Hello Ken

I hope my email is not a bother to you. I have really enjoyed your site but just wondered if you had any thoughts on bird watching in the areas from Huntly to Turriff and Turriff to Fyvie and New Deer areas? My reason for asking is both my wife and I are very interested in birds and are currently looking for a property in these areas. What we would like is to choose an area that my have very good wild bird life in the garden. We are looking for somewhere with around 2 acres but to date have not found much written with regards the bird life in these areas.

I would be very interested in any information / thoughts you may have.

Kindest regards
David

The clincher was when it flew towards the visitor centre, it showed the large amounts of white on the outer tail that you also thought you had glimpsed earlier .
Interestingly, the Spoonbills keep commuting regularly between the reserve and the Ythan (and were joined by a third bird for a couple of days up here).
Glad you enjoyed the visit, we try to have something to please everyone (even having to strim some areas to stop the school kids getting wet feet!). Sorry we couldn't make it a Baird's - maybe this autumn...

Hi Ken,

Been continuing to follow your diary closely and I must say I'm enjoying it immensely; you're writing is fantastic and you are having some great days. I'm planning to meet up with gus next month and going to look for the Eagles, and I was just wondering, how long did it take for you to see them?

Also I'm hoping to visit Dinnet Oakwoodlands in search of Wood Warbler next month too. The thing is I'm not exactly sure where to go for them. I know where Dinnet is but I'm not sure exactly where to go to find the oakwoodlands. Is it possible you can give me directions to this area? I would also quite like to see breeding Pied Fly, and might maybe visit Glen Clunie as it sounds like you had a fantastic place, unless anywhere closer has breeding pied fly. Is Glen Clunie out near Braemar? I'm heading down to Norfolk on Thursday, where I'm hoping to see good birds. I very much enjoyed your holiday report on your most recent trip there; you saw some fantastic birds and you described you're experiences beautifully.

Thanks very much and all the best,

Joseph

Hi Ken, I know it's short notice but I have a day off on monday and wondered if you would be interested in a day birdwatching in your area, Ythan etc ?
also an outing this sunday up Glen Esk if you are interested.
regards, gus.

Hi Ken, sorry for disappearing today up Glen doll, never been that far up so Dave and I decided to see what was at the top !Reached a bridge right up at the top of the wood and found Blackcock.Both eagles came out and perched on a crag for us on the way back. Hope to see you soon, best wishes, gus.

Hi Ken,
You have a great looking website with some special shots indeed.

Would you like to exchange links?

See you in the hills some time soon I hope.

Marcus
www.ebirder.net

Hi There, we have just returned from our break in NE Scotland and the information within the site proved to be fantastic. We did a coast run on the Sunday when we had the floods but what a day! We must have had God on our side as we worked up the coast following your map and excellent directions it seemed every time we stopped there was a break in the weather. We were rewarded at Glen Tanar with increadible views of a Dipper but had no view of any Eagles, the warden directed us to the next valley which was Glen Muick, through the valley we nearly collided with 6 black grouse and when at the car park at the bottom, within 5 minutes we nwere watching a pair of Golden Eagles being mobbed by a pair of resident Ravens.
We had such a memorable weekend which couldnt have happened without your help.
Thanks again, John, Moose, Badger, Irvin & Magnus.

Hi Ken,
just a note to say well done on creating a well informed and easy to navigate site. I came across it via BirdForum as myself and some pals are doing a 3day trip to Aberdeen at the end of this week.
May I also ask, how do you rate Birdline Scotland??

Thanks again
John

Hi Ken,firstly "Happy Birthday" and secondly,I hope you enjoyed your trip to Norfolk.The reason for this email is,although there are plenty of things happening on the Buchan Coast,a report on the Wildlife Web states a Crested Tit was at Glentanar.It seems likely this bird may hang around,so I thought I would bring this to your attention,especially as you live within reasonable distance and secondly,it would be a great tick as a North East/Grampian bird.

