It took several minutes of making pishing noises to coax out the grey shape in the undergrowth at Creachen into something identifiable: our second Barred Warbler on Barra so far this autumn. Sadly this was as good as the views got! #birdingscotland

1cy male Ring-necked Duck at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree today for its 4th day, also a juv Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Loch an Eilein and the long-staying Barred Warbler still at Balephuil
#BirdingScotland #PWC2026 @birdguides.bsky.social

Bird Photograph of the Year. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua on the sea off Newtonhill in the rain this evening #birdingscotland

Madness at The Range this afternoon finding Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and this juv Long-billed Dowitcher all in the same Golden Plover flock! #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk

Then there were 2. Second time lucky looking for an American Buff-bellied Pipit at Drimsdale, S Uist. Was enjoying it's company when it was joined by a second bird! #BirdingScotland #RareBirdAlert #BirdingOuterHebrides

Spurred on by finding the AGP on Vatersay, we dried our optics off and headed to the north end of Barra to check the Golden Plover flock at Eoligarry. After 10 minutes, out popped a Buff-breasted Sandpiper from behind the ragwort: the second Kathy and I have found this month. #birdingscotland

You really have to love birding a place to go do it in the rain. It was sluicing down when Kathy and I hit the south end of Vatersay today. Waterproofs, optics and ourselves utterly drenched, but the payback was finding a juv American Golden Plover, the first Vatersay record. #birdingscotland

All Godwits together, with a Bar-tailed Godwit joining a group of three Black-tailed Godwits as they flew south through Girdle Ness today.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #UKWildlife

Ducks are moving through Girdle Ness at the moment, with this small group of Teal dropping in for a short time before continuing south.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #UKWildlife

The highlight of seawatching at Girdle Ness today was my first Black Tern of the year, but this 'close enough for record shots' Sooty Shearwater was just as enjoyable. Also, 2 Little Gulls, 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Manx Shearwaters and a Great Skua.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2026/09/1576...

A different feel at Balmossie and Broughty Ferry, compared to my previous visit.

#naturewriting #BirdingScotland

Did some seawatching at Hound Point today. No Skuas unfortunately but I still had: 3 Pintail, 3 Red throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Manx Shearwater and a Great Northern Diver.
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
#birdinglothian
#birdingscotland

Lovely views of this first year Citrine Wagtail at Quendale Mill, Shetland over the last couple of days. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2026/09/1575...

A visit to the top of the Law in search of passing migrants...

#BirdingScotland #naturewriting

A nice mix at Girdle Ness today: two Pale-bellied Brent Geese along the harbour shore, a juvenile Little Gull in the same area, a Lesser Whitethroat peering from the hawthorn, and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull in the south harbour.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

Lovely Baird's Sandpiper in North Bay, South Uist today. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

Another 2026 lifer for me (not Dundee, unfortunately) - Baird's Sandpiper at St Cyrus. Thanks to my pal, Rohan, for the trip up to see it.

#BirdingScotland

Have been keen to find an American Wigeon for ages now, so pretty happy to come across a new drake alongside the long stayer at Loch Bee, South Uist today. Good views of Lesser Yellowlegs on The Range too. #birdingscotland

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com/2026/09/1574...

In search of skuas at Broughty Ferry/Balmossie.

#naturewriting #BirdingScotland