Week 39

24 – 30 September 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the thirty-ninth 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 27 - Day 270: 199

Today, we paid Loch of Skene a brief visit. We didn't see very much and didn't stay for very long, but I saw a couple of Whooper Swans and a drake Pintail.

September 28 - Day 271: 199

Today, by bike, I went down to Girdleness, to have a seawatch and search for some autumn migrants. I arrived around 8am, and started by making my way along the Dee, downstream towards the ness. I saw some Eiders, Goosanders, and a Chiffchaff. In Greyhope Bay, I noticed some Turnstones, Ringed Plovers, and Curlews, before arriving at the foghorn. The main things passing were Common Scoters (mostly S), and some Gannets (S), as well as the odd Red-throated Diver. After a while, I went down to St Fittick's Park, in search of passing songbirds. I watched a pair of Chiffchaffs, while keeping an ear out for any other birds. I got Dunnock, Goldcrest, Redpoll, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Linnet, and, to my surprise, a few Fieldfares. After a while, I cycled back over to Girdleness, spotting a couple Moorhens at the wetlands, on my way. I slowly made my way along the road (now closed to cars) between the allotments and the Battery. When I reached Torry Battery, I met up with my dad and sister, who had now arrived. I had my breakfast in the Greyhope café, before cycling home. Leavng Girdleness, I saw Andrew Whitehouse, who would end up finding a Red-breasted Fly at St Fittick's that afternoon, and a male Blackcap.