The east coast of Grampian is very underestimated when it comes to migrants- many rarities are found, despite the relatively low population of birders. Also, there are several good feeding / resting stations for commoner passage birds, and together with a wide range of habitat types this makes for a very diverse list of species.
The sites on this list are given from north to south. Map references are given; these are from the British Ordnance Survey "Landranger" maps, which can be bought in any good bookshop in the UK.
Fraserburgh harbour, (NK 000 676, Map 30)
The sewage outfall is excellent for gulls,
especially in January and early spring. Notable gulls seen there in the
last few years have been Ross's Gulls, Sabine's Gulls; there are usually
Glaucous and Iceland Gulls there in mid-winter.
Loch of Strathbeg, (Starnafin Visitors' Centre, NK 057 581, Map 30)
This RSPB reserve is always worth a look, no matter
what the time of year. As well as the huge numbers of Pinfooted
Geese, there are smaller numbers of other geese wintering, especially Barnacle
Geese, some Greenland Whitefronted Geese, Greylags. In summer
there is a good chance of seeing Marsh Harrier, Wood Sandpiper, Stints,
Barn Owl.
Rattray Head, (NK 105 580, Map 30)
This is a promontary which is the first port of call for
rare migrants, although there is very little cover to keep birds
there. Guaranteed annually are Richard's Pipit, Red-breasted
Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Bluethroat, and lots more.
Rattray vies with Girdleness as the best rarity spot (see below).
There are buses from Aberdeen to Fraserburgh which go past the turn-off to
Rattray; but there is a three mile walk from there down to the sea.
Annachie Lagoon, (NK 107 534, Map 30)
This sometimes tidal lagoon often plays host to the odd Little Gull, or
unusual waders- two Baird's Sandpipers have been recorded here,
White-rumped Sandpipers and White-winged Black Tern, also Snowy Owl in nearby fields.
Cruden Bay woods, (NK 095 362, Map 30)
These woods leading down to the sea are difficult to check, owing to birds hiding
behind the leaves! Don't let this put you off, however, as
this is the Pallas' Warbler capital of Grampian. Other birds
seen here are Greenish Warbler, Hobby, Richard's Pipit, Arctic
Redpoll, etc.
Whinnyfold, (NK 080 331, Map 30)
During the summer the cliffs of Whinnyfold play host to large colonies of seabirds;
head south from the village along the cliff path. There are good numbers of Kittiwake
and Guillemot, and smaller numbers of Razorbill, Puffin, Fulmar, Herring Gull, Great
Black-backed Gull and Shag nesting here.
South of the village a mile or so along the road is a gorge cutting down to the sea,
covered in Gorse bushes. This is a good place to look for Long-eared Owls in autumn
after easterly winds; also any small passerines which may have arrived, like Black
Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Lesser Whitethroats or Shrikes.
Meikle (NK 033 305, Map 30) & Cotehill Lochs (NK 026 294, Map 38)
Near the village Collieston are small lochs which often
attract rarities, like Black Tern. Marsh Sandpiper has occured at Cotehill.
Meikle Loch hosts large numbers of Pink-footed Geese and several species of
duck in winter, while Cotehill is popular with any Black-tailed Godwits or
Ruff that may be around in late summer. The area's main swallow / martin
roost is in the reedbeds around Meikle Loch in late summer.
Collieston Churchyard, (NK 040 289, Map 38)
This little village attracts many
migrants when they first arrive, and the churchyard bushes are always
worth a check. Wryneck, Icterine Warbler and other semi-rarities are
regular, and sometimes the bushes hold something a bit rarer like Greenish
Warbler. The region's second Booted Warbler was found nearby.
The Ythan Estuary, (NK 003 248 and NK 003 270, Map 38)
This is famous for being the most studied estuary in the world, and is small
as estuaries go but has huge numbers of birds, especially during autumn. All the regular species
can be seen here, as well as Merlin and Peregrine in winter, sometimes Hen Harrier, Short-eared
Owl and more common raptors. The National Nature Reserve adjacent holds the largest mainland
breeding colony of Common Eiders, and is well known as being the regular haunt of King Eiders through the summer (one drake regularly turns up, but up to 5 have been recorded). The best place to see the King Eider is from the end of Inches Road, off the main street in Newburgh, and at low tide if there are Eiders there. If the birds are roosting on the far bank however the King Eider can be very difficult to pick out.
