Had a wonderful chilly sunny walk today (with coffee, cake and a toastie on the way).
I picked up 12 birds on the Merlin app from a good spot under some beech trees #5MinMerlin

I think all the birds were as happy as us to see the sunshine. Felt like the whole day was full of song, especially the skylarks soaring up from the fields we walked past.

Robin
Starling
Great tit
Chaffinch
Blue tit
Buzzard
Blackbird
Woodpigeon
Jackdaw
Crow
Bullfinch
Goldfinch

24/02/2026 - A #5MinMerlin at lunchtime on a quick bob to the shop. Usual place by the burn. The app picked up 11 birds in the 5 minutes from the same spot. Silent Mike the moorhen was as quiet as ever by the burn. One day it will say hello to me!

Robin
Chaffinch
Wren
Blackbird
Pink-footed Goose
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Song Thrush
Blue Tit
Woodpigeon
Carrion Crow

21/02/2026 - A #5MinMerlin on the way home this afternoon. Usual place by the burn. The app picked up 13 birds in the 5 minutes from the same spot. That's the most in 5 mins so far this year for me. So happy to pick up waxwings on the app.

Starling
Chaffinch
Wood pigeon
House Sparrow
Blue Tit
Jackdaw
Robin
Blackbird
Waxwing
Song Thrush
Redwing
Common Buzzard
Carrion Crow

#Merlin2026

A quick #5MinMerlin on the way to the shop at lunchtime. The app picked up 12 birds in the 5 minutes from the same spot. There was a moorhen on the burn which would have been a new bird for the year but it was so silent. I'm sure it knew I had the Merlin app running! A nice break away from work, lots of bird calls/songs and sunshine, just lovely.

Starling
Robin
Blue Tit
House Sparrow
Carrion Crow
Rook
Blackbird
Common Buzzard
Jackdaw
Woodpigeon
Greenfinch
Magpie

13/02/2026 - The sun has finally decided to wake up and show its face. It was so nice to stand by the kitchen window, eating my toast and just seeing sunlight everywhere.

I see Aberdeen's recent lack of sun made the news yesterday
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14mlrd460vo

I opened the window and had a go at a #5MinMerlin. The app picked up 9 birds in the 5 minutes.

Coal Tit
Oystercatcher
House Sparrow
Song Thrush
Rook
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Starling
Blue Tit

The morning air seemed full of calls and song.

16/01/2026 - WFH today, just typing away. I needed a break from the laptop and some fresh air and proper daylight. I got up and stood just outside my door and listened for bird song over the rumble of everyday life around me. I had a go at a #5MinMerlin. The app picked up 5 birds in the 5 minutes. Just the usual stuff but still very nice to hear. The starlings were particularly chatty this afternoon.

Starling
House Sparrow
Herring Gull
Redwing
Blackbird

I had a go at a #5MinMerlin on the walk to the shop today.

Find a nice spot, turn on Merlin bird app, stay in the same spot for 5 minutes. See how many birds you can hear. Doesn't really matter how many you get, it's just a nice way to spend a few minutes away from the busyness of life 😃

Merlin app picked up these 12 birds in 5 minutes for me which was very happy making.

Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Jackdaw
Rook
Magpie
Starling
Chaffinch
Siskin
Collard Dove
House Sparrow
Wren

#Birds