With Regards

Ian

Just restarted a bit of birdwatching, so feeling my way!! Next time you're out in the Ellon direction, go onto the wee back road over the Hill of Fechil ( coming into Ellon from the Aberdeen side, turn left at the traffic lights and immediately left again. Follow and about a mile along, there is a farm on the left called Crosstones). I first spotted what looked like a very pale buzzard back in may 09, when I saw it two or three times. Googled it and came up with leucistic buzzard. Saw it again 5 or 6 weeks ago, and then this morning saw it atop a telegraph pole right by the farm about 30 feet away! Pulled in for about 5 mins with binoculars and watched being mildly harassed by a crow. More convinced than ever that it is what I think it is; a leucistic buzzard.

After many ( too many) years, I have decided that the time has come to re-acquaint myself with a pastime that I used to pursue a lot in my ( long-lost!) youth. That pastime was bird-watching. Not the twitchy type of dashing here, there and everywhere trying to tick off rarely seen bird species on a list, but the more leisurely type where one has the opporchancity of drinking in the atmosphere of the countryside and seeing what lives therein.'Twas my intent to visit Loch of Strathbeg this weekend past, but other things got in the way!
Looking on that phenomenon that is Google, Trying to get a wee bit of avian information about this north-east corner of Scotland that I have inhabited since '69 when I came here to go to study ( sorry, "read"!) zoology at Aberdeen Uni. I found your website. I haven't seriously studied it yet, ( not even sure who you are; Ken someone!), but it looks wonderful. I've familiarised myself once more, thanks to your map, with the geography of the Ythan area ( are there still G.C. Grebes breeding on Sand Loch?), and I've bought a new pair of binoculars ( hate the abbreviation to " bins " as much as the Xmas one!) and all I need now is to get "oot'n'aboot"
Tattie holidays coming up, so I might just get there!!
Thanks, however, for the time, effort and skill in the production of such an inspirational wee website, and I shall use it often in my attempts to enjoy the beauty of birds and the places they inhabit!

Hi Joseph
I really do appreciate it when people take the trouble to say if they appreciate the site. I'm glad you found it helpful and interesting - that's why I started it.

Just had a good look at the Nature of North East Scotland, and overall I think it is a really lovely website to have made. Some great pictures, a very well written diary, and comprehensive information on where to watch birds in North East Scotland. I'll keep visiting when there are updates on the site. Thanks very much for creating it!

Joseph Nichols (from Birdforum)

Hi Fiona

Thanks for your query about photos of Tomintoul. I tried emailing you but it bounced. I won't be able to get across to Tomintoul this week to help you, but you are welcome to use any photos on the website, with credits as appropriate. Hope the mag goes well.

Ken

HiKen,

I've spotted your website as I was looking for pictures of Tomintoul for our tourist magazine called 'Here Today" ? have you seen it?
I wondered if you have any pix of Tomintoul (have the seen your one from the road)... if not, then can I use a couple from your website (your copyright of course) and/or could you take some of tomintoul for us?

there is some urgency as we are planning to go to press next week ? so an early response would be much appreciated!

hope to hear from you, Fiona

Hi Ken.

Like the new site,very much Indeed.Did you get my last message ? The young Peregrines on the Triple Kirks,have now lost their "downy stage" and are now streaked juveniles.Cant believe how much they have changed in a week.If you are coming Into town and would like to see them from the 14th floor of StNicholas House,please let me know ? Although they are some distance off,Im sure you could easily digiscope them.Hope all is well with the breeding birds of Ballogie.


With Regards

Ian

Great that you got the problem sorted out - font settings was it?

Now you will be able to get out and about. Cooler now so can venture forth during the day!

Clem

Hi Ken;
No problems with size of print. I've enjoyed what I have seen on your site and shall see more the first wet day.
I have a blackie's nest in the rose and honeysuckle outside my kitchen window; only a yard from the feeding tray.
Happy birding,
Joanna

Just wanted to let you know that there are ospreys at Balgavies Loch, Angus at the moment. They seem to be regular visitors now. (I've taken a few shots of them catching their fish and eating it- a marvellous site.) I've been informed that there are also ospreys at nearby Kinnordy Loch near Kirriemuir.
I've enjoyed viewing your photos, they're really good.
Regards,
Joan Mitchell.

Hi Ken, hope your fine.Really enjoy reading your Diary, hopefully I'll get up to do some birdwatching in your neck of the woods soon.Going up GlenEsk on sunday, hopefully get to see a Redstart ! gus.