Unexpected Guests

There has been a Great White Egret on the Ythan ranging from just north of Newburgh up to at least Inchgeck Island. Reported yesterday by Raymond Duncan, it has  been in the area for a few days before that as a local resident  had noted it previously near Inchgeck in fact. The bird is in fine breeding plumage.
Off the blog area, but also worth a look was the Hoopoe that took up residence in a farm house garden near Mintlaw. Thanks to the hosting family who made visitors feel so welcome.
These pictures taken later evening once the bird was more interested preening in the trees, than in the lawn that it had favoured during the day.

Of some interest was the arrival of more swifts last Sunday. CG reported a few hundred going past Drums area, and by the evening numbers had risen at Meikle Loch from a measly 8 or so , to closer to 100 birds. Numbers have dropped again somewhat, but still more than had been present previously.

Great White Egret, Ythan

Hoopoe, near Mintlaw

Feels like summer

Two days of balmy sunshine seemed to spur the region into action and give it a continental feel, if not the local area, birding wise.
 A Savi's Warbler is singing at Strathbeg reserve, a Blyth's Reed  Warbler and Marsh Warbler likewise at Girdleness. There has been a Female Red-backed Shrike just north of Hackley Bay, near the coastal path, last seen yesterday.


Last weekend a late inspection of photographs confirmed the presence of a Grey-headed Wagtail with the UK race Yellow Wagtail at Cotehill. Like last years, appears to be a first year bird. Only seen in flight after being flushed by a car, I didn't notice it preceding this on the post in the corner of the view as I focused on the flavissima! Could have been worse though...

Cotehill wagtail experience

1st Year Grey-headed Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Weekend promise

Weather looks good for the weekend, with easterlies and rain. Things have remained relatively quiet in terms of migration , though there appeared to be an increase in hirundine numbers over Meikle this pm. The Wood Sandpiper has been intermittently on the Feu pool (PS) ( which looks critically threatened by farmland drainage activity). There was a Black Redstart in High Town mid week, along with a new Chiffchaff (Samwise). Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers continue to be in good song, and in higher numbers than last year.

Another Wood Sandpiper

There was a Wood Sandpiper on Meikle Loch this evening.

Drifting In

Bit belated, but an update for the last week for the area. A Little Ringed Plover was seen earlier in the period but no sign more recently.
Various migrants arrived en masse including the main bulk of Sedge Warblers at Meikle Loch, Whitethroat's into the village and, late by about a week, Swifts.

Yesterday saw 2 Manx Shearwaters going north during an early evening seawatch, as well as a Great Skua and 4 Arctic Skuas pirating the local seabirds. Good numbers of Common and Arctic Terns were feeding offshore. 6 Barnacle Geese flew north.

Further afield, in the Logie Buchan area, a Wood Sandpiper was joined by a fine drake Garganey, on a small pool in the fields.

Wood Sandpiper

Garganey

Eyecatching Pied Flycatcher

The last flurry of the haar during last weekend brought a stunning male Pied Flycatcher and a

Lesser Whitethroat

 Lesser Redpoll

Pied Flycatcher, Kirkton, Collieston

Whinchat, Kirkton

Whinchat to Kirkton, and another Ring Ouzel to Cotehill. There were at least 6 Lesser Whitethroats in the Collieston area which was a very good count for this early in our Spring. Since then the migrant numbers have gradually diminished but there are still a striking number of singing Chiff-chaffs and Willow Warblers around the village, as well as at least 2 Blackcaps. No sign now of any Lesser Whitethroats. During last weekend as well there was a small influx of Lesser Redpolls.

The haar wrecks some birds

After 5 days of the haar, with brief respites, there was bound to be some spring visitors grounded. Over the last few days there has been 3 different Lesser Whitethroats, Brambling, a small number of Willow Warblers and Chiff-Chaffs and yesterday a Ring Ouzel at the Sandloch. Two dapper Little Gulls at the Slains pools first thing were good to watch ranging over the misty fields.
Today as the fog lifted mid afternoon there was a flurry of activity with a new Lesser Whitethroat, Black Redstart and best of all a Hawfinch ranging around the feeders in Hightown (thanks Meg for this).

Where's my sky gone? Fogbound Skylark

Little Gulls, Slains Pools 

Lesser Whitethroat

Hawfinch, Collieston 26.4.14

Hawfinch, Collieston 26.4.14