Andy Carroll
@andycarroll1973.bsky.social
Northeast Scotland birder mainly Rattray, Strathbeg and Cairnbulg
#RSPB Strathbeg is a good place for spoonbill. I remember my first in Norfolk many years ago (too many to remember the year!). It spent most of the time asleep (a bit like me). They are superb birds and brighten any spring day when Rhys decide to wake up #BirdingScotland #Birds
January 27, 2026 at 7:40 AM
#RSPB Strathbeg is a good place for spoonbill. I remember my first in Norfolk many years ago (too many to remember the year!). It spent most of the time asleep (a bit like me). They are superb birds and brighten any spring day when Rhys decide to wake up #BirdingScotland #Birds
On the 11th June 2023 a few days after returning from watching them on Shetland, I found this red necked phalarope at #RSPB Strathbeg. It’s a terrible video grab photo (as you can see) but this bird gave me a real buzz and I wondered if it would be on Shetland the next day. #BirdingScotland
January 12, 2026 at 8:31 AM
On the 11th June 2023 a few days after returning from watching them on Shetland, I found this red necked phalarope at #RSPB Strathbeg. It’s a terrible video grab photo (as you can see) but this bird gave me a real buzz and I wondered if it would be on Shetland the next day. #BirdingScotland
We moved to Aberdeenshire in June 2021. This greater yellowlegs at #RSPB Strathbeg on 28th September 2021 was the first bird I found after moving up. Thanks to Tim Marshall for the photo. I’ve been told there’s not been one in the UK since. #UKRareBirds #BirdingScotland
January 1, 2026 at 6:02 PM
We moved to Aberdeenshire in June 2021. This greater yellowlegs at #RSPB Strathbeg on 28th September 2021 was the first bird I found after moving up. Thanks to Tim Marshall for the photo. I’ve been told there’s not been one in the UK since. #UKRareBirds #BirdingScotland
One of the things I love to do is get to #RSPB Strathbeg early. There’s a few good places to look from and it’s a magical place as the sun comes up. I’ve been lucky enough to find a few pectoral sandpipers. This is Andy Lawsons photo of the bird on 13th May 2022. #BirdingScotland #Birdwatching
December 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
One of the things I love to do is get to #RSPB Strathbeg early. There’s a few good places to look from and it’s a magical place as the sun comes up. I’ve been lucky enough to find a few pectoral sandpipers. This is Andy Lawsons photo of the bird on 13th May 2022. #BirdingScotland #Birdwatching
#RSPB Strathbeg is fantastic for geese. It’s a fantastic spectacle as upwards of 10,000 geese roost on the loch. It’s always great to look for and find more unusual species like Snow and Greenland Whitefront #Wildfowl #BirdingScotland #Birdwatching #Geese
December 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
#RSPB Strathbeg is fantastic for geese. It’s a fantastic spectacle as upwards of 10,000 geese roost on the loch. It’s always great to look for and find more unusual species like Snow and Greenland Whitefront #Wildfowl #BirdingScotland #Birdwatching #Geese
On 30th April 2022 I found a red rumped swallow at #RSPB strathbeg. It vanished for a time but then 2 appeared. The photo is by Mike Chandler. Someone asked me if I was sure if was a RRS - pretty sure 😉. The only one I’ve ever found. Spring at its best!
#BirdingScotland #RareBirds #birdwatching
#BirdingScotland #RareBirds #birdwatching
December 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
On 30th April 2022 I found a red rumped swallow at #RSPB strathbeg. It vanished for a time but then 2 appeared. The photo is by Mike Chandler. Someone asked me if I was sure if was a RRS - pretty sure 😉. The only one I’ve ever found. Spring at its best!
#BirdingScotland #RareBirds #birdwatching
#BirdingScotland #RareBirds #birdwatching
#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
December 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
#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
December 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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
#BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
December 4, 2025 at 8:37 AM
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
#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
November 30, 2025 at 11:35 AM
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
November 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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
November 24, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
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
November 15, 2025 at 1:03 PM
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!
November 12, 2025 at 11:33 PM
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!
November 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
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.
November 6, 2025 at 10:54 AM
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
November 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
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
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
November 2, 2025 at 7:12 PM
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
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!
November 1, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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!
Reposted by Andy Carroll
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 major prize was hiding among a fall of common migrants at Rattray Head for Andy Carroll, who discovered a fascinating nightingale from the east:
Rarity finders: Eastern Nightingale in Aberdeenshire
A major prize was hiding amid a fall of common migrants at Rattray Head for Andy Carroll, who discovered an unusual nightingale from the east.
bit.ly
October 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
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 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.
October 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A couple of recent finds at Rattray. The nightingale and Greenish Warbler.