#RSPB Loch of Strathbeg now has breeding Great Egret. Until relatively recently a rare bird in Scotland they bred at the reserve for the first time in 2024 and again in 2025. Pretty much a guarantee on a day list now, they are actually pretty cool in summer dress. #Strathbeg #Birds #BirdingScotland

I live very close to #RSPB Loch of Strathbeg. I’ve seen and found some great birds there. Like Rattray it forms part of my local patch. This ariel picture shows how appealing it must be for birds on the move. Bird pics to follow over next few weeks #BirdingScotland #Birdwatching #Strathbeg

So last Rattray one for now. On 20th October this year I found a nightingale at Rattray. Around an 8th for Aberdeenshire and first since 2007. Then as my photos hit the various channels it was identified as an Eastern Nightingale. 2nd for Scotland and 4th for Britain. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

Probably the penultimate of the Rattray series. Goshawk are more widespread than a lot of people realise. I’ve seen a few at Rattray. This is a terrible picture of a fairly distant juvenile female in January this year. #BirdingScotland #Raptors #Birdwatching

I’ve been lucky enough to find 2 Greenish Warblers at Rattray. The first on 2nd September 2024 and then a few months back on the 9th September 2025. The photos are of the 2025 bird. It’s a nice reward for getting there early. Also code for getting there before anyone else! #BirdingScotland #birds

I love the drive along the track to the gardens at Rattray. In April it’s a good place for migrant Wheatear. This cracking male was one of ten seen on a cold but sunny April morning in 2023 #BirdingScotland #migration #birdwatching #Rattray

Rattray can be a good place for some of the more common migrants. Pied and spotted fly are both regulars. Male pied flys are superb to watch. These 2 were present in spring 2023 #Scottishbirds #birdwatching #Rattray

May 9th 2023 on a slight easterly I found this Dark Eyed Junco at Rattray. A first for mainland Aberdeenshire and around the 11th record for Scotland. This bird prompted me to buy a camera as it vanished for 45mins before anyone else saw it prior to reappearing and showing well. #BirdingScotland

Never tire of seeing yellow browed warbler. This one at Rattray from autumn 2024. Not seen one in 2025!

Seems fitting to post a Pallas’s Warbler I found at Rattray on 17th October 2024. There’s a Pallas’s this morning at Rattray. Note to self - try getting out of bed before 10am on a Saturday!

Next Rattray bird was a find tick for me. On 21st August 2023 I had been along the track and searched the garden without much success. Then this icterine warbler flew across the car and showed well for about 20 seconds. Managed this dreadful photo with my phone. Still the only one I’ve found.

Decided to run a wee series of birds of Rattray. It forms part of my local patch and has been pretty good to me over the last 4 years. Here’s a lesser whitethroat - not common up here but a regular spring and autumn migrant. This was spring 2023 which was a good year at Rattray

Amazing how times have changed. I remember twitching great white egret in Cheshire in the late nineties At RSPB Strathbeg last Thursday there were 4 great white egret and 2 little egret. This pic is from the summer showing 2 GWE and a Little Egret at the reserve

For various reasons we are staying in an apartment in Aberdeen. The Shetland ferry arrived this morning, viewed from the balcony. For some that will invoke lovely memories of birding in the northern isles and for others the worst sea crossing of their lives - or indeed maybe both!

Rarity finders: Eastern Nightingale in Aberdeenshire A major prize was hiding among a fall of common migrants at Rattray Head for Andy Carroll, who discovered a fascinating nightingale from the east:

A couple of recent finds at Rattray. The nightingale and Greenish Warbler.