The cat here did eventually stroll off, fairly casually, with no Blackcaps harmed. It may just have been taking a detached interest in the scene, as was I to be fair.

A large patch of ivy is growing around a fence. A female Blackcap is in the bottom left, with its brown rather than black cap. At the top, a fluffy stripy cat is sitting, looking down at the bird.

Migrant peril in Aberdeen. A female Blackcap, one of five feeding in a small patch of Ivy, attracts the attention of a local moggy. Ivy berries are an important source of food for birds when the spring weather is cool, something the cat has maybe figured out too.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #UKWildlife

I met Jean Lave once. She was great.

A White-tailed Eagle is flying against a blue and white sky in the centre of the image. Flying gulls are also visible, sometimes close to the eagle.

A White-tailed Eagle is flying against a blue and white sky in the centre of the image. Flying gulls are also visible, sometimes close to the eagle.

A White-tailed Eagle is flying against a blue and white sky in the centre of the image. Flying gulls are also visible, sometimes close to the eagle.

A White-tailed Eagle is flying against a blue and white sky in the centre of the image. Flying gulls are also visible, sometimes close to the eagle.

A mix of excitement and relief when I got onto the White-tailed Eagle that was going south over Girdle Ness today. I was able to watch it for five minutes as it drifted over Tullos Hill, pursued by gulls. Thanks to @fatpaulscholes.bsky.social for the tip off.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #UKWildlife

A Black-tailed Godwit is standing on a concrete breakwater in front of a large group of black and white Oystercatchers. A Herring Gull is scratching itself to the rear.

This Black-tailed Godwit, which was trying to blend in with the Oystercatchers on the south breakwater at Girdle Ness this morning, is my first ever spring record of the species here.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

A Purple Sandpiper is walking along a rocky, seaweed covered shore.

A Redshank is wading along a rocky, seaweed covered shore.

A Turnstone is walking along a rocky, seaweed covered shore.

A Glaucous Gull is standing on a concrete pier with blue sea behind it.

Waders like Purple Sandpiper, Redshank and Turnstone are busy feeding at Girdle Ness before heading north for breeding areas. Maybe the Glaucous Gull, which continues to appear occasionally, will follow them. It seems happy loafing around for the time being.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding

Names matter: the word ‘citizen’ carries legal, political, and cultural meanings that are not neutral, say @britishecologicalsociety.org. Instead, consider using the term ‘community science’.

Saw a big flock of Sand Martins gathering to roost around here the other evening. They get more like Starlings in their roost flights.

A Eurasian Jay is standing on the ground tilting its head upwards. The ground is a mix of brown earth and short green plants.

A Eurasian Jay is standing on the ground, facing right to left The ground is a mix of brown earth, dead leaves and short green plants.

Jay is a bird that varies enormously throughout its extensive Eurasian range. The black-capped subspecies anatoliae found in much of Türkiye is particularly striking. These were in orchards near Çukurbag a few days ago.
#Birds

An Iraq Babbler perched on a broken reed stem.

A Menetries Warbler is perched among a tangle of twigs and branches.

A Dead Sea Sparrow is perched with its back to us on a thin branch.

A few of the special birds found around Birecik in southeast Türkiye: the Mesopotamian endemic Iraq Babbler, the rubescens subspecies of Menetries Warbler, and a Dead Sea Sparrow, which was attending its huge stick nest in the willows.
#Birds

A male Collared Flycatcher is perched on a sandy coloured rock.

A male Collared Flycatcher is perched on a rusty chicken wire fence, with some small coniferous trees in the background.

Woodland birds migrating through the dry southeast of Türkiye have to make do with novel perches in the absence of substantial trees, like these male Collared Flycatchers in Kızılkuyu near Şanlıurfa.
#Birds

A Red-wattled Lapwing is standing in a field of brown earth and yellow, rape-like plants.

A Red-wattled Lapwing is standing in a field of brown earth and yellow, rape-like plants.

Red-wattled Lapwing is a common bird in south Asia but is much harder to see in the Western Palearctic. I had great views of a pair at Kızılkuyu near Şanlıurfa last week.
#Birds

The harbour mouth at Aberdeen with a concrete pier and dark grey sea. A low double rainbow is over the pier with grey clouds above it. Broom bushes are in the foreground.

Aberdeen harbour mouth below a blue sky, with a large anvil shaped cloud.

