A Great Day and Result

Set off at 5.15 and arrived at Andrews at 6.45 due to the dreaded average speed camera scenario on the A1. We continued on through Newcastle into Northumberland and picked up Alan Giloney. Talked birds through Edinburgh and onto Aberdeen. We followed the advice of the pager and headed east through Blackdog to the car park. The scene wasn't as I expected. Hardly any cars, dodgy track and stray animals.
After a brief discussion we decided to head back to Murcar Links Golf Course. The locals were VERY friendly and helpful. A situation that isn't always the case on Golf courses, a refreshing change. We joined a surprisingly small group of Birders scanning the sea. One chap informed us the bird had been seen well early morning but had then flown out to sea with no further sign (12.30).

The weather was good, backing up my judgement to leave it till Sunday (very poor Saturday apparently). The problem was yesterday's wind had churned up the sea and made it very choppy. We eventually moved down level with the main group of birds (c1000) and hunkered down for a possible long watch. More Scoters were arriving all the time...great!

A few more chaps arrived making the group around 40. Time passed...still no sightings. I was still very confident it was still there but it was difficult as the birds were tightly packed and there was quite a swell. A drake SURF SCOTER livened things up but even this distinctive bird could disappear in an instant (3 seen altogether). Still no sign of the "BIG ONE". Just after 3...BINGO!



Eventually everyone managed to get on the bird due to excellent directions by a few of the chaps. Not a stunner but a fine prize. Back home for 11. Not everybody's cup of tea...but I love it!

Great company and a good crack. Just needs to get accepted now! What's next?