Week 24

11 – 17 June 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the twenty-fourth 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.

June 11 - Day 162: 178

Today, after several reports of a Broad-billed sandpiper on the Ythan, we decided to head up there, to have a quick look before dinner. We started at Inch Road, seeing many female Eiders with their super cute ducklings, an Osprey with fish, and countless Arctic Terns. We then went up to the Snub, where we met Ian Broadbent, who hadn't seen it that evening either. We thoroughly scanned a flock of Ringed Plovers, picking out a few Dunlins and a Sanderling. I spotted a Shoveler, some Wigeon, and Teal, feeding out on the mudflats, but no Broad-billed sand. While chatting, to Ian, we heard a few Sedge Warblers and saw a Stock Dove flying through the trees.

June 13 - Day 164: 178

After shocking news of a Bridled Tern on the Ythan, and the Broad-billed Sandpiper still kicking about, we set up alarms for 4:15am on Friday morning, to try to find these birds before school. On the drive up, we saw a few Grey Partridges. We started at the tern colony, where the mega rare Bridled Tern was last seen. Sadly, despite seeing hundreds of Common Terns, Sandwich Terns and Arctic Terns, their Bridled counterpart was nowhere to be seen. Next up was Waulkmill Hide, where we didn't see many birds at all, due to the low tide. There was another birder, however, but he hadn't seen the sandpiper that morning. We then tried Inch Geck, where a group of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers were, although no sign of it here, either. We did manage to pick out a breeding plumaged Golden Plover, some Redshanks, and a few Greenshank, too. We had some time to kill before having to head back to Aberdeen, so we tried again for the Bridled Tern. Despite now having a few birders to help scan the colony, we couldn't find it. Indeed, the bird was not seen again, and presumably moved to Coquet Island, in Northumberland, before finishing its tour of Britain, with a stop at Minsmere RSPB, in Suffolk. Finally, we finished at the Ythan, having also seen a flock of Knot, some Reed Buntings, Linnets, Willow Warblers, Song Thrushes, and Chiffchaffs.

June 15 - Day 166: 178

On Saturday, we nearly went after the Broad-billed sandpiper, however a heavy shower put an end to our plans, for the day. In compensation, we went the day after. The tide was at its lowest when we arrived at Waulkmill, which meant there were a lot of birds to scan through. We picked out a lone Turnstone, a few Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Greenshanks, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Sanderling, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Curlew, yet still no Broad-billed sand. We were lucky enough to witness an Osprey fly over our heads with a fish, but, even after a brief stop at the Snub, the Broad-billed Sandpiper was nowhere to be seen. It was not seen after.

While my sister was at a dancing show rehearsal, we went to Inchgarth Reservoir to see what was about. We saw a few Common Sandpipers, Grey Herons, a family of Whitethroats and a family of Wrens.

Day 162: https://ebird.org/checklist/S250066714

Day 164: https://ebird.org/checklist/S250065906

Day 166: https://ebird.org/checklist/S250669207

Day 166: https://ebird.org/checklist/S250663919