|  Viewed
from a car on the way to Newburgh, the almost treeless, windswept
farmland of the Buchan plain, hides its pleasant surprise
until the very last minute, down by the coast.
The estuary of the River Ythan and its surroundings has long
been a birdwatcher’s Mecca and with good reason. In
a day, one may become acquainted with terns breeding on sand
dunes, Eiders diving on mussel beds, waders on mudflats and
wildfowl on nearby lochs. Newburgh has its own bird cliffs
as part of Sands of Forvie National Nature Reserve. The changing
seasons present their varied bird-life interests throughout
the year, from breeders through passage migrants to winter
visitors in large numbers.
The bird-life of the Ythan Estuary has not changed greatly
since George Dunnet wrote Scottish Birds in 1963. Newburgh
village, however, has grown considerably since then, in response
to the 1970s oil boom. Main Street looks much as it did 100
years ago, but the influx of a commuting population has inevitably
brought additional pressures to bear on the finite resources
of this much-sought-after piece of countryside. The colourful
sails of surfboards are now seen regularly on the middle reaches
of the estuary. Fishermen and sport shooters need their space
as do dog walkers, birdwatchers and others.
Newburgh is only thirteen miles north of Aberdeen; two miles
east after the turn-off on the A92 at the 'Little Chef' restaurant.
There is a regular bus service to and from the city.
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