Best viewing points for other birds include the road leading to the golf course down the side of the Ythan Hotel; park in the car park at the end and take the boardwalk up over the dunes. Also, at the other end of Newburgh on the east side of the estuary there is another car park and a path leading to the sea which continues north along the coast all the way to Collieston. The area is out of bounds in summer due to nesting terns.
Ospreys regularly pass through in late summer / autumn, and
many rarities turn up (recent long-stayers have included Little Egret, Lesser White-fronted
Goose, Avocets, Greater Flamingo, American Golden Plover, American Wigeon).
There are buses from Aberdeen to Newburgh roughly once per hour, which stop on the south side of the estuary at the Ythan Hotel.
Blackdog (NJ 965 140, Map 38)
Just north of Aberdeen is a fairly straight stretch of coast known loosely as "Blackdog", which
is well known as a moulting site for Common and Velvet Scoter during late summer and autumn.
Often one or more Surf Scoter can also be seen here, and among the Eiders there is a good
chance of picking up King Eider. In winter, Red-throated Divers, Scaup and Long-tailed Ducks are
usually around. To get there from the City, pass the large B&Q warehouse on the outskirts
of Aberdeen, and approx 1 1/2 miles further on there is a turn-off to the right beside
some houses, which will take you to within 100m of the beach (signposted Blackdog).
Once again, there are buses from Aberdeen to Newburgh / Peterhead / Fraserburgh which pass
the turn-off, approx. every hour or so. Choose a good vantage point on the sand dunes
(telescope required).
Donmouth Local Nature Reserve (NJ 950 095, Map 38)
In the heart of Aberdeen, this estuary is a little gem.
The area and the neighbouring playing fields are good places to catch up with
Little Ringed Plover (a Scottish rarity) in the summer and Little Stint and other passage waders in
late summer. There are a good number of resident estuary birds, including several
Goosander, while the close-by Seaton Park woods are a good place to pick up Long-tailed
Tit, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk.
Aberdeen Harbour and Girdleness (NJ 972 052, Map 38)
Aberdeen Harbour, and to the south of it the lighthouse and the area known as
Girdleness (within walking distance) are well-known hotspots for passage migrants
in spring and autumn. The harbour itself is often a good place to look for sea ducks
and divers, especially after easterly storms. The sea just outside the harbour often has Goldeneye,
Wigeon, Eider, Long-tailed Duck and Red-throated Diver, and others if you are lucky.
The "Battery" (an old war-time building, now ruined) just at the seaward side of the
golf-course is a good place to look for sheltering passage birds; many rarities have
been found here.
From the city centre, there are buses to Torry. Get off just after crossing the River
Dee, and take the first street on the left down to the harbour. Check out some of
the "fish sheds" as you go, as they often attract gulls.
Fowlsheugh RSPB Reserve (NO 880 796, Map 45)
This is one of the most exciting and largest seabird colony on mainland Britain, with
something in the order of 160,000 birds. These comprise large numbers of Kittiwake and
Guillemot, with smaller numbers of Fulmar, Puffin, Razorbill, Shag, Herring Gull and the odd Great Black-backed
Gull. The best time to visit is between late April, when the birds return, to the end
of July, when the chicks start to leave. Other times of year are not productive.
Getting there involves going to Crawton, a small village just south of Stonehaven, a few
miles south of Aberdeen. Taking the coast road south from Stonehaven, Crawton is
signposted to a B road off to left. From the village (which has a small car park) walk
north along the cliffs for about 1/2km to reach the start of the reserve. alternatively,
sometimes a boat leaves from Stonehaven harbour for a short tour around the bottom of the
seabird cliffs (well worth doing to see the birds close-up, and swimming underwater).
St. Cyrus NNR (NO 743 635, Map 45)
This is a National Nature Reserve, comprising a cliff, some dunes and a bit of beach. The
reserve is botanically a bit special, but also bird-wise has a large colony of breeding
terns including Little Tern, and also colonies of Eider and Fulmar. As with many of the
coastal sites of Grampian, this is another good place to look for migrants during easterly
winds in spring and autumn; winter highlights include a mixed flock of sea ducks in the bay.