Where are the hidden gems of Aberdeenshire? (1 Viewer)

[daveofficer]

Obviously Loch of Strathbeg, Girdleness, Fowlsheugh and Troup Head are the big ones but there must be other hot locations in the Aberdeen area! They don't have to be places where you can bag that ultra-rare migrant but just nice places to go and catch a few commons for your list on a fine day.

So feel free to share here and give a new birder some tips! Since I started paying attention even walking through the city centre has become interesting and now I need more!

To start you off I spent a very pleasant few hours at Johnson Gardens and Walker Dam in the West End of Aberdeen taking pictures of Moorhen, Heron, Coal Tits, Song Thrush, various Gulls, Sparrows and Dunnocks. I know it's not the most secret of spots but I didn't even know that park existed till a couple of weeks ago.

 

[StuartReeves]

Not exactly hidden, but the Ythan Estuary takes some beating.

 

[daveofficer]

Ah very true. I went for a walk there last year but it was before i'd fully rekindled my interest in birding and was mainly interested in pictures of the magnificent dunes at Forvie Sands. Will need to pay a visit soon.

 

[Ken Hall]

Dave, have a look at my website. There is a page giving details of lots of locations. It's not complete yet, but there should be enough to get you started. At this time of year I would suggest you concentrate on coastal sites, both on land at out to sea. Good luck.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Dave,

I can second that please do look at Ken's website. I wasn't a birder when I was last up there but he has shown many beautiful places with good descriptions and photos and there are many good birding spots I am sure especially if you like remote quiet places. Pity he hasn't given the web site I will have a quick look for it now. Here it is and his photos and knowledge of the area shows he loves it.http://www.thenatureofnescotland.com/

Ann

 

[Ken Hall]

Hi Ann
thanks for the plug! My website address is in my signature, below my posts. Now I'm wondering if some members can't see my signature for some reason. Anyway, must hurry up and finish the page on "where to watch birds".

 

[daveofficer]

thanks folks, i've been on your website before ken as it was recommended to me by a client a few weeks ago. it's certainly very informative and i'm sure i'll make use of it quite regularly when i'm stuck for places to visit on my days off.

i'm really just looking to start some discussion here. it seems the only regular chat with regards the north east on this site is in andrews torry thread(and a magnificent and helpful thread it is!) so i thought it would be nice to have a more general thread to help birders in the area.

so what are the key birds to be looking out for around this time of year in the aberdeen area? is it mainly waders on the move?

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Within Aberdeen I'd recommend Inchgarth Reservoir in Cults, which is particularly good for songbirds and warblers in spring. There are also Kingfishers and Dippers along the river. Donmouth can also be good and the walk along the Don through Seaton Park and down to the mouth is really varied. The cliffs north of Cove Bay are good for breeding seabirds and the coast between Donmouth and Blackdog has large numbers of seaduck, particularly Eiders and Scoters. At this time of year the coast is the place to be, with migrants in the right conditions, seabirds and waders. These can all be seen almost anywhere.

 

[daveofficer]

Thanks Andrew! Never heard of Inchgarth reservoir so i'll have to check that place out. I'm moving out that way in September which should make it easier to investigate the river and its surrounding habitats.

 

[Capercaillie71]

While the coast may be the place to be at this time of year, it's worth giving some of the inland sites a mention as well. I rarely get to the coast, so have to make do with inland birding as and when the time allows. It can be more challenging and less productive than the coast depending on the time of year, but there are certainly plenty of hidden gems, some of which are listed on Ken's website.

Loch of Skene has a lot of potential and seems to be getting more attention these days. Lots of wildfowl during the winter and the dusk goose flights can be very impressive. Red Kites are now a strong possibility in the surrounding area.

Cullerlie pools, west of Garlogie, have a lot of potential for migrant waders and wildlfowl.

Loch of Leys near Banchory is a site I would like to explore a bit more in the future as it has some interesting reed bed and fen habitat that has the potential to turn up some interesting species.

Dinnet and Craigendarroch oak woods in Deeside are well worth a visit in the late spring/early summer, with warblers, redstarts, tree pipits and jays, and the chance of some western oakwood specialists such as wood warbler and pied flycatcher.

