Wild in Aberdeen - City and Shire (7 Viewers)

[Ian Bell]

The Gramps (or the Grumps to Torry folk) were described to me,as being the start of the Grampian Mountains,when I was a schoolboy.Yes....a long time ago..! Hence the name Gramps,which Is a shortened version of the Grampian's.Dont know how much truth there is in that but that was what I was told by a Teacher.

In my Youth,East Tullos Industrial Estate did not exist and the area was wild moorland/bog and forest.Brilliant for birds and I remember both Tawny and SE Owls nesting up there,amongst others,Including Grey Partridge and Kestrel.

The area was a massive boost to Aberdeen welcoming the Oil Industry but devastation for local wildlife.

 

[Zephyrus Carrington]

The Gramps (or the Grumps to Torry folk) were described to me,as being the start of the Grampian Mountains,when I was a schoolboy.Yes....a long time ago..! Hence the name Gramps,which Is a shortened version of the Grampian's.Dont know how much truth there is in that but that was what I was told by a Teacher.

In my Youth,East Tullos Industrial Estate did not exist and the area was wild moorland/bog and forest.Brilliant for birds and I remember both Tawny and SE Owls nesting up there,amongst others,Including Grey Partridge and Kestrel.

The area was a massive boost to Aberdeen welcoming the Oil Industry but devastation for local wildlife.

Great stuff! There are echos of the past all over the area, in the remaining heather and bog areas and the stone cairns and walls; I have found it a fascinating place to wander over. Tullos Hill is being further squeezed now by the continuation of the Altens industrial site pretty much to the sea and sadly I think this, the current tree planting craze and the ridiculous fence round the landfill vents will pretty much kill any surviving character.

 

[Ian Bell]

Great stuff! There are echos of the past all over the area, in the remaining heather and bog areas and the stone cairns and walls; I have found it a fascinating place to wander over. Tullos Hill is being further squeezed now by the continuation of the Altens industrial site pretty much to the sea and sadly I think this, the current tree planting craze and the ridiculous fence round the landfill vents will pretty much kill any surviving character.

So true Teamscotch.I have many happy childhood memories of the Grumps.For example,seeing my first Newt,Frogs and Tadpoles.There was a great big Industrial Tank,where the Kestrel's bred and I would sit afternoon's watching the adults bring food In for the youngsters.I was fascvinated when I seen my first SE Owl and ran home to look at my Observers Book of Birds,to find out what It was I had seen.If nothing else,your recent Post's bring back happy memories. :t:

 

[markhammonds]

Afriad I will briefly move things away for Gramps/Grumps (I'm yet to visit)... I had great views of a Short-eared Owl from my kitchen window last night (spotted by my girllfriend as we were sorting out the pizzas). It was north of Findon cruising around the rough ground towards the coast. I haven't seen one in the area since I moved there in December so I guess this one was moving through. It was quite interesting to see a pair of Pied (or White?) Wagtails in the garden the day before but the Owl looked fantastic (it was almost in the garden at one point).

 

[Ian Bell]

Moorhen with 2 young on Johnstone Gardens.Not the most exciting report but a nice one all the same.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Had a scoot around the Ythan today, where I failed completely to find the long-staying King Eider. The best bird was a summer plumage Spotted Redshank, which looked very smart but was quite a long way off. Other stuff included a good selection of waders: one Black-tailed Godwit, 37 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, a Sanderling, two Knot etc. Also nine Wheatears, two Pintail and a Peregrine. A few House Martins were around Newburgh and one Sedge Warbler was singing. Still freezing cold though.

 

[Capercaillie71]

I'm just back in from a dusk excursion to look for Woodcock. I chose a random likely looking spot up the valley and within a couple of minutes had 2-3 males roding over the surrounding woodland, including two which approached from opposite directions and met above my head before engaging in a brief aerial dogfight. Always nice to see.

 

[Jimmycq]

Had my first outing to Fowlsheugh yesterday, what an experience on the eyes and ears, (and nose). All the expected seabirds there in their thousands, and a solitary Puffin, my first (only one I seen) , also Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Swallows on the gorse and fields on clifftop and a couple of Grey Partridge spooked. Dont know who got the bigger fright there. Can anybody help if the first two photos ? Thanks

Loch of Skene yesterday evening as well, two Blackcap near derelict building at boat club and a flock of c30 Swift over the loch.

Jim

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Sounds like you had a good day there Jim. The birds in the first two pictures look like Linnet and Whitethroat. Good to hear there's a few Swifts back - hopefully we'll be seeing them over the city soon.

 

[Jimmycq]

Thanks Andrew, I'd been leaning towards these from the books but, again, not too confident on my own ID skills yet. There was also a small flock of about 8-9 Greylag Geese, couple of fields east of the Skene car park, second time I've seen them this week. Do you think these will stay or just late leavers ?

Jim.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Thanks Andrew, I'd been leaning towards these from the books but, again, not too confident on my own ID skills yet. There was also a small flock of about 8-9 Greylag Geese, couple of fields east of the Skene car park, second time I've seen them this week. Do you think these will stay or just late leavers ?

Jim.

Bit hard to tell with the Greylags. There are (at least) three different populations of Greylags in the UK, and they tend to behave differently: feral birds that breed in many areas and are resident, Icelandic breeders that winter here and could be passing through on migration and wild breeders that are mostly resident in the west of Scotland. I'm not sure which is most likely at Skene.

