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Birds fae Torry (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andrew Whitehouse
- Start date
Thanks Ian! I had a fairly good look around this morning. On the way over to St Fittick's, a Siskin flew over. At the park, there were the usual things about including four Teal, a Water Rail, and a Treecreeper. I continued over to the headland and had a look around Walker Park, which seems to be (perhaps unofficially) open for access again. It was worthwhile, as I found two Snipe and twelve Fieldfares. A few Kittiwakes and Fulmars were passing offshore. A scan over Aberdeen Bay revealed 11 Long-tailed Ducks and 36 Common Scoters.
I have just returned home from a walk ln St Fitticks Park and around the headland,with my 9 year old Grandson.
I know the term; "The calm before the storm" but this was more like; "The calm,after the snow"..! Things were very quiet on the bird front.A couple of Water Rail were heard ln the Park and the usual Mallard and Moorhen were on the Pond and 5 Teal fly over.Very few small birds were seen or heard.l did see a Roe Deer buck with a doe,at the back of the Pond and came across a party of 3 does on the Path to the coast.
Around the headland and out to sea,was very quiet.l did come across Fox prints,that lead to a potential Earth.
Finally,Andrew's Fieldfare from yesterday,were replaced by a pair of Stonechat ln Walkers Park.
I know the term; "The calm before the storm" but this was more like; "The calm,after the snow"..! Things were very quiet on the bird front.A couple of Water Rail were heard ln the Park and the usual Mallard and Moorhen were on the Pond and 5 Teal fly over.Very few small birds were seen or heard.l did see a Roe Deer buck with a doe,at the back of the Pond and came across a party of 3 does on the Path to the coast.
Around the headland and out to sea,was very quiet.l did come across Fox prints,that lead to a potential Earth.
Finally,Andrew's Fieldfare from yesterday,were replaced by a pair of Stonechat ln Walkers Park.
Well done on the Stonechats Ian. I didn't see them but I did see 12 Fieldfares again in Walker Park, along with an impressive 11 Snipe. The most notable bird this morning was an immature Puffin, just north of the North Pier. I think that's my first ever record of this species here in January. 25 Common Scoter and 12 Long-tailed Ducks were also in Aberdeen Bay.
Cucurrucucu
Cucurrucucu
Very fine bullfinch in the garden on Saturday (and we saw an otter below the boat clubs in the morning).
15 magpies in our birch tree last week.
15 magpies in our birch tree last week.
Managed a bit of birding around St Fittick's today, in reasonably fine but cool weather. It was fairly routine stuff but I had good views of a Water Rail from the concrete bridge. They seem to have decided to be showy lately. Other birds included Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Redwings, and two Grey Wagtails. A female Long-tailed Duck was in Nigg Bay.
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A much windier day today, although it remained dry and mostly sunny. I began in St Fittick's. The most notable bird was a female Blackcap that was around the feeders. Not a bird I often see here in winter. Also around were two Stock Doves and a Water Rail. A female Long-tailed Duck was again in Nigg Bay.
I checked Walker Park on the way around the headland and found nine Snipe. I was pleased to see a pair of Stonechats around the Battery.
I checked Walker Park on the way around the headland and found nine Snipe. I was pleased to see a pair of Stonechats around the Battery.
Cucurrucucu
Cucurrucucu
Should we be asking the Council what is planned for our side of the harbour during the Tall Boats?
Looking at the pictures of the last time, people lined up along the North Pier. Will that be allowed now? Is there anywhere on the city side of the harbour where people can congregate?
Where will visitors park in Torry?
Will they repair the gaps on the sea level path?
Will the road be safe enough for thousands of people to stand on?
Will the sand martins be driven out in the middle of the nesting season?
Looking at the pictures of the last time, people lined up along the North Pier. Will that be allowed now? Is there anywhere on the city side of the harbour where people can congregate?
Where will visitors park in Torry?
Will they repair the gaps on the sea level path?
Will the road be safe enough for thousands of people to stand on?
Will the sand martins be driven out in the middle of the nesting season?
I guess the Tall Ships might be part of the reason why the paths along the north side of Girdle Ness are being remade. Hopefully, the Sand Martins will have fledged a first brood by then, but it could have an impact.
Would also be interested in the Council's plans for St Fittick's now it looks like development will go ahead there.
Today was mostly cloudy with a cold wind, although it was less strong than yesterday. A Red-breasted Merganser in Aberdeen Bay was new for the year. It was joined by five Long-tailed Ducks. Another Merganser was in Greyhope Bay and the female Long-tailed Duck was still in Nigg Bay. A female Stonechat was in Walker Park, along with eight Snipe and a Song Thrush.
A male Kestrel was also new for the year and gave some good views along the south side and in St Fittick's. Also there were a couple of Water Rails, one of which showed nicely for Barry and myself.
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Cucurrucucu
Cucurrucucu
Lovely kestrel!
All I saw today were a handful of turnstones and some boring dolphins.
With my wobbly joints, I can't get along the path anymore because of the hole below the sand martins. Tried to fix it today but couldn't get started.
Think the path down to the breakwater beach and a bit of extra parking is as good as it will get. Maybe some temporary loos during the sail past.
(Today the path down was blocked off at the top so I had to go back down again. Excruciating!)
Don't think wildlife is anything of priority for the Council. Lucky if St F's is given a few new benches and some playground equipment.
Lots of rails but no water rails!
My theory is that, if you murder one person, you get life; genocide you might be dragged to the Hague if they can catch you; extinct an entire species - you get a knighthood or/and or an Honorary Doctorate.
All I saw today were a handful of turnstones and some boring dolphins.
With my wobbly joints, I can't get along the path anymore because of the hole below the sand martins. Tried to fix it today but couldn't get started.
Think the path down to the breakwater beach and a bit of extra parking is as good as it will get. Maybe some temporary loos during the sail past.
(Today the path down was blocked off at the top so I had to go back down again. Excruciating!)
Don't think wildlife is anything of priority for the Council. Lucky if St F's is given a few new benches and some playground equipment.
Lots of rails but no water rails!
My theory is that, if you murder one person, you get life; genocide you might be dragged to the Hague if they can catch you; extinct an entire species - you get a knighthood or/and or an Honorary Doctorate.
I had a quick spin around the headland this afternoon, in sunny, fairly calm conditions. A Mute Swan was loafing about in the harbour. Just beyond the North Pier, a group of 24 Long-tailed Ducks were gathered with quite a bit of displaying going on. I passed through the main wetland in St Fittick's briefly, where five Teal were out in the open.
I had a quick look around St Fittick's today. A Water Rail again showed nicely. Of most note was a loudly calling Jay near the wooden bridge (and there may even have been another one).
Today was cool and cloudy with a light but chilly easterly wind and a few squally showers. The Mute Swan was still present in the harbour and seven Long-tailed Ducks were in Aberdeen Bay. The highlight was a Kingfisher in Greyhope Bay. This was presumably the same bird that was around last autumn and that was seen by others last weekend. It's now rather clearly a female, with an orange lower mandible. Walker Park held a pair of Stonechats, four Snipe and a Song Thrush. There was a noticeable arrival of Skylarks, with several on the golf course, and a more obvious passage of Gannets offshore.
Birds around St Fittick's included a Great Spotted Woodpecker, ten Teal and a Water Rail.
Birds around St Fittick's included a Great Spotted Woodpecker, ten Teal and a Water Rail.
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Interesting,Andrew.Very Interesting 👍👍
A cold, grey day here and the birding was pretty low key. I began in St Fittick's where the usual array of birds included Water Rail, six Teal, Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Stock Doves, a Kestrel, and two Redwings. The headland was very quiet, although I scoped 24 Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-breasted Merganser in Aberdeen Bay.
Cucurrucucu
Cucurrucucu
Hard to say but I slightly favour a female, as it's not a very bright orange bill and knob isn't really big.
I went to a public event at Greyhope School, regarding the St Fittick's Park & Tullos Wood development. Attached are some maps which I copied at the event.
One map shows the East Tullos Burn diverted, near concrete bridge, into a new retention basin. This basin is in the triangle field, and the outflow rejoins the marsh near concrete bridge. The new basin helps sediment to drop out, allowing cleaner water to flow into the marsh.
The Burn will be diverted again, near the wooden bridge, into the main marsh. A new drainage channel will allow the burn to exit the park at the existing culvert. This changes the main marsh from stagnant water to flowing water.
ETZ Ltd have a survey on their website, etzltd.com, you can use this survey to provide feedback on the proposals.
Barry
One map shows the East Tullos Burn diverted, near concrete bridge, into a new retention basin. This basin is in the triangle field, and the outflow rejoins the marsh near concrete bridge. The new basin helps sediment to drop out, allowing cleaner water to flow into the marsh.
The Burn will be diverted again, near the wooden bridge, into the main marsh. A new drainage channel will allow the burn to exit the park at the existing culvert. This changes the main marsh from stagnant water to flowing water.
ETZ Ltd have a survey on their website, etzltd.com, you can use this survey to provide feedback on the proposals.
Barry
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Very Interesting,Barry. 
I'm old enough to remember the area before East Tullos Estate was built and the area was known locally as "The Torry Grumps".A mix of trees,heather,bracken and ponds.A fantastic playground for Torry kids to grow up In and where many a boy or girl's first Interest In nature was developed.
I'm old enough to remember the area before East Tullos Estate was built and the area was known locally as "The Torry Grumps".A mix of trees,heather,bracken and ponds.A fantastic playground for Torry kids to grow up In and where many a boy or girl's first Interest In nature was developed.
