Just got back from a visit to Newburgh and the Ythan estuary, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. I've been looking at the nearby hotel for several weeks as well as noticing many photographs online from the estuary so, off we went on Sunday, back today. It's only a 1.5 hour drive for us so no real hassle at all and I must say, we will be going back.
The Newburgh Inn is a short walk from the beach so was perfect for us and the prices are pretty good, good food, nice staff, we'll probably stay there again too. But, the beach, the river, the nature reserve! Loved it all. Part of the reserve is currently roped off for Tern breeding but a loop walk was 3.8 miles including the most beautiful, deserted beach with Grey Seals popping up to investigate us all the way along to the haul out where there are a few hundred of them every day.
Forvie Nature Reserve, runs by NatureScot is just on the outskirts of Newburgh and we enjoyed our 3.8 mile walk there, looking forward to a few more.
I'm going to add photos as I get them edited so, in the order I took them
We arrived mid day on the Sunday and walked into town just to see what there was shops-wise - One general store, then off to the estuary and the beach.
It's a half mile walk to the beach, a little less to the estuary via the golf course and they're currently adding a decked walkway which will make it more accessible, we chose to go over the dunes first, a bit more of a hike but it was a beautiful day and there's loads to see, LOTS of butterflies around at the moment.
Down onto the sandy beach eventually for a wander and explore. A beautiful, soft sand beach, the river flowing by to the sea and wonderful sand dunes on the opposite bank, where the birds nest and the reserve is.
Area explored, we went back for dinner, a wee drink maybe and bed.
First thing in the morning, I'm up, off and out.
Black-headed gull foraging
A group of mixed aged Common Gulls
A small sample of the Eiders on the estuary
There are, of course, a LOT of gulls of many varieties, the sea is a few hundred yards away so it's good to see and hear them in their natural environment, not a McDonalds car park
Black-headed Gull passing by
A few Oystercatchers on the far bank
A family? of Sandwich Terns
I think I read that four species of Tern breed here.
A camouflage of Dunlin
One of the other reasons the estuary is well know, is the colony of Grey seals that use it to haul out and doze on.
A rare lone Grey seal
I've said rare because there are SO many on the river and its banks, it is rare to see only one
Remember I mentioned camouflage?
I stood a few yards from a group like this on Wednesday morning and didn't notice them!
And there's the sea ....... in the background
So, I finally made it from the estuary itself out to the mouth area where the seals hang out but, I'm going to save them for later.
I've added this last shot of a group of mixed gulls with what I think is a young Black-backed dozing amongst them. Anyone like to agree / disagree? I'm not that good at gulls.
There are a few more shots to edit yet!!!!! I'll add them and finish this off asap.
Hello again all, I've been working away at the multitude of photos taken on this visit and I've reached the end of the morning walk of the 29th.
We then headed up to Peterhead, which wasn't really worth it but, we stopped at the Bullers of Buchan on the way back, which was, I'll try to post those tomorrow.
For now, here's the rest of Monday 29th.
I mentioned the Grey Seal colony here but I've not really posted much of them yet, suffice it to say, there are a lot of them.
A gaggle of greys
That's about a tenth of them and the estuary and sea shore all around is full of them too, they're lying across just a short stretch of the river mouth.
Inquisitive Grey Seal
They're also very inquisitive and I got some beautiful shots of them staring at me and my camera
Just beyond the seals, the beach stretches off for about a mile and can be reached by walking through Forvie nature reserve.
Preening supervisor
A photographer from nearby, I think, posted a few shots of Whimbrel on the estuary the next day so I wasn't sure if I got a Whimbrel or Curlew in the next shot. Anyone know?
Lots of gulls around.
Herring gull passing (I think)
Low flyer
Sandwich Tern
I don't know if I mentioned before, the reserve is a Tern breeding ground for four species of tern so was closed off to some extent and there were lots of Terns around.
Young Sandwich Terns
View from the estuary mouth back towards town
Red Admiral on the path
I'd like to say we were very lucky with the weather, it was breezy but clear skies and sunshine the entire visit. OK, we'd checked and were lucky to get a room at short notice at the Newburgh Inn, which we will go back to again.
I'll work on the next day soon. Sorry if it's visit overload.
Lovely selection of pics, never too many of a place little known to most of us!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
As Wendy says, it's always good to get the lowdown on prospective future visits! A fabulous array of species, I always like a Tern... and sometimes I have a funny one! Thanks for sharing pics and info :o)
Me too