A rare bird to Scotland has been spotted feeding among the swifts at an Aberdeenshire loch.
It is thought to be just the fifth time the black-winged pratincole has been spotted in Scotland, as it typically lives in the warmer areas of south-east Europe, western Russia and central Asia, and flies south to Africa for the winter.
But this particular little bird has veered off its usual migratory path, and was seen swooping over the Loch of Skene on Wednesday by twitcher Hugh Addlesse.
Mr Addlesse said: “It flew through my field of view and my instant reaction was that it was a skewer because of its fast flight and colouration, but as soon as I focused on it I knew it was a pratincole.
“I think it is the fifth time this species has ever been seen in Scotland, so it’s an extremely rare bird to be seen in the region, and probably will be one of the rarest this year, in fact I believe the last one spotted in Scotland was in 2012 in Lewis.
“You mainly find them in Russia or central Asia, that’s their breeding range, and they winter down in South Africa so they’re very long distance migrants.”
Although the species rarely make an appearance in Britain, it is understood this bird is the same one that was spotted in Northumberland last week. It could also be the same one that turned up in the region last June.
Mr Addlesse added: “The chances are it’s the same one that was spotted in Northumberland a few days ago, it’s probably a returning bird from the previous year, but for whatever reason it’s found itself up here.
“I think it’s probably already been in South Africa, but got stuck on the wrong track moving north along the wrong migration route, a lot further west than it should do, so I suspect it will never be returning to central Asia.
“People were looking from 6am until at least 11am the day after I saw it but there was no sign of it by then, so it must have moved on.
“It was amazing to witness while it was here.”