Garden birds, Guillemots, gulls and guano

Louise's parents' garden in the outskirts of Aberdeen provided a few additional species for our list for this week's Scottish trip over breakfast this morning. The feeders are visited by a constant stream of birds - mainly tits, Robins, Sparrows, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Sparrows - and furnished the first sighting of a Dunnock for this week. We also enjoyed watching the clan of Wood Mice skittering around across the steps & in the undergrowth. I may have to get the camera out later in the week & see if I can get a few decent shots of them, as they are rather charming little critters.

It was another beautiful, clear sunny day here in Deeside - although the biting wind did make it feel quite wintery still. We spent most of the day on the coast, visiting a few different local sites which are good for a wide variety of species. 

We started off with a visit to the RSPB Fowlsheugh reserve, on the cliffs outside Stonehaven. The name translates as 'Bird Cliffs', which is certainly accurate. If you visit during the peak of the nesting season, the cliffs are absolutely jam-packed full of birds and the noise - and smell- is quite unforgettable. The main species here are Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Guillemots - although there are also other gulls, plus large rafts of Eider Duck on the sea below. 

Fulmar hovering on the updraft

Although it's still very early in the season, there are already good numbers of cliff-nesting seabirds accumulating and the prime spots on many of the ledges have already been claimed by amorous avians. The winding cliff-top path & high level ledges offer the possibility for some quite intimate views of the birds, so I spent quite a while crouched close to the edge shooting Razorbills, Guillemots and Fulmars. A bit of a triumph of will for me, as I'm very uncomfortable with heights, so being anywhere near the edge does bring me out in a cold sweat! I spent quite a bit of time shooting the birds in flight, catching them as they took off and landed just below me.

Razorbill

Many of the Razorbills were still moulting into their full breeding plumage; we spotted several with whitish heads. There were good number of Guillemots already present - both on the ledges, and in huge rafts out on the water. We spotted an enterprising pair of Ravens harassing the smaller Guillemots and driving them off their ledges. Presumably this is a tactic that is very successful once there are eggs and chicks to steal, but that is still several weeks away. 

Black-backed Gull

We did observe lots of courtship behaviour, particularly in the Razorbills and Fulmars - with plenty of displaying, beak-clacking and calls. Although the numbers of birds are far from what they will reach in peak season, the noise levels were already pretty loud - with the lower-range almost 'purring' calls of the Razorbills sounding almost like an outboard motor. 

Guillemots

When we last visiting at this time of year, we were lucky enough to see two of the small number of Puffins which nest here. However there was no sign of them today -  it's probably a week or so to early.

Although the seabird colony is the main attraction, the fields and gorse-filled gully through which a burn runs are also good for a variety of farmland species. We had good views of Yellowhammers, Sky Lark, Linnets, Rock Pipit and Meadow Pipit, a Wren and Dunnocks, as well as a quarrelsome trio of Buzzards.

Rock Pipit

Driving back towards Aberdeen, we stopped for a quick scan across the Loch of Loirston, which was fairly stuffed with waterfowl - including a group of eight Whooper Swans. Clearly the migration back to their summer breeding grounds is well on the way! Also present were Goldeneye, large numbers of Wigeon, Tufted Duck, plus Mute Swans, Coots and Mallards.

Whooper Swans

We then moved on to the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour, where there is now a large resident population of Bottlenose Dolphins. We spent quite a while watching them hunting and playing around the harbour entrance, spotting a couple of calves alongside the the adults. To boost the mammal count was a solitary Grey Seal, bobbing around in the middle of the channel. There were also lots of birds present - including more Eiders, Cormorants and Shags, Shell Duck, Oystercatchers and a Curlew. I also spotted an Icelandic Gull, amongst the more commonplace species.

Bottlenose Dolphins - Mother and calf

Driving back along the Dee, we spotted a good number of Goosanders on the river - plus several Little Gulls perched on rocks close to the bank.

To finish the day off, Bill (Dad-in-law) and I popped down to the Inchgarth Reservoir, as a Long-tailed Duck had been reported there over the last few days. We did get some distant views of it, but not close enough for photography. Again, lots of Oystercatchers, Wigeon, Goosanders and about 8 Goldeneye were present; the male Goldeneye were displaying nicely. We also spotted a Little Grebe.

Altogether a very pleasant day - although all the sea air has knocked me out. May have to have an early night tonight, as we are planning to be out early tomorrow for Black Grouse & Red Deer (fingers crossed!).