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

Tarbat Ness 14th June 2025

With a slight north-easterly airflow overnight and a deluge of rain predicted for mid-morning, I thankfully and unexpectedly alighted at 3.30am, sorted through the moth trap with Emily and then dashed off to Tarbat Ness. The sea upon arrival was flat calm and I really wanted to skip the land and head straight into Orca watch, but I resisted and headed straight for the plantation, via the usual route. 

It was of course quiet but a slight surprise came in the form of a Lesser Whitethroat in the plantation, something of a scarcity up this way. It was however very elusive and was initially picked up by its faint rattling song. Once a good view was had, I was struck by how dark it was... if only it was larger and had a pale iris!! 

Two seawatches (interrupted by walking other sites on the peninsula) produced two Arctic Skuas, a few Puffins, a Bonxie, a dozen Manx Shearwaters, but oddly, not a single cetacean! The rain never materialised but by late morning I gave up and made for home. 

Arctic Skua

Brown Hare

Garden Tiger

female Drinker

Tarbat Ness - 26th April 2025

It felt promising, but again failed to deliver any goodies, but it was nice to see my first Whimbrel, House Martins and Whitethroats of the season, while offshore were singles of Manx Shearwater and Bonxie, plus six Great Northern Divers were settled on the sea. The usual pod of Bottlenose Dolphins treated me to an acrobatic performance.

I checked a couple of other sites on the peninsula which looked incredibly good for holding migrants so something to look out for in the future. I briefly stopped at Nigg Bay RSPB on my return and two Barnacle Geese were with the Pink-footed Geese, still numbering in their low thousands. Lastly, an Osprey was fishing in the Cromarty Firth at Alness.

Whimbrel

Bottlenose Dolphin

Linnet and Willow Warbler

Small Coppers

Black Grouse - 24th April 2025

It's been an exhausting week, which is not yet over, but it has offered some excellent birding, especially this morning where lekking Black Grouse performed admirably at one of our regular sites on the edge of Caithness. An hour spent with five males and two scuritising females resulted in us watching a pair mating! Viewing from the car was valuable as the birds don't care and it remains warm (for us). 

Also on this site were the repetitive sounds of displaying Greenshanks, Curlews, Golden Plovers and Oystercatchers, whiles in the valleys were our usual pair of Golden Eagle, a Dipper and an Osprey (now my 6th of the spring).

Black Grouse

Osprey

Udale Bay - 21st April 2025

After a decent day at work where I saw two male Hen Harriers, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and a dozen Black Grouse, after work while Em was busy I visited Udale Bay RSPB where no fewer than eight White Wagtails were present, many Pink-footed Geese (with a Barnacle and White-fronted also mixed in) were lingering in the bay and an Osprey came down with a fish in its talons and proceeded to eat its dinner. Off in the distance was still a respectable number of Scaup, but I didn't drive closer to count.

Yesterday afternoon while sitting in the garden, two Ospreys were out over the River Beauly and in the morning up Strathconon a Tree Pipit and yet another Osprey were seen.

Pink-footed Geese

one of eight White Wagtails

Osprey

Tarbat Ness - 19th April 2025

With it raining until mid-morning, it was nice not to rush over to the east coast, instead, arriving just after 9.30am. A look on the south side of the peninsula leading up to the lighthouse was quiet, although just offshore a small pod of Bottlenose Dolphin were surfacing every now and then. 

With it seemingly quiet all over, I did an hour's seawatch from the point, with my first two Manx Shearwaters, a Great Skua and Sandwich Terns moving north, as did three Red-throated Divers and 35 Common Scoters. I then again concentrated on the scrub and pine plantation, but little to show for any effort. 

A quick look at Portmahomack on my return saw the usual Long-tailed Ducks (now in fine summer plumage) and two Scaup. 

Bottlenose Dolphins

Common Scoter

Yellowhammer

Tarbat Ness lighthouse

The pine plantation, situated perhaps
400m inland from the point... ideal!