First time running the garden trap for a few days. Scalloped Oak was new-for-garden; long overdue and strange to be absent up to now. Double Lobed (scarce locally) was nice to see too among a few new-for-year moffs. Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth

We struggle at Portsoy for small waders, so 12 Dunlin today was easily a record count. One Quail singing just east of town today, and 5 yesterday towards Whitehills, but barley harvesting has begun, so presumably that'll move some of them on. #birdingscotland #PWC2026

Fewer moths in the garden trap this morning but a highlight was a new-for-garden Dark Spinach - there's been very few NE Scotland records in recent years. Also NFG was 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢. Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth

Great Brocade - one of the few migrants where we don't look at southern hauls with envy. This one (New For Garden) is clearly paler than typical Scottish population, which gets to within a few tens of miles from us. Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Quail is detected quite a bit on remote acoustic recorders but this week's birds are first I've heard in real life in quite some time. Birds singing in five (so far) different barley fields around Portsoy. #PWC2026 #birdingscotland

Another long-overdue Portsoy ✔️. This was in a little-visited section of the patch, so could easily be a breeder here rather than early dispersal. #PWC2026 #birdingscotland

World Cup mothing last night - all breaks used to full effect to check the garden trap, producing several species that were gone by morning. Included Rivulet (new for garden), Galium Carpet (3rd here - very scarce in Scotland) and Sandy Carpet (2nd here). Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth

A Quail singing away late Wednesday night in south Aberdeenshire. The @openacousticdevices.info Audiomoth here records from dusk to dawn and detects a few seconds of Quail song most years, but seems to be a bit more activity in this current "Quail year". #NocMig #birdingscotland #bioacoustics

A Bordered Brown Lacewing today at St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire - in exact same spot as in 2020, but none elsewhere on the site in a couple hour search. #insectconservation @naturescot.bsky.social #speciesontheedge

𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘯𝘢𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 in the garden trap this morning - new species for North East Scotland (VCs 91-94). There's bulrushes c.150 m away, so could be established there. Check out those funky palps! Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth

Dune Chafer at Blackdog - not sure I've seen one before but it seemed right at home in the, err, dunes. #beetle

Still fins galore on Portsoy patch this weekend (2+ Minkes and a gang of Bottlenose Dolphins). Quiet birdwise, but a Bonxie showed nicely as it snacked on a young gull. And I liked this Corn Bunting pic - makes a change from sitting on a wire. #PWC2026 #BirdingScotland #seamammal #cetacean

No summer is complete without checking the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary colony at Red Moss of Netherley - late in their flight period now, but still active a couple days ago. Dark Green Fritillaries at Blackdog, on the other hand, were super fresh. #butterfly @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Hummingbird Hawkmoth again whizzing in and out of the garden today. Red Valerian grows semi-wild in the gardens around here, and is a constant draw for them. Portsoy (VC94 - Banffshire) #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Still lots of fins in quick look this evening at Portsoy - gang of Bottlenose Dolphins moved east and a Minke did a close pass as it circled the area. #seamammal #cetacean

Several other New-for-Garden moths in recent days - July Belle, Currant Pug, Udea olivalis and the ever delightful Buff-tip. Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth

Migrant moths are a rare treat in northern Scotland. There may be plagues of Small Mottled Willows down south, but this was New for Garden this morning and the third record for the VC. Portsoy (VC94, Banffshire) #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

The Red Kite (Blackdog ✔️ last week) again present today and in much better viewing conditions (i.e. no haar for it to vanish into). #birdingscotland

Wonder insect geekery day at @hutton.ac.uk. Organised for #InsectWeek by @srucnews.bsky.social's Charlotte Wood with talks by Charlotte and @laurasharp.bsky.social, while I went on about ladybirds. Nick Baker gave fascinating and inspiring account of ant-rearing exploits. @royentsoc.bsky.social

A bonus hummer on a work visit to Edinburgh today, where some Valerian was coming through between railings onto the side of a pavement. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

Visits to the old patch, Blackdog, are infrequent so #patchticks there are a rare treat. On tonight's visit, haar twarted scoter scanning but a Red Kite that appeared out of the fog and quickly vanished back into it became a (long overdue) addition. #Scottishbirding

Still 2 or 3 Minke Whales in a quick look off Portsoy this evening. (Video from the Minke soup on Sunday.) #seamammal #cetacean

Synchronised break-out from the garden pond - three fresh Southern Hawker exuviae, two with the dragonflies still hanging on for a few hours before departing later in the day. #dragonfly @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Bloomin' Minke Whales everywhere at Portsoy today, trying their best to distract me (at least 3, maybe more, including some very close passes). But I stuck to the task at hand and prevailed with patch ✔️ Tufted Duck (2m, 1f) distantly on the sea. #PWC2026 #scottishbirding @patchbirding.bsky.social

Minke Whale surfaced a few times as it moved east this afternoon off Portsoy. First one I've seen here. #seamammal #cetacean

Half-time garden check (during Brazil-Morocco) produced 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 on the moth trap vanes. New species for the vice county, though present in most other nearby VCs, so not unexpected. Portsoy (VC94 - Banffshire) #teammoth

Brown Rustic had inexplicably avoided the garden up to now, so this male in the trap overnight was NFG. First Large Yellow Underwings of the year too, so all set now for increasing trap chaos! Portsoy (VC94 - Banffshire) #teammoth

May Highflier was the latest New-for-Garden moth this morning. As with most species here, also new for hectad. Also Hummingbird Hawkmoth whizzing about again this morning. Portsoy (VC94 - Banffshire) #teammoth

Some argy-bargy between a Goshawk and a Buzzard over an Aberdeenshire woodland this morning. Went one for several minutes. Later in the day, a #patchtick Quail, flushed at Portsoy - my first time actually seeing one in many years! #patchbirding #birdingscotland

Distracted from looking at birds and moffs for a while this evening at Portsoy. #seamammal #orca