ABERDEENSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: July’s Sooty Tern was at the Loch of Strathbeg and the Ugie Estuary, Peterhead (1st), and the Ythan Estuary (3rd and 5th). Spoonbills were seen regularly on the Ythan. Cranes were present throughout, including five at Meikle Loch and two at Tarty. Seawatching produced four Sooty Shearwaters, 56 Manx Shearwaters and 28 Great Skuas off Portlethan (13th), with similar reports coming in from Fraserburgh, Crawton and Girdleness (26th). A Long-tailed Skua was off Peterhead (21st). LOCH OF STRATHBEG: An American Golden Plover, Black Tern and Little Gull were seen (4th). Two Red-throated Divers were on the Loch (5th). There was a Marsh Harrier and Peregrine (7th), Merlin (12th) and a Hen Harrier (16th, possibly present from 12th). There was a Spotted Redshank (from 18th), and three Little Egrets, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits (18th). OTHER SITES: A Marsh Sandpiper was reported on the Ythan (1st and 21st). A Black Stork landed on the Forties Bravo oil platform, 110 miles East of Aberdeen at the beginning of August. Rattray had a Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle and Hen Harrier (6th) and two Brent Geese (26th). A Stone Curlew was at Rigifa Pools (19th). A Quail was in the Riddinghill area (22nd). An early Grey Plover was at the mouth of the Philorth, by Fraserburgh (23rd). Two Buff-breasted Sandpipers flew past Donmouth (29th). A Surf Scoter was among the Blackdog Common Scoter flock. Kings Links, Aberdeen held a Barred Warbler (31st), when a Ring-neck Duck was on Loch of Skene. Mike Chandler