Week 42
15 - 21 October 2025
During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the forty-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.
October 16 - Day 282: 199
Today, after a joining a Cornell University webinar from Dr. Charles Brown about Cliff Swallows' social behaviour (see recording: https://youtu.be/VnnPOaf1Dpc?si=J9RT5tI7kCUJboLy), we drove down to Montrose Basin, where 5 White-rumped Sandpipers and a Long-billed Dowitcher were seen. It was already quite dark when we arrived, but we still saw a few birds. We watched a large group of Little Grebes and a Kingfisher. We also saw some Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Redshanks, Lapwings, Curlews, Teal, and loads of Pink-footed Geese. Unfortunately, we also heard the firing of gun shots from the wildfowlers. Another birder told us that the West side of Montrose Basin wasn't part of the nature reserve, so shooting was allowed. It's a massive shame that such an important roosting site for this amber-listed species. Montrose Basin holds approximately 13% of the Icelandic Pink-footed Goose population, about 80,000 birds. Sadly, we didn't see either of the rare American waders we came for.
October 17 - Day 283: 200
Today, I met up with my friend Felix, from Edinburgh. We decided to do a big day around the Scottish Central Belt. Our goal was 78 species, to see if we could at least tie our friend, Milo, who got 78 on his big day in England. We started at Skinflats RSPB. On our way there, we saw the Kelpies, a famous local landmark. When we arrived, we soon saw many Reed Buntings, and a 1w Stonechat. We also saw countless Pink-footed Geese. We were quite surprised when we saw a mixed flock of Stock Doves, Woodpigeons and... about 20 Black-tailed Godwits!?!?! We then arrived at the first screen, where we saw many Song Thrushes, with a Redwing and the odd Blackbird mixed in. We saw many small passerines in the reeds and bushes, including Wrens, Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, a female Bullfinch, Chaffinches, Yellowhammers, Reed buntings. We scanned the pools, spotting Tufted Ducks, a male Pochard, some Shovelers, Teal, Wigeon, Mallards, a few Mute Swans, a couple of Little Grebes, and a Barnacle Goose. I then found a flock of 3 female Tufted ducks, but one of them had a large white patch around the bill and a very round head. Felix, who sees many more Scaup than me, confirmed that the bird was indeed a female Scaup. We then walked into some farmland, where we saw a flock of Whooper Swans. As Felix and I walked past a hedge, I, by sound, picked up a Tree Sparrow, which Felix then found hiding in the bushes. We then heard a Water Rail, a year tick for Felix. On our way back to the cars, we added some more birds to our list: Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, Fieldfare, Long-tailed Tit, Kestrel and Buzzard.
Our next stop was the Slamannan Plateau, in search of Taiga Bean Goose. When we arrived, we saw a Raven, 4 Red Kites, and a large flock of Fieldfares. We also saw some Roe Deer, on the hillside. With no sign of the geese at the first lay-by, we decided to head to the sailing club. On our way, we were stopped by a private road. We then had to retrace our steps, only to bump into ANOTHER private road. It took us over an hour to get to the sailing club, despite the estimated 9 minutes from Google Maps! We still got a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a couple of Jays, and some Pied Wagtails. To our disappointment, we didn't see a single goose, not even one Pink-footed goose.
We then moved on to Strathclyde CP, in North Lanarkshire. We were looking for some gulls. We soon saw Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Lesser black-backed Gulls, and a Great black-backed Gull. While the parents and my sisters went to the café, Felix and I went searching for a Mediterranean Gull. After some searching, we didn't find any. We did get a Cormorant, however, and a Goosander. We also saw a Siskin.
We soon headed off to Baron's Haugh RSPB, 7 minutes away. Arrived in the Marsh Hide, where we got 8 Grey Herons, Moorhens, Coots, more Little Grebes, Teal, and Mallards. After a bit of searching, I picked out a Green Sandpiper, another year tick for Felix. We then walked to the next hide, where saw a couple of Green Sandpipers, many Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits, and a flock of Black-headed Gulls. We then went to search for the Cetti's Warbler, but we didn't see it. We did hear a Kingfisher and a Treecreeper, however. On our way back to the car park, we saw a couple of Jays. As we were in the car park, a Sparrowhawk flew out of the woods and back in again. We said goodbye to Felix and his mum, before heading towards Oban, via Glasgow.
Since we needed some food for dinner, and I needed some more birds, we stopped at Dawsholm Park, in Glasgow. As we were driving in, a large flock of noisy green birds flew in front of the car. PARAKEETS!!!! At last, I had finally hit 200, not with a Ring-necked duck but with a Ring-necked Parakeet. We stopped and got the camera, to get some photos. Despite it being quite dark already, I got some photos of a flock of about 15, as they flew between the trees. We took a selfie to celebrate the moment and, got some drinks and snacks to celebrate in Oban that evening.
October 18 - Day 284: 200
Today, we woke up in Oban, to a beautiful view over the harbour. My dad and I walked around, spotting my first ever Aylesbury Duck 😂 and some very confiding Turnstones. We also saw a couple of Black Guillemots and a Grey Heron.
We then headed north to Glencoe. We saw some amazing views and saw a couple of Buzzards as well as a Stonechat. We parked at the Clachaigg Inn, where they had set up some bird feeders. At these bird feeders were many birds: Dunnocks, Wrens, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits and Chaffinches. We then drove along Loch Tay to Pitlochry. We visited the Highland Chocolatier, where we got to try the official "World's Best Velvet Truffles", which earned its title. We then went to the Salmon-friendly Dam in Pitlochry, where we heard a Nuthatch.
October 20 - Day 286: 200
Today, while my dad was working, a decent fall of autumn migrants had landed over Aberdeenshire. This fall included a Firecrest at Longhaven, YBWs at Forvie and Girdleness, a Bluethroat at Donmouth, and, most exciting of all, an "Eastern" Nightingale, of the subspecies golzii, at Rattray Head. During my dad's short lunch break, he dropped me off at Donmouth, to search for the Bluethroat. But unfortunately, when I arrived at the site it was found, the other birders told us that it had flown off. I didn't spend too much time waiting, but while I did, I saw a female Kestrel flying upriver. I then checked further down the Don, in case the redhead Smew was still around, but I came out empty-handed. After waiting 10 mins for a bus that never arrived, I decided to walk, all the way to Girdleness, in search of the Yellow-browed Warbler. When I crossed the Dee at Victoria Bridge, I saw a Goosander. Later on, I bumped into Andrew Whitehouse, who was also searching for the Yellow-browed Warbler. Before long, we saw many Goldcrests, in the small bushes and willows. Soon enough, Andrew saw the warbler feeding with a couple of Goldcrests, and despite standing right next to me, I didn't see the bird. I spent the next hour or so walking around the bushes, hoping to see the bird. I did get some nice photos of Goldcrests and Purple Sandpipers, however.
Day 282: https://ebird.org/checklist/S280375347
Day 283: https://ebird.org/tripreport/423751
Day 284: https://ebird.org/checklist/S280361870
Day 286: https://ebird.org/checklist/S280592757
Hard to ID waders at this range!
Green Sandpiper, Marsh Hide, Baron's Haugh
Ring-necked Parakeets in the fading light
Purple Sandpiper, Girdleness
Flock of Purple Sandpipers
Goldcrest
Rock Pipit
Collection of photos from Killin (left),
Pitlochry (top right), and Glencoe (bottom right)
