About time posted again...Iceland Gull!

First post for a good while...worthwhile for the first white-wing Gull at Cransdale I've had this year.
An adult Iceland gull graced the area during the biggest storm of the year to date.

Ruff Images

The flocks of Ruff, at time up to 50 birds, continue to inhabit the local pools . The Black-tailed Godwit numbers are dropping gradually , but the flock over the weekend at times was in excess of 70. Dunlin, Greenshank and Redshank have all featured as well.
A female Merlin was also on the backroad at the weekend, another Marsh Harrier being sighted at Cotehill previous to that.

Below a selection of Ruff and other images.

Collieston Waderworld

The continuing, tropical like, downpours of the the last weeks have continued. These have produced a network of pools in the fields around Collieston and Slains. High tide on the Ythan especially results in good numbers of visiting waders just now, with a selection of images below.
Top count that I've had in the patch area is of 48 Black-tailed Godwit in the last few days, the highest total I can recall for the Collieston environs.
The Ythan itself is pulling in impressive numbers of a range of species, though Lapwing and Dunlin seem particularly healthy.

When the sun comes out raptors have been busy chasing the waders, or being mobbed, with Peregrine, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Osprey and Marsh Harrier all being seen in a 24 hour period coming through the patch over the weekend.

Black-tailed Godwits, Cotehill

Dunlin, Meikle area

Ruff and Redshank

Red Squirrel at Cotehill

Although they have been recorded before, I'm not sure when the last red squirrel occurred in the village.  But this incredibly cute individual turned up in the garden at Cotehill this morning.  Hopefully it will stay for a while.

Whales and Waders

A lack of sustained easterlies have meant that waders continue to be the main birding attraction locally. The estuary continues seeing record number of Black-tailed Godwits with 328 being a peak count so far. A first year Hobby was at Waulkmill last Sunday. This morning the southerly gale overnight did bring with it a few hundred Meadow Pipit into the Collieston area, with a Pied Flycatcher being along the back road. Otherwise the main arrivals were of a few Willow Warblers and Wheatear.
2 Humpback Whales now are continuing to show intermittently, including very well indeed off Collieston, with displays of breaching reported some days. Hackley Bay is another favoured spot as well as the Ythan mouth still.

Black-tailed Godwit, Waulkmill

Hirundines, Kirkton

Waders, Waulkmill

Humpback Whale, Cransdale Head

Red-throated Diver, Collieston Harbour

Season of Mists of Forvie

Greenish Warbler on Forvie...Early Autumn Migrants

There is a Greenish Warbler in the bushes on the Rockend track on Forvie NNR. Found yesterday (HAA) it was still present today.
Elsewhere there was a  Red-backed Shrike on the Collieston backroad (Mains of Slains area), with 3 Pied Flycatchers and a Garden warbler. Good numbers of Willow Warblers also.
Garden warbler and Redstart at Kirkton, and a Pied Flycatcher at Kirkton yesterday.
 NB Turns out that there were 2 Red-backed Shrike in the same area of Mains of Slains yesterday.

Pied Flycatcher

Red-backed Shrike, Mains of Slains

Waders on the move

The Ythan is looking increasingly packed with good numbers of a range of species. A Juv Little Stint added to the variety this evening at Inches Point alongside a single Ruff and around 30 Dunlin. The Golden Plover numbers are gradually building with a small flock of a few 10s favouring the Snub.
Meanwhile in Aberdeen , at Girdleness, a very confiding adult White-rumped Sandpiper is giving amazing views....hopefully a taste of more to come on the patch.

White-Rumped Sandpiper, Aberdeen