Red-backed Shrike, juvenile, Sands of Forvie NNR
I had stayed at my sister's place, near Arbroath, overnight and I left at 8:30 to have a look at Lunan Bay. I have never seen so many Scoter in one place. Thousands. They were nearly all Common Scoter but Velvet Scoter were also common. An adult Little Gull was unexpected.
From there I decided to travel to the Sands of Forvie visitor centre. It was very well hidden. Sands of Forvie NNR is the largest area of unspoilt dunes in, at least, the UK. Lucky for me the Red-backed Shrike stayed around the visitor centre. It was the only bird there apart from a Yellowhammer and a Blackbird.
Red-backed Shrike, Sands of Forvie NNR
The tide was in on the Ythan estuary so most of the waders were roosting but 8 Black-tailed Godwits were a surprise. There were a lot of Eider and a juvenile Common Tern there alongside lots of Grey Seals.
Common Tern, juvenile
Eiders, drakes
Ythan Estuary
From the Ythan to Aberdeen to board the ferry, Myself and several other birders looked at the seabirds for 2 hours until it fell dark. We managed 2 juvenile Long-tailed Skua's, over a dozen Arctic Skua's, Guillemots, Razorbills, 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters, Puffin, Fulmar and thousands of Gannets and Kittiwakes.
Landing tomorrow. I know how that story ends! Happy Days!
Goosander, Aberdeen Harbour
NOT! a Brunnich's Guillemot
Aberdeen...far behind us.
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