The area around Lochs Davan and Kinord is worth a visit for woodland birds and wildfowl on the lochs, although they no longer attract the huge flocks of geese that they did 15-20 years ago.

Glen Tanar pinewood is usually good for crossbills and there is always the chance of a capercaillie, particularly in the autumn and winter.

Some of the wilder glens of Upper Deeside (e.g. Glen Muick, Glen Gairn, Glen Clunie and Glen Dee) are worth a visit for the scenery and the chance of Golden Eagles, Black Grouse, Red Grouse and Ring Ouzels. Not forgetting the high tops of the Cairngorms and the Glenshee hills where Ptarmigan, Dotterel and Snow Bunting are all possible.

Moving back to the coast, St. Cyrus is also an interesting area that is worth a closer look.

 

[rin]

Good afternoon everyone

I've recently moved to Inverurie and now that I am settled in the house and got the holidays over with I would be interested to know if there are any birders around this side of Aberdeenshire that could advise me of any hot spots around Inverurie.

I haven't been anywhere as yet and as I don't know anyone locally I am not sure of any groups in Inverurie either. Any info would be gratefully appreciated.

Happy birding.

Rin x

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Good afternoon everyone

I've recently moved to Inverurie and now that I am settled in the house and got the holidays over with I would be interested to know if there are any birders around this side of Aberdeenshire that could advise me of any hot spots around Inverurie.

I haven't been anywhere as yet and as I don't know anyone locally I am not sure of any groups in Inverurie either. Any info would be gratefully appreciated.

Happy birding.

Rin x

Hi Rin - Hope you're settling in to Inverurie. I've not done too much birding in the immediate vicinity of Inverurie, although obviously the Aberdeenshire coast and Deeside are not too far away. Bennachie is good for a walk and has a wide range of woodland birds (crossbills, woodpeckers etc) and Red Grouse on the moorland. I think there are supposed to be Capercaillie in the area, but those will be hard to find. There aren't many wetlands or lakes that I know of near Inverurie, but you're not too far from Loch of Skene which gets plenty of wildfowl, gulls etc. There's a car park at the northwest corner of the loch, just off the A944 from where you can get some good views over the water.

Hopefully others can add to this.

 

[Capercaillie71]

Hopefully others can add to this.

I work in Inverurie, but I'm afraid there aren't just a great number of top birding spots that spring to mind in the immediate vicinity. The surrounding farmland, particularly to the north and east, has a good range of farmland birds. There may still be a few Corn Buntings in the farmland to the north-east of Kinmuck, which lies just south of the B993 between Inverurie and Whiterashes, although this species has declined severely in this area in recent years. I saw a couple near Craighaar farm (NJ 822 215) a few years ago, and they were reported from the same area in 2006.

Lochter fishery near Oldmeldrum (NJ 788 272) is a well-known Osprey fishing site in the summer and a nest platform has been built there to encourage them to breed.

Auchencleith bog, north of Inverurie (NJ 764 263), has a range of breeding waders including snipe and redshank but isn't particularly easy to access.

Ratchhill pond near Kintore (NJ 781 169) supports a few wildfowl, including a smew a couple of years ago.

I haven't heard of there being any capercaillie on Bennachie for a few years, so they may no longer be there, although they are still present further west in Strathdon.

 

[Forester]

The car park referred to above at the Loch of Skene is not a public car park but private ground. Our access rights do not extend to vehicles on private land. Just my 2pence worth

 

[Ken Hall]

The car park referred to above at the Loch of Skene is not a public car park but private ground. Our access rights do not extend to vehicles on private land. Just my 2pence worth

The notice "Private Car Park" appeared last autumn, but it is possible to park on the road verge just outside the car park, though maybe not too safe, as it's a busy road. Alternatively, the loch shore can be accessed by a short track from the road close to the east shore. Note also that it is no longer possible to gain access to the roof of the boat house next to the car park. The relative page (where to watch birds) on my web site was updated to reflect these changes. I'd be grateful if any local birders would let me know of any other changes to local sites whenever they occur so that I can keep the info up to date. :t: