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Birds fae Torry (21 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andrew Whitehouse
- Start date
A very windy and rather cold day, with regular squally showers coming in from the northwest. Birding was generally hard work. A couple of Common Sandpipers were along the shore below Inverdee House. Elsewhere on the headland there were at least four Wheatears and lots of Bottlenose Dolphin activity again. They seem to be really active at the surface now (maybe looking out for Orcas?) and were even jumping when they came into the inner harbour. They also seem to be feeding in much shallower water than normal.
There was a very good bird around. This was a Yellow Wagtail found by Raymond Duncan near the Battery. It was a bit elusive but showed well eventually, wandering about along the edge of the golf course. it was a lovely bright male flavissima Yellow. Perhaps surprisingly this is the first definite Yellow Wagtail of this subspecies I've ever seen here, and I think might be the first I've ever seen in Scotland. They're quite a rarity around here. I saw it again later on, a bit further east nearer the Greyhope car park.
I had a look around in the evening, but it was mostly quiet. Three Dunlin and 64 Purple Sandpipers were in Greyhope Bay.
There was a very good bird around. This was a Yellow Wagtail found by Raymond Duncan near the Battery. It was a bit elusive but showed well eventually, wandering about along the edge of the golf course. it was a lovely bright male flavissima Yellow. Perhaps surprisingly this is the first definite Yellow Wagtail of this subspecies I've ever seen here, and I think might be the first I've ever seen in Scotland. They're quite a rarity around here. I saw it again later on, a bit further east nearer the Greyhope car park.
I had a look around in the evening, but it was mostly quiet. Three Dunlin and 64 Purple Sandpipers were in Greyhope Bay.
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A cold, windy day in Torry that was generally quite hard work. I had a look around St Fittick's. It was mostly routine stuff. In the south harbour, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Iceland Gull again. It floated around in the northeast corner for quite a while. A Black Guillemot was also there.
I had a bit of a seawatch from the foghorn. Reasonable numbers of birds were moving, including two Bonxies, a Manx Shearwaters, two Long-tailed Ducks and a Common Scoter. Four Wheatears were in Walker Park.
I had a bit of a seawatch from the foghorn. Reasonable numbers of birds were moving, including two Bonxies, a Manx Shearwaters, two Long-tailed Ducks and a Common Scoter. Four Wheatears were in Walker Park.
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Still cool here but the weather was much brighter, clearer and calmer than the weekend. I had a pleasant walk around the headland in the evening. A Common Sandpiper was along the harbour shore and at least 70 Purple Sandpipers were in Greyhope Bay. An impressive nine Wheatears were in Walker Park. The Iceland Gull was again in the northeast corner of the South Harbour. A quick seawatch produced five Manx Shearwaters and six Common Terns. A single Swift was over Torry at dusk.
On Tuesday evening (6th) I had a quick look from home and immediately picked out a pale phase Arctic Skua going north - my first of the year.
I went round the headland this evening, in sunny but cool conditions. The Glaucous Gull reappeared on the quayside in the inner harbour. It proceeded to demolish a mussel. Otherwise, things were rather quiet. Three Wheatears were in Walker Park, where the Ringed Plovers are now accompanied by three young chicks.
I went round the headland this evening, in sunny but cool conditions. The Glaucous Gull reappeared on the quayside in the inner harbour. It proceeded to demolish a mussel. Otherwise, things were rather quiet. Three Wheatears were in Walker Park, where the Ringed Plovers are now accompanied by three young chicks.
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A warm day today with almost no clouds and a strong southerly wind. It felt like summer, although a quick look from home early morning revealed that the Iceland Gull was still around, perched on the north pier. I looked around St Fittick's, which was fairly quiet but there were good numbers of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats around. Other birds there included a Goldcrest and a Redpoll. Speckled Wood and Orange Tip butterflies were both on the wing.
I saw the Iceland Gull again by the foghorn, dipping around the pier and then flying past at close range towards the south harbour. Nothing of note was offshore but there were some huge feeding flocks of Guillemots and Kittiwakes. Four Wheatears were in Walker Park. A group of five Whimbrel flew north and a Dunlin was in Greyhope Bay.
