Saturday 20 August 2016

Greenish Warbler on Forvie...Early Autumn Migrants

There is a Greenish Warbler in the bushes on the Rockend track on Forvie NNR. Found yesterday (HAA) it was still present today.
Elsewhere there was a  Red-backed Shrike on the Collieston backroad (Mains of Slains area), with 3 Pied Flycatchers and a Garden warbler. Good numbers of Willow Warblers also.
Garden warbler and Redstart at Kirkton, and a Pied Flycatcher at Kirkton yesterday.
 NB Turns out that there were 2 Red-backed Shrike in the same area of Mains of Slains yesterday.
Pied Flycatcher

Red-backed Shrike, Mains of Slains


Thursday 11 August 2016

Waders on the move

The Ythan is looking increasingly packed with good numbers of a range of species. A Juv Little Stint added to the variety this evening at Inches Point alongside a single Ruff and around 30 Dunlin. The Golden Plover numbers are gradually building with a small flock of a few 10s favouring the Snub.
Meanwhile in Aberdeen , at Girdleness, a very confiding adult White-rumped Sandpiper is giving amazing views....hopefully a taste of more to come on the patch.
White-Rumped Sandpiper, Aberdeen




Sunday 7 August 2016

Seeing double: another White-winged Black tern and the Humpback Whale star

Great summer wildlife on offer in and around the Ythan: The Humpback Whale continues patrolling the sea just off the mouth off the mouth of the estuary, maybe for over 2 weeks now. It is accompanied by a mass of seals, terns, Gannet and varied gull species. Up to 10 Arctic Skuas have been seen in the area. The White-winged Black Tern (2nd Summer bird) re-appeared, once more spotted by Cotehill's birder, on the 29th and 30th of July. It commuted between Cotehill and Meikle Lochs.
Very surprisingly a new bird, an adult, appeared in the morning on Meikle Loch on the 5th August. Pictures below of this individual.

Humpback Whale, Ythan
Arctic Skua, Ythan


Adult White-winged Black Tern, Meikle Loch