A day of low double rainbows and anvil-headed clouds at Girdle Ness. My first Willow Warblers and Blackcaps appeared but were reluctant singers in the strong wind. Wheatears and White Wagtails are now passing through, on their way further north.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding

An Asian Crimson-winged Finch is eating seeds in front of a woody bush while standing on snow.

A Golden Eagle is flying left to right against a brown steppe-like backdrop.

A Shore Lark is running over snow.

Two White-winged Snowfinches are perched among rocks and grass, with snow in the background.

Some more birds from Aladağlar. Asian Crimson-winged Finch was particularly pleasing, with Golden Eagle, Shore Lark and White-winged Snowfinch easily encountered.
#Birds

A female Finsch's Wheatear is perched on top of a tall plant with a snowy backdrop.

A male Finsch's Wheatear song-flighting against a blue sky.

A male Finsch's Wheatear is perched on top of a prickly shrub against a blue-grey sky.

Finsch's Wheatear was the most numerous species around the snow line in Aladağlar. They seemed to be gathering to wait for the snow to recede up the mountain, with some song-flighting and pairing up ready for the spring. #Birds

A male Black Redstart is standing on a grey rock. The red on the belly extends quite far and produces a ragged border with the black breast.

A male Black Redstart of the Turkish subspecies ochruros at Demirkazik Gorge earlier this week. The red extends much further onto the belly than in western European birds.
#Birds

Two Caspian Snowcocks are standing on grey rocks amidst white snow. The left hand bird is calling.

Two Caspian Snowcocks in a snowfield, with one on the left just coming up from a lumpy river of snow remaining from an avalanche.

Two Caspian Snowcocks are standing in a white field of snow.

Three Caspian Snowcocks are scattered across a white snow field.

Far away but you get the idea. I had a wonderful encounter with Caspian Snowcocks in Aladağlar National Park, Türkiye earlier this week. Enchanting to see them call and then, a couple of seconds later, hear their rising whistle tumble down the mountains to my ears.
#Birds

Fantastic stuff! They're always a bit of a shock, even in places where you're half expecting them.

A Bittern is flying left to right against a sandy background.

A Bittern is flying left to right against a sandy background.

A wonderful fly-by Bittern in Birecik this morning. I can never quite believe my eyes when I see a Bittern. Such an extraordinary looking creature.
#Birds

So this actually seems to be Hume's Warbler, which is also very notable in southern Türkiye. Thanks to @sheldonbirds.bsky.social for the assistance.

Yes, I think your right. And the dark centred greater coverts.

That's an interesting point. The call fits better than I realised. I thought it was perhaps too bright for anything like that but the wing pattern seems better.

ML654271934 - Green Warbler - Macaulay Library Macaulay Library ML654271934; © Andrew Whitehouse; Adana, Türkiye

Here's a phone recording of the call:
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/654271...

A Green Warbler is perched in a tangly tree, calling.

A Green Warbler is perched in a tangly tree.

A Green Warbler is perched in a tangly tree, about to move.

A Green Warbler is perched in a tangly tree, opening its wings.

I was startled to find this Green Warbler near Kuzucak, Adana today. It breeds in northern Türkiye but this seems to be only the second ever Ebird record in the south.
#Birds

An Eastern Rock Nuthatch is perched on a rock face, just below a large boulder.

In the foreground, an Eastern Rock Nuthatch is perched among some grey-brown rocks. In the background, a smaller Western Rock Nuthatch is perched on another rock, amongst some grass and flowers. The photo shows the different head pattern of the two species, with the Eastern showing a much broader black eye stripe than the Western.

Eastern Rock Nuthatches have been a conspicuous and noisy presence around Halfeti, Türkiye over recent days. They associated a surprising amount with their smaller Western counterparts, leading to the second potentially useful #BirdID photo.
#Birds

Now you're talking.

Green Sandpiper, maybe?

Incredible scenes. You do know this means we're expecting some proper rare finding from you now though!

Wait, there's a SCRAPE at Inchgarth!!!???

Open Letter to University of Aberdeen Court Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

University of Aberdeen colleagues have been circulating this open letter to our court members ahead of the 29 April meeting that will decide on controversial restructuring plans.

If anyone is keen to lend their support, please do have a read and add your name/ share if you agree.

c.org/YRZjVJ6q4s