and Oystercatcher. After a bit of searching and some luck, we spotted a lovely male Hen Harrier flying across a hillside. I got some very distant digiscoped photos. While watching the Hen Harrier, we also saw a Greylag Goose and some Common Gulls, as well as numerous Hares. On our way to the next location, Ben Rinnes, we saw a couple Red-legged Partridges run across the road as well as a Mistle Thrush.

We started the hike up to the top at a rather fast pace, so we soon had to stop for a rest and to scan the surroundings for raptors. We continued, slightly slower, and saw a Raven and a Red Grouse. Near the summit, we caught a glimpse of a Mountain Hare. We circled the area around the peak, finding countless Ptarmigan feathers and droppings, but with no sign of the birds. We also found some Mountain Hare fur and its droppings. After a good 45 minutes of searching, we walked down the mountain, empty-handed. On the way back down, we didn't see many birds but noted the many Bilberry Bumblebees. Approaching the car park, we heard the umpteenth Cuckoo for the day, but, again, didn't see it. We headed back to Aberdeen, taking a detour for a few other species in Deeside.

First up, The Lecht, for Ring Ouzel, sadly, during our brief visit, we only a Grey Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Wren and a heard only Dipper.

We then went to Ballater for an ice cream. While eating our ice creams - I had mint choc chip - in the sunshine, we saw a few Swifts flying around. David Leslie, if you are reading this, thank you for the ice cream!

On our way through Dinnet, we stopped at Dinnet Oakwoods, in search of the Nuthatches. We walked in, past the gate, hearing Treecreepers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, and a very weird Great Tit. Before long, I heard the Nuthatch, only a fraction of second before David. We followed the sound and waited for it to show. While David was explaining where he had last seen it, I saw a Treecreeper-like bird in the corner of my eye. Under closer inspection, it was the Nuthatch! Despite not getting photographs of it, we enjoyed great views as it climbed up and down an oak tree.

Day 137: https://ebird.org/checklist/S239281778 ;

https://ebird.org/checklist/S239285957

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier in flight

Red-legged Partridge

Lapwing

View from Ben Rinnes looking

towards Mar Lodge

The Cabrach in the distance from Ben Rinnes

Bilberry Bumblebee

(aka Mountain Bumblebee)

View from Ben Rinnes looking

towards the Moray Firth

Selfie from the summit of Ben Rinnes

Ptarmigan droppings

Scoping for Ptarmigan

Large Red Damselfly???

Saturday, 17 May 2025

Week 19 - Scotland Big Year

Week 19

7 – 13 May 2025

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

May 10 - Day 130: 169

Today, my family and I, along with over a million people across the globe, participated in Global Big Day. Annually, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, situated in Ithaca, New York, run Global Big Day on the second Saturday of May. We took part in 2023, when we finished at 66 species, last year, in 2024, we finished at 83 species. But this year, our goal was to see over 100 species of bird in a single day. I join the Casual Birder Podcast Team, a group of listeners who gather their sightings on the big day into one team account.

To reach our 100 species target, we realised that we had to start early, so on Friday evening, after my mum returned from work in the evening, we left to sleep in our car in a lay-by near Dinnet. Despite having set my alarm for 3:30am, I woke up 5 minutes before it went off. As my dad opened the car door, we immediately got our first bird of the day, which was also a both a year tick and a UK tick, Tawny Owl. We crossed a bridge over the Dee to get to Dinnet Oakwoods, hearing some common birds such as Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush and a Roe Deer in the woods. We soon also heard Willow Warblers, Wrens, and a Cuckoo in the distance. As we kept walking, I heard my first Garden Warbler of the year, also a Scottish tick. Walking back to the car, we heard some more birds, such as a Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chaffinches and Goldfinches. Near the river, we heard a Treecreeper, and we saw a flock of Greylag Geese on the River Dee.

Our next stop was Muir of Dinnet NNR. We arrived at 5am, getting Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and Chiffchaff while making our way to the shores of Loch Kinord. As we were walking, we got many more common woodland species, such as Goldcrest. Near Old Kinord, we heard our first Skylark and a couple of Tree Pipits in the trees, sadly there weren't any Lapwings in the fields. We walked past a very confiding Pied Wagtail, arriving near Loch Kinord. Luckily, it didn't take long to spot a few Goldeneyes, through the mist that was resting over the lake. Walking back to the Burn o'Vat visitor centre, we got views of the Tree pipits and saw a pair of Bullfinches. Just before arriving at the car, we heard a Jay from deeper in the woods, some more Tree Pipits, a Goldcrest, and a Long-tailed Tit. Back at the car park, we watched a Mistle Thrush when a small grey-brown bird landed at the top of a tall conifer. Upon further inspection, this turned out to be my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year. Number 165! We finished at Muir of Dinnet at 6am with a Red Squirrel running up a tree.

