Week 38

17 – 23 September 2025

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

September 17 - Day 260: 196

Today, after school, I was at an online Japanese lesson, when news came out of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Donmouth. Once the lesson was over, we rushed over to try to find the would-be lifer. We started on the south side of the river, and soon got onto the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which was feeding a long way away, on the far bank. We therefore decided to drive up to the north side, where the bird was showing very well. When we arrived, we were treated by really nice views before the bird flew off. It was not seen thereafter. Luckily, I managed to attend the SOC online talk on the Glasgow Peregrine Project and on Marsh Tits in the Borders, both very interesting topics.

September 19 - Day 262: 198

Today, since it was the start of the long weekend, we went down to Edinburgh. On the way, we stopped at a site near Cupar, where a Garganey had been frequenting. Since this would be my last opportunity this year to get this species, we decided to give it a shot. When we arrived, we soon realised that it would be hard seeing anything, since I could barely see over the fence, which was blocking our view of a large portion of the lake. As I scanned what I could see, I found some Cormorants, Little Grebes, Coots, Moorhens, some Wigeon, Mallards, Ruff, Lapwing and more. After a while, a Buzzard flew over, putting many of the birds into a panic. Meanwhile, the entire time we were there, many Siskins were calling from the pines, as well as Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits. We eventually decided to make do with what we had, so I climbed onto the fence and got my mum to hold me as I quickly scanned the birds on the rest of the lake. Soon enough, I noticed some weird-looking ducks sleeping on the rocks, opposite where we were. After some consideration, I confirmed that one of these was an eclipse male Garganey, number 197.

Once in Edinburgh, we went immediately to Musselburgh, since both a Surf Scoter and a Marsh Sandpiper were being seen fairly regularly. And a Pectoral Sandpiper was also seen every now and then. When we arrived, we headed in the direction of the bird hides at Levenhall Links, since that's where the Marsh Sandpiper was being seen. On the way, we passed Boating Lake, where we saw some Canada Geese, a rather uncommon bird in Aberdeenshire. When we entered the first hide, we were immediately surprised by the number of Spotted Redshanks. We also saw many Curlew Sandpipers and some Curlews. Having not seen our main target, we continued on to the second hide, where we quickly found the Marsh Sandpiper feeding with some Greenshanks and Black-tailed Godwits. Afterwards, we walked to the Sea Wall, where we soon found a very distant flock of Velvet Scoters. Eventually, we reached the final hide, where we saw some Little Egrets, Grey Herons, and more Redshanks.

September 20 - Day 263: 198

Today, we didn't do much birding, since my sisters and I attended a Rubik's Cube Competition in Meadowbank, Edinburgh. The competition was run by the WCA (World Cube Association) and UKCA (United Kingdom Cube Association). We arrived for the competing tutorial, for new competitors, before starting with a round of 2x2. Unfortunately, even with 7.96 single and 9.69 average, I didn't pass to the next round. On the other hand, having got a new Skewb, I managed to 7.61 average and a 10.39 average, getting me to the second and then final rounds. I also managed to get into the finals for 3x3 One-Handed. The summary of my times are below:

September 21 - Day 264: 199

Today, after completing Pyraminx, Megaminx and 3x3, we went into the city for some sightseeing. We started by visiting the National Museums of Scotland, where we obviously stayed mostly in the natural history section. After asking many staff members about the Oriental Pratincole, collected dead on the Flannan Isles (2cy+ 13th July 1908), we found out that it was not on display - please keep in mind when visiting. Afterwards, we had some lunch and went to Musselburgh, where a Red-necked Grebe had been seen. After a quick scan of the birds at Levenhall Links, we went to Sea Wall, to try to find the grebe and the Surf Scoter. Before long, I found the Surf Scoter in a very distant flock of Velvet Scoters. Being a drake, the white patches on the forehead and nape were very distinctive. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any footage of the bird. On our way back to the car, we stopped for another shot at the Marsh Sandpiper. This time the Marsh Sandpiper was at the other hide, but it was showing very well, and I could get some great digiscoped photos as it fed with Spotted Redshanks, Redshanks, and Greenshanks.