The HARLEQUIN DUCK & KING EIDER in Aberdeenshire

As a staunch socialist I had feared the worst about todays General Election result for weeks. I had a terrible feeling that those slimy, fox hunt supporting, badger culling, anti 'green crap' Tories would sneak into power for another five, long years. With that in mind, Nadia and I decided to escape the millions of avaricious, self-centred English for a few days and join our more forward thinking brothers and sisters north of the border.

The River Don - complete with Nadia and the Harlequin Duck.
Photo by Adam Archer

We took turns at driving through the night and finally arrived in the granite city of Aberdeen just after 6.30am. Our first port of call was the wonderful Seaton Park in the north of the city where hopefully we would find the long staying first-winter drake HARLEQUIN DUCK. This particular bird had initially been located along this stretch of the River Don back on the 4th January 2015 and since this time had slowly moulted into a handsome looking bird. 

Unfortunately one of our pals Jules Allen had dipped the bird twice in recent days so we prepared ourselves for a long, thorough search despite our tiredness following the long drive north. After an unsuccessful scan of the white water off the old toilet block, we decided to head downstream as far we could and then slowly make our way back. Incredibly though, within minutes of setting off for the hike, our main target was flying upstream towards us. We enjoyed a close pass but then lost the bird as it continued at pace around the corner and out of sight. 

HARLEQUIN DUCK (first-winter male)
River Don, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.
Photo by Adam Archer

We then headed back up river towards the recently developed housing estate around Papermill Grove. Despite the construction work going on in the area, most of the riverbank was still accessible and it was not too long until we were watching the bird once again. The HARLEQUIN DUCK then continued to perform like a dream as it dived for food beneath the surface of this fast-flowing river just yards away. The energy it must use whilst swimming against the force of the water must be huge but the morsels of food it was finding were obviously well worth the effort. 

Nadia looks on in amazement!
Photo by Adam Archer

After a thirty minute feeding frenzy the bird had obviously eaten enough for breakfast and started to meander downstream a short distance. It then began to preen in order to ensure its plumage was in tip-top condition for the next strenuous search for food. At this stage the bird just loafed around a short distance away before resting up on the riverbank, completely oblivious to Nadia and I standing there with huge smiles of satisfaction beaming across our faces. We soaked up the views for a short while before taking the decision to let it rest undisturbed.

Other birds along the river included a Dipper feeding nearby, a couple of Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher flying downstream. In the park itself there were a couple of pairs of Oystercatcher, a single Stock Dove, the odd singing Blackcap and a Treecreeper was also spotted.   

HARLEQUIN DUCK (first-winter male)
River Don, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.
Photo by Adam Archer

HARLEQUIN DUCK (first-winter male)
River Don, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.
Photo by Adam Archer

After a celebratory breakfast we then continued north to the village of Newburgh for our next main target of the day. Despite the glorious sunshine there was a strong north-westerly breeze to contend whilst I scanned the Ythan Estuary from the end of Inch Road. There were plenty of Common Eider feeding as the water drained from the estuary on the ebbing tide, as well as the odd group of Red-breasted Merganser. Shorebirds included a couple of Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit along with larger numbers of Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew. In addition there was a large gathering of Arctic Tern towards the inlet with smaller quantities of Common Tern amongst them.

I was just about to throw in the towel and head over to an alternative viewpoint when I finally spotted the species we were both hoping for, a stunning, summer-plumaged drake KING EIDER. This species of the Arctic coastline of Europe, Asia and North America has been making regular appearances in this particular area of Aberdeenshire since 1967. I have called in to see this very same bird before during previous trips to Scotland but never had I enjoyed such fantastic views. Usually it just seems to sit there asleep on a distant sandbank but on this occasion it showed just fifty yards away feeding well on small crustaceans.

KING EIDER (summer-plumaged adult male)
Ythan Estuary, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.
Photo by Adam Archer

Whilst soaking up the rare sea duck from further north, a trio of Long-tailed Duck flew in to feed at the waters edge. Upon closer inspection the group consisted of two, full summer plumaged males, complete with their flamboyant tail plumes and a single female. To be quite honest I could have stood there watching the constantly changing scene for the rest of the day but with the winds getting stronger we decided to continue our journey further north once more.

  

A view looking north from Portsoy harbour.
Photo by Adam Archer

After a short journey towards the northern coast of Aberdeenshire we arrived in the former fishing village of Portsoy around lunchtime. After a quick nap on the quayside we braved the blustery conditions to scan for our final rarity of the day. This location has been a regular spot for WHITE-BILLED DIVERS over the past few years and only last month, numbers reached double figures. It is usually best to view the birds from one of the boat trips that are organised occasionally but there was no way any small boat was leaving the harbour today. Despite a few hours meticulously scanning the rolling swell I failed in my quest to find a single bird. The only divers I saw was an extremely distant Great Northern Diver and the odd Red-throated Diver flying past. 

Common Eider (summer-plumaged adult male)
Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.
Photo by Adam Archer

Seabirds offshore included many Gannet and Fulmar, Shag and Cormorant. There were also small numbers of Common Eider, Guillemot, Razorbill and three Sandwich Terns flew west. There were also a couple of pairs of Rock Pipit singing their hearts out and showing well around the harbour. The only wader species noted was a mobile flock of Turnstone. With the conditions refusing to settle down and with Nadia threatening to spend a fortune in a local pottery shop it was time to make a move.

Sea Thrift along the harbour walls.
Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.
Photo by Adam Archer

Around tea time we eventually arrived at our cosy bed & breakfast in Grantown-on-Spey. Despite us both being pretty exhausted, we decided to take advantage of the long, spring days and after guzzling a quick brew, we headed out into the nearby Anagach Woods. It is always a privilege to take a relaxing stroll through such pristine ancient woodland with its incredible sights, sounds and smells. Sometimes actually pinning down a few birds to see comes second to just absorbing the atmosphere of such wonderful surroundings. 

After a bite to eat in Grantown, the day ended with our final species of the day, three fantastic Woodcock spotted displaying from our bedroom window as we prepared for a well deserved night of slumber. It was to be another early start for us the following day.