We arrived at Girdleness at quarter past seven with 50 species, since we had got some more species on the drive back towards Aberdeen. While driving in to Girdleness, we saw a handsome Wheatear, a Meadow Pipit and a few Starlings, which we didn't get earlier in the morning. As I was setting up my equipment, I heard a Sedge Warbler singing from the brambles at Torry Battery and some Linnets, flying overhead. We joined Raymond and Paul, walking round Greyhope Bay, searching for nests. I scanned South Pier, seeing the ever-present Cormorants and a couple Shags. We also saw our first Eider and some late Purple Sandpipers. Suddenly, we heard the alarm call of the Ringed Plovers down on the beach. Before long, though, we had to leave to get my sisters and head up to the Ythan. A couple Reed Buntings concluded our short but sweet visit.

While my sisters were getting ready, I had a walk in Victoria Park, our local park, in search of Stock Doves. Unfortunately, the Stock doves were nowhere to be seen. I did, however, see a single Coal tit on the bird feeders. After what felt like an eternity, my sisters were ready and we were off. We started off at the Seal Beach Car Park, and walked to the Tin Hut, where we saw some Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Tern, my 6th year tick today. While I was busy searching for a Little Tern mixed in with the Sandwich Terns, my dad asked what a tiny dot was on the beach. I suspected that it was just a piece of wood but using my telescope, I identified it as a Little Tern, yet another year tick. We walked between the beach and the golf course spotted a flock of Knot, some of which in their brick-red breeding plumage. We finished opposite Inch Road, where we saw several Ringed Plovers and Dunlins. Out on the mudflats, my dad also spotted a couple of Wigeon. As we walked back through the gorse, we heard and then saw a couple of Yellowhammers. After, we headed to Waterside, since Raymond had told us about some Redpolls and Cuckoos on Forvie Moor. Therefore, since we had some time to kill before our planned trip to Strathbeg, we stopped there. As I scanned the estuary, I noticed a godwit. I presumed it was a Black-tailed godwit, considering that they are the most common at this time of year. Under closer inspection, we found 3 other godwits, and a Redshank. At this point we could confidently say that they were, in fact, Bar-tailed Godwits. We walked onto Forvie Moor, hearing many Willow Warblers in the willows and a distant Cuckoo but no Redpolls or any Stonechats. We then made a very brief stop at the Snub, where we saw nothing, other than a flock of half a dozen Black-headed Gulls. Once at Strathbeg, we saw our friend Ian, a ringer from Ballater, whom we had met at the Scottish Ringers' Conference in November 2023. He told us that the Cinnamon Teal was near the back of Starnafin Pools, while we were chatting, I saw a couple of Tree Sparrows on the feeders, a bird we regularly see on our visits up here. In the visitor centre was David Gill, a good friend of ours and a local birder who visits every Saturday. Unfortunately, in the minutes we had been chatting to Ian, the Cinnamon Teal was gone. While chatting to David, my dad found the Cinnamon Teal again. David also showed us a flock of Greylag geese, with a single Canada Goose and a Domestic Greylag. While David was talking to some of the other people that had arrived, I found a single Wood Sandpiper, and later the Little Gull, that was seen here on Friday. Over the Loch of Strathbeg itself, I saw an Osprey carrying a fish and a Marsh Harrier. Just before we had to leave, a lady kindly pointed out a Sparrowhawk that had made all the birds lift off.

On the way back to Aberdeen, we stopped in few places, starting with St Mary's Chapel, Rattray. As we were parking the car, a large Whooper Swan flew past and over the church. As I was setting up my scope, I heard a short, buzzing call through the wind. I stopped what I was doing and waited for the bird to call again. Like I thought, the buzzing call restarted - Corn Bunting! I was delighted to get this bird while we were here, considering the amount of times we had tried to get them here, without success.

