Week 18

30 April – 6 May 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the eighteenth week's recap. The migration and rarities month of May has arrived already! 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 3 - Day 114: 158

Today, I got picked up by Raymond again for a few hours of Girdlenesting, this time, uninterrupted since we don't have karate on Saturdays any more. When we arrived, we were soon joined by Paul before braving the freezing wind and setting up the equipment. While we were at it, Raymond heard a Little Ringed Plover, and we managed to get eyes on it as it flew right over our heads! Unfortunately, the others, who arrived only a few minutes later, had missed the bird. Meanwhile, I also heard a Sedge Warbler singing in some brambles. As we watched for birds with nesting material/food, we saw a Reed Bunting and got eyes on the Sedge Warbler. We found a few nests and reviewed some we had found the week prior. We watched some of the many hirundines, such as Sand Martin, Swallow and a couple of House Martins. While watching the Ringed Plovers on the beach, a Whimbrel landed on the rocks at Greyhope Bay, and then starting singing. We walked round the lighthouse, seeing many Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits. On the south side of the peninsula, looking over the new harbour, we saw a late flock of Purple Sandpipers, and a Wheatear. Soon after, while we were trying to see the Grasshopper warbler that we had heard, Raymond shouted "Yellow Wagtail!". Sadly, we didn't see it, even after some reasonable searching. Another-failed-attempt-at-finding-a-Skylark-nest later, we walked back towards Torry Battery, where we got a table in the Greyhope Café, to warm up. While having a scone and a hot chocolate, we met Mark Lewis, who, presumably, had the same idea as us. After a while, Raymond and Alex, whom we had seen for the first time since the morning of the White-crowned Sparrow, back in 2023, left for another try on the Skylark nest. While Mark and we were chatting, he noticed a dark morph Arctic Skua chasing some gulls outside. Just as we were leaving, Raymond messaged me saying the Yellow wagtail was back, but I unfortunately didn't see the message until we were already gone.

After dropping my mum off at the airport for a flight to Prague, we headed up to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg, since a Temminck's Stint, Cinnamon Teal and several Wood Sandpipers were seen both that morning and in the previous days. When we arrived, after lunch in Peterhead, we met an old friend, David Gill. He showed us the Wood Sandpipers and, after a bit of searching, I found the Cinnamon Teal. Although I haven't seen Cinnamon Teal already this year, the fact that it is normally found in western North America means that it is, most likely, of captive origin, which means it isn't "tickable" for my big year. While we were chatting with David, I noticed a small wader, the size of a dunlin without the black belly, of a breeding plumaged Dunlin. I alerted David who confirmed it as the Temminck's Stint, not only a year tick, but a lifer! Soon after, a young birder named James arrived, we quickly got him onto all three birds, before he had to leave to catch the bus back to St Andrews, we also saw a pair of Marsh Harriers gliding over the reed beds. We stayed a bit longer, watching my first Common Tern of the year, trying to land without losing its fish to the gulls. As we were driving home, we saw him waiting at the bus stop in Crimond. We gave him a lift.

After a lengthy chat, we arrived at the Snub lay-by, to see what was around. We didn't see much apart from a flyover Osprey.

Since we had some time to spare, we made a quick visit to Girdleness since the Glaucous Gull the has been frequenting the area would be a lifer for James. Unfortunately, we didn't catch up with the bird, however we did hear a Whitethroat. We said goodbye to James and dropped him off at the bus station.

May 5 - Day 116: 159

Today, thanks to a school holiday, another visit of Girdleness was possible. While my dad went for a run, my sisters and I walked around Torry Battery, seeing Sedge Warblers, Swallows and many other spring migrants. While walking back towards the car park, we noted a Green-veined White, which landed on my youngest sister, Klara. We walked towards the allotments, seeing a pair of Whitethroats, Goldfinches, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and a pod of Dolphins. We were soon joined by my dad, as we approached the Sycamore and the allotments. As I was scanning the shoreline, I noticed a couple of Oystercatchers as well as a single Common Sandpiper, number 159!

May 7 - Day 118: 160

As I was walking to school, I looked up and saw a flock of Swifts feeding overhead! Number 160!!!

Just as an update, I am currently (as of 07/05), 8th place on eBird in Scotland and 3rd place on BUBO in Scotland.

Day 114: https://ebird.org/checklist/S228963311

https://ebird.org/checklist/S232605524

Day 116: https://ebird.org/checklist/S233356789

Day 117: https://ebird.org/checklist/S234076037