White-throated Needletail - Helmsdale 14th October 2025

Yesterday (13th Oct), Emily and I were at a site roughly 20 miles from Brora when at about 6pm, news came through of the White-throated Needletail off Brora and tracking north. In absolute shock, and now knowing we had the 14th off work, we planned our attack to try and intercept this highly sought-after vagrant. The fact I had to endure 48-hours worth of gripping photos of the same individual off Yorkshire last week, along with this being a much wanted world tick, meant the task at hand was even more crucial, but we went into Tuesday morning with more excitement than pressure as we knew how little chance we had of clapping eyes onto this bird, but knowing we were in the vicinity of a seriously good bird enhancing such excitement.

Highland is very much devoid of birders, so it was hardly a shock that no one had assembled at our chosen dawn destination of Helmsdale Harbour. Why we chose here... well, the bird was seen at last knockings the previous evening; it was tracking north so it must have roosted between Brora and Helmsdale, a distance of only eight miles as the needletail flies. To me, it seemed the most logical 'Highland' site. 

On the river mouth wall adjacent to the harbour, we settled into our position. Visible migration was well underway with Woodpigeons, Chaffinches and Jackdaws the largest flocks heading south, and a Dipper also flew upriver... things were looking up. But, as I was observing above the town and above me, Emily wisely was scanning the sea, when, looking at roughly 2 o'clock position, she latched on to the holy grail. Although she knew, rather than shouting the species, she exclaimed she had a dark fast-flying bird with rapid wingbeats. Panic ensued although it took little time to find, and when I did, I then shouted, "it's the f*****g WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL!! A dozen or so rapid but powerful wingbeats, followed by a lengthy and equally powerful glide revealed the classic flight of a needletail, a family we had become used to last November when observing both Purple and Brown-backed Needletails in The Philippines. 

Initially at an approximate distance of 200 metres, the bird coasted towards us as we watched in complete disbelief, more so as we had found it in less than ten minutes of searching! It stubbornly remained at a height of ca. 30 metres above sea level, but coming closer all the time, when, just as it was about to head out of view going north, it banked revealing its paler upperparts and flew head on towards us. Try as we might, no camera would manage to focus on the bird due to the light and technological challenges, so we scrapped the camera and just enjoyed it as it angled off south, now only at approx. 100 metres until it eventually went out of sight close to Portgower - a total time between eight and nine minutes. 

We immediately put the news out but frustratingly, no further sighting of the bird was had from the scant number of observers searching for it. We remained in situ for another hour with no joy and therefore carried on our wanderings to see what else we could un-earth. Portgower was the main bit as a short seawatch produced a scrumptious flock of six Pomarine Skuas, plus many Arctic Skuas. We then worked a few sites finding nothing, before arriving at Brora and meeting the finder of the 'Highland' needletail, Fraser Todd. 

On our way home, a brief stop in Tain revealed the Little Egret which has been present since the weekend, add to this the Great White Egret and Pochard seen on Sunday, it's been a brilliant few days!

A huge thanks to Fraser Todd for initially finding the bird, Emily for re-locating it and my inner-self for deciding Helmsdale would be the place to try for this avian enigma!

The looks of success

The Needletail went out of view around the distant headland

Shetland completed... and Snow Goose - 7th October 2025

Well that's Shetland done for another year and it wasn't a bad one at all. Notables were the long-staying and very showy (in the end) Siberian Thrush, self-finds being Rustic Bunting, Corncrake and Common Rosefinch, my first (soon to be proven by DNA) Western Subalpine Warbler, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, a Glossy Ibis, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ring-necked Duck, ca. 25 Yellow-browed Warblers and a super showy Otter!

This morning I docked in Aberdeen and had two trains back to Beauly, where in-between Inverness and Beauly, I spotted a Snow Goose in flight with many Pink-footed Geese below the village of Kirkhill. Due to the terrain and access, it took me a good few hours to re-locate the bird, while 40 Barnacle Geese were also within the thousands of Pinkies. 

Snow Goose at Kirkhill (Beauly Firth)

Shetland continued - 3rd October

With some rough weather overnight, the thought of yank waders on Esha Ness meant that would be our early plan for the day, however, I could tell Steve was keen to see the Siberian Thrush again, therefore, I urged him to go and to drop me off at Ronas Voe and I would walk from here to Heylor, to Urafirth and as far as Hillswick, but the latter I didn't manage to get to...!

Ronas Voe was quiet, Heylor however was better with two Yellow-browed Warblers, singles of Whinchat, Brambling, Wheatear and Garden Warbler and six Twite while the Corncrake was again flushed in the exact spot I flushed it the first time in the quarry.

Afterwards I trudged to Upper Urafirth through numerous iris beds and gardens, down into Urafirth where just a Yellow-browed was present, then decided on walking off to Hillswick, but a tempting line of irises between a willow and garden caught my attention, so I walked this, and flushed from deep within, a medium-sized bunting which gave the ever delightful 'tick' call as it headed into the garden landing near the top of a bush. I carefully re-positioned and with the thermal was able to locate the bird swiftly, and through bins I was immediately able to see the reddish flank streaking among other notable features, and bingo, a Rustic Bunting! 