A look from home this evening produced the Glaucous Gull again, flying around the north pier before coming into the inner harbour.
I saw the Iceland Gull again by the foghorn, dipping around the pier and then flying past at close range towards the south harbour. Nothing of note was offshore but there were some huge feeding flocks of Guillemots and Kittiwakes. Four Wheatears were in Walker Park. A group of five Whimbrel flew north and a Dunlin was in Greyhope Bay.
A look from home this evening produced the Glaucous Gull again, flying around the north pier before coming into the inner harbour.
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I spent a lovely hour or so In St Fitticks Park,early this morning.
The whole place seemed to be alive with bird song and to top It all off,I seen a lovely Roe Deer doe on the Triangle Pitch with Water Rail calling from the reeds.
The most numerous species were Sedge and Willow Warbler that were all over the Park.Low numbers of Mallard and Moorhen were on the Pond but the trees/reeds were alive with Chiffchaff,Common Whitethroat,Reed Bunting and Wren.Also around were singing Chaffinch,Goldfinch and calling Bullfinch.
Nothing overly exciting but just being there,on a sunny morning,with no humans (or dogs) and the Dawn Chorus was a great start to my day.
The whole place seemed to be alive with bird song and to top It all off,I seen a lovely Roe Deer doe on the Triangle Pitch with Water Rail calling from the reeds.
The most numerous species were Sedge and Willow Warbler that were all over the Park.Low numbers of Mallard and Moorhen were on the Pond but the trees/reeds were alive with Chiffchaff,Common Whitethroat,Reed Bunting and Wren.Also around were singing Chaffinch,Goldfinch and calling Bullfinch.
Nothing overly exciting but just being there,on a sunny morning,with no humans (or dogs) and the Dawn Chorus was a great start to my day.
Another sunny, mostly breezy day although it went very calm in the evening. Things were generally rather quiet. I looked around the headland first. 17 Swifts were over the city. In Walker Park there were two Wheatears and, somewhat surprisingly, a male Yellowhammer. The Iceland Gull was roosting on the breakwater in the south harbour. Offshore there were loads of feeding birds again but not much was moving except for six Common Scoters and four Arctic Terns.
A look around St Fittick's was fairly busy with birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker and Redpoll. Further Yellowhammer intrigue came at the feeders, where a pair showed very well. I've not heard any singing this spring so I wonder what they're up to.
I had a look around the headland again in the evening. It was quiet bird wise but some rather beautiful fog developed in the hollows on the golf course at dusk.
A look around St Fittick's was fairly busy with birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker and Redpoll. Further Yellowhammer intrigue came at the feeders, where a pair showed very well. I've not heard any singing this spring so I wonder what they're up to.
I had a look around the headland again in the evening. It was quiet bird wise but some rather beautiful fog developed in the hollows on the golf course at dusk.
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More calm and sunny weather today, although the mist was quite widespread in the morning. I got out around the headland in the evening. Things were quiet, although there were plenty of feeding seabirds still. Two Wheatears and the three Ringed Plover chicks remained in Walker Park. The Iceland Gull was again in the south harbour. 23 Swifts were over Torry. Amusingly, someone reported 15 Pallid Swifts over Victoria Road on BirdTrack today. Fun times.
Had a quick spin around the headland this evening, in bright but quite blustery conditions. There were lots of birds offshore again but it was mostly quiet. A Dunlin was along the shore by Inverdee House. A Wheatear was in Walker Park, where I counted four Ringed Plover chicks. Quite a good sized brood. Four Common Scoters and a Manx Shearwaters passed by. The Iceland Gull was in its usual spot near the oil rig in the south harbour.
I got out this evening around St Fittick's. It was generally the usual stuff. Two Moorhen chicks were encouraging to see. The Iceland Gull was still present in the usual spot in the south harbour.
Always fantastic to see new life appear
