Week 32

6 – 12 August 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the thirty-second 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 9 - Day 221: 188

Today, we woke up at 7am, to go to Girdleness where we would meet Raymond. When we arrived, he saw him checking Shag darvic-rings from the foghorn. While watching the Shags, we also saw Razorbills, juvenile Kittiwakes, a Fulmar, and some Turnstones. We then walked down towards Torry Battery, where we ringed some Swallow chicks. After a short walk along the beach, we walked up to the café, spotting a juvenile Buzzard, a very unusual sight here, getting chased by gulls, terns, and even gannets, out to sea. While having some drinks in the café, an Osprey flew past the window, my second patch tick within an hour!

August 10 - Day 222: 189

After reports of an American Golden Plover at Peterhead, for the past two days, on Sunday, we finally decided to give it a shot. But, with a Curlew Sandpiper in partial breeding plumage on the Ythan, we had to stop. Despite having left my scope with Raymond yesterday, and not having it today, I managed to pick the Curlew Sandpiper out in the flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, with little difficulty. Even though I managed to get reasonably close to the bird, the light wasn't great, so most of the photos are back-lit. Other birds in the vicinity included Golden Plovers, a Greenshank, some Lapwing, and a Grey Heron.

Afterwards, we arrived at Peterhead to find a large flock of at least 100 Golden Plovers, out on the rocks, despite a thorough search, and with Mark Sullivan helping us out, neither of the two birds (one now believed to be a Pacific Golden Plover), were anywhere to be seen. We did however spot an Arctic Skua and saw many handsome Golden Plovers in their pristine breeding coats. After lunch, we headed back south, stopping at Meikle loch in search of Ruff. Without a scope, spotting was very difficult, and without any definitive evidence, I dismissed them as Redshanks. I did, however, spot a young Kittiwake, a rather unusual bird to see inland.

Day 221: https://ebird.org/checklist/S266014414

Day 222: https://ebird.org/checklist/S266402540