It was a bugger to see and others only got brief perched and flight views as it became more mobile. Thankfully Steve arrived meaning no more walking, and the day ended with a superb Red-breasted Flycatcher in the geo at Esha Ness... a true Fair Isle moment on the Mainland! 

Rustic Bunting at Urafirth

Whinchat at Heylor

Twite at Heylor

Urafirth - the lowest left garden
is where the Rustic landed

Esha Ness geo

Shetland... so far! 30 September, 1st & 2nd October

As I sit next to the window, with rain hammering down and wind buffeting our lovely accommodation up at Housetter (far North Mainland), it gives me a chance to quickly reflect on the first few days of our Shetland trip (Steve Wilson and I). Although the weather has been far from ideal, there is still stuff to be found, with two Siberian Thrushes in quick succession on mainland meaning it's all to play for. 

By far the highlight was from today when a male Siberian Thrush was found near Scalloway, and quite unlike most of these mega sibes, this one actually 'performed' for the crowd. We spent a good few hours on site where we managed at least five different views of varying body parts to complete the whole bird - I certainly didn't expect a world tick on this trip!

The only bits I've found so far have been a Corncrake (flushed in a random quarry), a neat Common Rosefinch and of course plenty of Yellow-browed Warblers are around. Other than that, a Glossy Ibis was found a mere 20-seconds before we passed the finder which was very convenient, lots of common warblers are about and what was the most disappointing Tree Pipit I've found as it flushed below a small stand of conifers! 

A superb image taken by Daniel Gebauer -
Siberian Thrush

Common Rosefinch

Glossy Ibis

Tree Pipit

Siberian Chiffchaff

Otter, taken by Steve Wilson

Otter, taken by Steve Wilson

Balnakeil - 17th September 2025

Having an unexpected day off, I was unsure where to head, but overnight light winds and the promise of a decent first half of the day, I hedged my bets in visiting the NW corner of the UK to the small village of Balnakeil, a site renowned for rare birds over the years, including a Daurian Starling many years ago. 

I was excited to explore this area knowing there wouldn't be any birders around for miles, and I got off to a good start with a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Goldcrests making themselves known. A further wander and I was rewarded with a Barred Warbler which proved to be very mobile and elusive, but two Hawfinches which flew in were slightly more cooperative. Further interest was the long-staying Treecreeper, a Magpie and a Wheatear. The nearby marsh held at least seven Ruff. I saw the Barred Warbler a further four times, but I just couldn't get a photo of this very secretive bird. 

I briefly checked Durness as there were some excellent gardens there, but all I could find was a Garden Warbler. An Otter and a Stoat were other noteworthy things seen.

This hopefully won't be my last visit this autumn to this far-flung area.

Lesser Whitethroat

awful pic of the Barred Warbler

Hawfinch

Balnakeil

Stoat

Portgower - 7th September 2025

Usually Tarbat Ness would be my seawatch location, but I've learnt from others that on an East or South-east wind, the north-east coast is the place to be. I recently found a site just south of Portgower which is relatively sheltered and offers height. During the week, Matt Broadbent and I had been keeping an eye on today's weather, which thankfully stayed fairly consistent meaning Portgower was on the cards for today. 

As soon as I pulled up into the lay-by, a message of a passing Cory's Shearwater (a very rare bird up this way) from Dean only 3kms down the coast prompted me into immediate action and soon it passed me. I quickly ventured down to the coast, later being joined by Matt B and Pete Stronach, with the following seen:

9am - 2.30pm

Cory's Shearwater - 2

Great Shearwater - 4

Sooty Shearwater - 97

Arctic Skua - 11

Manx Shearwater - not counted by a few hundred most likely

Two of the Greats passed only just offshore, as did one of the Cory's. I certainly didn't anticipate views like that up this way!

On my way home, a quick stop at Loch Fleet produced the Curlew Sandpiper which has been present a few days. 

Great Shearwater past Portgower

Cory's Shearwater past Portgower

Azure Hawkers

With continuous working on boggy moorland this season, it's hardly surprising to have come across several of the bog-specialist Azure Hawkers whilst out and about. Away from the principal sites of Loch Maree and Glen Affric area, this species is notorious for it elusive nature, but it must have been a good season for them as most places we've visited has produced this small hawker in prime habitat. The early summer drought I thought would hinder the species, but it seems they've adapted well. 

In general, it's been a brilliant season for Odonata up this way, with many Northern and Brilliant Emeralds, showy White-faced Darters, stacks of Common Hawkers and Golden-ringed Dragonflies, plus lots more. 

I'm in two minds whether to commit to leading weekend dragonfly tours for private groups next year, or maybe leave it a year or two, but I hope a plan can be put in place one day for a little side hustle. 

Azure Hawker near Loch Ness area, 29th July

female Azure Hawker near Lairg, 3rd July