 

[Hugh Addlesee]

Bit hard to tell with the Greylags. There are (at least) three different populations of Greylags in the UK, and they tend to behave differently: feral birds that breed in many areas and are resident, Icelandic breeders that winter here and could be passing through on migration and wild breeders that are mostly resident in the west of Scotland. I'm not sure which is most likely at Skene.

I suspect the Greylags hanging around the Skene area are probably a spillover from the population out at Dinnet, which I understand is expanding quite a lot. Icelandic breeders are long gone. There are also a few Pink-feet still around, but these are either late movers or sick/injured.

All the summer migrants are back now at Skene (including a few pairs of Common Terns, which hopefully might stay and breed again), but it's gone very quiet otherwise.

 

[Jimmycq]

Thanks both.

 

[Capercaillie71]

Nice to finally have a spring-like day after the cold weather recently. Like quite a few others it seems, I saw my first swift of the year today at Turriff. It was a good day for warblers too, with nine singing chiffchaffs, six blackcaps and a garden warbler, all on territory at various inland sites. I've still to see my first whitethroat of the year though.

I also saw pair of Greylag geese near Turriff, perhaps another example of the expanding resident population?

On my way home I had a look for the unusually tame female capercaillie that has been frequenting the Bennachie centre in the past few days, but with no success.

 

[Zephyrus Carrington]

I had a fab bike ride up Cairn o' Mount from Banchory and back tonight. Heard a gropper very close to the road just into the moor. Then I was escorted up the road for about a mile by a Short-eared Owl, which was replaced by another closer to the summit. The owls were actually rather handy pacemen, it turns out, as I clocked my fastest ever ascent of the hill!

 

[Capercaillie71]

Heard my first cuckoo of the year this evening, from the house. I also went for a bike ride (not quite as adventurous as Teamscotch's!) around the surrounding farmland to look for Lapwings. I haven't checked all areas yet, but I only found 2 pairs, whereas I found 15 pairs in a similar exercise 3 years ago. Three years prior to that, a more detailed survey found 37 pairs across the same area. Not good news.

 

[Tree Sparrow]

I have to drop my OH off in Inverurie at 6am tomorrow (15th May). I also want to take my camera to Jessops in Inverurie which won't open until 9am so I have approx 3 hours birding time.

I'm happy doing my own thing in any new area but if anyone has any tips for particular areas in the vicinity then I'd be very grateful.

TS

 

[Capercaillie71]

I have to drop my OH off in Inverurie at 6am tomorrow (15th May). I also want to take my camera to Jessops in Inverurie which won't open until 9am so I have approx 3 hours birding time.

I'm happy doing my own thing in any new area but if anyone has any tips for particular areas in the vicinity then I'd be very grateful.

TS

Hi Fiona,

I work in Inverurie and I'm afraid I'm struggling to think of great birding spots in the immediate vicinity! There is the Osprey nest site at Lochter fishery at Oldmeldrum, but maybe you see enough Ospreys up in Moray!

Places like the Ythan Estuary are maybe a bit far (although just about do-able) for a 3 hour trip. It would take about 35-40 minutes to get there. Alternatively, inland there are the forest walks at the Bennachie centre - a tame hen Capercaillie was frequenting this site last week, although I haven't heard any recent news.

EDIT: There's also the Loch of Skene, which isn't too far away although I don't know what there is to see there at the moment. That area is the stronghold of the re-introduced red kites although they may be tricky to see at this time of year. Ken Hall's website is still running and gives details of how to get to this site:

http://www.thenatureofnortheastscotland.com/section295030_97732.html

 

[Capercaillie71]

I had a fab bike ride up Cairn o' Mount from Banchory and back tonight. Heard a gropper very close to the road just into the moor. Then I was escorted up the road for about a mile by a Short-eared Owl, which was replaced by another closer to the summit. The owls were actually rather handy pacemen, it turns out, as I clocked my fastest ever ascent of the hill!

I saw one of Teamscotch's short-eared owls early this morning on my way over the Cairn o'Mount, at the bottom of the last climb up to the summit. Over in the Mearns I was pleased to find that the Whitethroats had finally arrived in good numbers, singing from most areas of scrub and brambles. Also heard a grasshopper warbler.

 

[Tree Sparrow]

Hi Paul

Thanks for that. It has to be Bennachie for me... I have memories of making OH walk for miles there years ago, by accident <snigger>. Meeting up with the tame caper would be a bonus but it's certainly the sort of territory that I like and I'm happy with the usual species.

I'm glad Ken's site is still there. I wish I'd had the chance to get to know him better.

We really have to make the most of the time that we have here as it can be cut short at any time.

Fiona

Hi Fiona,

I work in Inverurie and I'm afraid I'm struggling to think of great birding spots in the immediate vicinity! There is the Osprey nest site at Lochter fishery at Oldmeldrum, but maybe you see enough Ospreys up in Moray!

Places like the Ythan Estuary are maybe a bit far (although just about do-able) for a 3 hour trip. It would take about 35-40 minutes to get there. Alternatively, inland there are the forest walks at the Bennachie centre - a tame hen Capercaillie was frequenting this site last week, although I haven't heard any recent news.

EDIT: There's also the Loch of Skene, which isn't too far away although I don't know what there is to see there at the moment. That area is the stronghold of the re-introduced red kites although they may be tricky to see at this time of year. Ken Hall's website is still running and gives details of how to get to this site:

http://www.thenatureofnortheastscotland.com/section295030_97732.html