Build-up to Cairngorm Trip
08/12/2009
Right, today I had my final Donmouth trip prior to the big weekend in the Cairngorms. There was an abundance of life along the river but nothing too special. Well, that's not entirely true. I did see a Chiffchaff, which will surely take some beating in terms of late sightings.
Having talked to the SWAG head, I found out that we are to be led round by an expert guide. This can only boost my chances of getting one or two more for the year. The aim is to see one or possibly more of these: Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan and Hen Harrier. A full report will be heading your way, the moment I get back.
Until then, happy birding :D
Thom
Back in the lead
16/11/2009
My luck hasn’t been with me lately. Every trip out seems to leave me with either nothing new or just one easy tick for the uni list. So it will come as no surprise when I say that I didn’t have high hopes for today’s outing to Girdle Ness. Despite all this I forced myself to miss a lecture on the laws of Gravitation to go on a hunt for a lifer.
Once again I walked to Torry (man, do I hate those buses), although it was a lot quicker than the first time. I then walked along the road that runs along the headland and stopped at each car park as I went.
It was at the first car park that I noticed a distant dark duck. It slowly drifted towards me and I began to pick out some detail. Later book work identified it as a Velvet Scoter. It was while I was standing here that I noticed some unusual breaks in the water... Dolphins! A pod of Bottlenose Dolphins were fishing in the harbour and seabirds were diving amongst them trying to get in on the action. What’s amazing is the fact that this was all happening just metres from me.
Anyway, I pressed on after failing to get any photographs of the dolphins, not happy with one lifer and went on the lookout for the birds I was really here to see. It was in the most open and busy gravel areas that I first stumbled into a juvenile Stonechat before turning to find the Snow Buntings bathing and drinking in the murky puddles that littered the car park. Seven were counted and they were very much at ease with my presence, allowing me within a few metres of them. I sat with them for a while until another birder drove into the car park and virtually ran the things over. It was this (and the rain, which was starting to make me a little soggy if I’m honest) that prompted me to head for home, big grin on face.
Two lifers and a first dolphin encounter, all within 3 miles of the 3rd biggest city in Scotland. Pretty impressive, what with my luck of late...
185 and the run continues...
Thom
I Should Just Stick to Donmouth
8/11/2009
Today was proof that continuous visits to your regular patch will yield the best results. I have been flirting with other sites over the last fortnight or so and I have failed to find the birds I was there for. Meanwhile, my reliable old walk of Seaton Park to Brig O' Balgownie to Donmouth has been stocking up on rarities and I haven't been keeping tabs.
The walk started slowly and I was getting ready to accept that it was going to be yet another of those days. The walk was full of loud touristy types with their cameras, spoiling what is usually a serene wilderness. It wasn't until I distanced myself from the public that the birds started coming out to play. In quick succession I picked up Goldeneye, Grey Wagtail and several common woodland species.
Spurred on by this building momentum, I cross the road to Donmouth and was immediately greeted with easily my best sighting since arriving in Aberdeen. I gloriously close encounter with a pair of Slavonian Grebes! Regardless of the fact that it wasn't new for my life list or even for the year, it was still one of those unforgettable moments.
I then moved on towards the beach where I stumbled, quite bizarrely, upon a Pygmy Shrew. It was also here that I spotted a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers.
It was just one of those fantastic days. I think I'm going to stick to what I know from now on and try to build up the most impressive term time list I can over the next four years.
Thom
A Hike For Nothing
3/11/2009
I went out for the Richard's Pipit today. This meant a 3 mile journey south, which I completed on foot. The bloody thing wasn't anywhere even close to where it had been sitting for the last few days. This prompted me to explore Girdle Ness more fully.
On the route round the headland I saw over 50 Purple Sandpipers (evidence can be found HERE), along with large flocks of Redshank, Turnstone and Ringed Plover all on one small section of beach. I then got a distant glimpse of a light and plain looking Pipit but it didn't sit still long enough for me to identify it as the Richard's or something else.
So, an essentially fruitless trip, but I did get to grips with the 'top' birding site in Aberdeenshire. This doesn't sound really worth the 8 mile round trip, but I'm heading back on Sunday with the Swaggers, so maybe I'll grab a migrant or two then when there's a few more pairs of eyes to spot them...
Until then, I think I'm just going to rest my legs. That was far too much fast walking for one day and I intend to do as little as possible until the next worthwhile trip.
Thom