We headed to our next stop, Bullers of Buchan, in search of Puffins and other seabirds. We walked towards where we normally see the puffins, getting Fulmar and Razorbill on the way. As we expected, the Puffins were exactly where we wanted them to be, sitting on the grassy slopes at the tops of the cliffs, just to the south of the car park. While the others were watching the Puffins, I scanned the sea for a passing Gannet. Before long, a large white bird with black-tiped pointed wings flew past; Gannet!

While passing the Ythan Estuary, we paid Meikle Loch a brief visit, where we got Tufted Duck.

We kept going, until Blackdog, to see if any Scoters were in sight. Once on the beach, it didn't take long to find the Common Scoters, hanging out quite close to shore. I scanned through them in search of Velvet or Surf Scoters, but to no avail. I did however find a couple Red-throated Divers, one in breeding plumage. There were also a couple of Long-tailed Ducks, also in breeding plumage.

We decided to go to Girdleness to try to get the previously reported Iceland Gull. When we arrived, we saw many Swallows and House Martins, and many gulls on the water, but no sign of the Iceland Gull. While I was searching for it, I heard a trilling call, like that of a jacket zip going up and down. Grasshopper Warbler! I abandoned my telescope, just like that, and decided it was quicker to walk right up the steep vegetated slope and not take the stairs. It turned out to, in fact, be the right decision, since I found a Meadow Pipit nest in the grass. The Grasshopper Warbler, on the other hand, didn't want to be seen and stopped singing as I got to the road.

Since we were so near, we quickly checked off Coot at Loirston Loch, the 107th bird species that day.

May 11 - Day 131: 171

Today, along with our friend Sailaja, we headed up to Mar Lodge, to join the RSPB Local Group. We left rather early, although nothing compared to yesterday's start, to arrive on time. We arrived at an over-filled Linn of Quoich car park, slightly before 10am. In the car park, we heard a Spotted Flycatcher, but didn't get eyes on it, we also saw a flew Lapwings, displaying in the fields. After an introduction from Andrew, our guide for the day and an estate manager for Mar Lodge, we started our walk up the glen. We soon stopped to admire some plants in the heather, meanwhile seeing an Osprey and a Stonechat. We kept walking, stopping again to watch a Wood Ant nest and a Rose Chafer Beetle. While Andrew was talking about these fascinating insects, I heard a Tree Pipit singing from behind us. Further up the glen, we heard a Willow Warbler singing beautifully from the top of a tree in a clearing and a Redstart. After a while, we left the others and went with the RSPB Local Group to search for raptors. As we made our way towards a viewpoint, looking over the valley below. On our way there, I heard my first Redpoll of the year - AT LAST!!!!!!!!! - and a Goshawk, keeping hidden in a stand of conifers. We had a picnic at the viewpoint but didn't see many raptors other than a single Buzzard. On our way back, we stopped to watch a Green Hairstreak butterfly, my personal favourite butterfly, and also a lifer! On the way back to the car park, the others had stopped for I rest, but I kept going since my sisters and dad already far. Walking in the woods, I heard a Goldcrest singing and a Great Tit making rather unsual vocalisations. I caught up to the rest of my family and joined them by the river. The area in the immediate vicinity of the car park was lively in terms of birds, with a Crossbill of an unknown species, Spotted Flycatcher, our first views of Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, Common Sandpiper and Orange-tip butterflies. We caught up with the others, who had joined us, birding near the car park. I knew that they had seen something that we hadn't while we kept walking, the only question was what. "Male Hen Harrier" said Mark Sullivan. A bird we sadly missed on our trip to Islay in February, but hopefully one we will see on Lewis & Harris in July. We left the others and headed off with Sailaja, planning to stop at Dinnet Oakwoods on the way home.

From the bridge at Dinnet Oakwoods, we saw a Grey Wagtail and another Common Sandpiper we walked into the forest, hearing, and later seeing a Treecreeper. As we walked along the lane, we heard a Redstart but couln't manage to get views of it, no matter how hard we tried. While searching for the Redstart, I glanced at a hole in a tree, thinking "that hole looks perfect for a Tawny Owl". The next time I looked back at the tree, a Tawny Owl was sticking its head out of the hole in the tree. As soon as it appeared, it was gone again, we so were we, heading back to Aberdeen.

For a short while, from Sunday evening to Tuesday, I was placed 6th in Scotland on eBird, one of my highest rankings in that leaderboard, this year.

Day 130: https://ebird.org/tripreport/366252

Day 131: https://ebird.org/checklist/S236441609 ;

https://ebird.org/checklist/S236449176