orkney birding

[dafi]

My destination this morning was Rerwick Head. This is rocky point backed by permenent grazing and studded with ww2 concrete gun emplacements the grass is pretty rank at the moment but still it provides a lot of cover for birds and voles. My intention was to see velvet scoters. Its a bright sunny morning with sw3 breesing away. Unfortunately wind and tide are putting up a bit of chop but never mind. Before i even have my crash hat off i count thirty curlew whitch take flight do a big loop and land again by the time i have my scope sorted.Dead right a quick count and theres thirty one with six or more red shank.The path to the shore leads to a short cliff with a 10 ft drop the shore below being out of sight.I aproach slowly as several commen gulls are slowly padlling away from me out to sea. I have the low sun behind me and its working to my advantage because 30 or so widgeon start heading out as well wondering whats going on. Standing still i get greatviews as thay call to oneanother wisteling away untill inebitably there off heading west. I head that way myself and put up two snipe from under foot. The viewing place is just 200yds along the shore. Settling down out the sun i see nothing in the bins but two gulls floating in the extreem distance. However around the bay the farm at Heatherhouse is hooching with life. A raptor must have put them up. Looking across i see 3 seprate flocks of golden plover 150 strong, a large flock of curlew and lapwing 2to300 strong, a big ball of starlings,and hundreds of greaylag and gulls .Thay are all boiling about in chaos but the danger passes and that settle once more and swiftly return to feeding. My atention returns to the sea where i finaly find 3 velvets whitch provide a nice view but there soon up n away with flash of white wing thay head east. I head this way as well to check out Rerwick point putting up the same two snipe, Sheltering in the gun emplacement gives a look out over 55commen gull with six red leged bh guls'a few lesser bbs and herring three cormerant and six shag.Cool i think as i scope up on a black back but within three seconds every thing is up and three more seconds thay are all gone all that remain are a few turnstones on the shore.Undaunted i head off to Redgee rock a good spot for purple sandpiper but thats not to be the tides to high and the swells to big. Then a wee lbj takes off at my feet heading up a ditch and lands its not a rock or medow pippit the chase is on i get close for another look and it seems to be a dunnock. I just cant be shure and iv moved it three times Thats more than enough as it might have come in from over the sea.Stopping for a seat on the cliff edge i count twenty nine shags along the cliff edge and rocks and am about to give it up when a great northen diver flys past me no more than twenty feet away. Now my heart is pumping but its not over yet fifty yards away three oyster catchers are displaying thay instantly scatter as a merlin passes close by.thats enough for me and i head back to the bike and home but that is still not that. With in a mile a sky lark is flying parralel to me and crosses my path. Must be some sort of lucky day round the next corner there is a raptor sitting on a fence post i stop get my gear out and shoot my best merlin photos i am in seventh heaven. On other posts i can see four or five medow pipits and in the air i hear two skylarks singing its the middle of febuary what is going on. This is a sunny and sureal kind of end to the morning BRILL

[kas]

Great Day dafi
Can you post the Merlin pics. A bit of a bogey bird for me, only ever had fleeting Glances.

[dafi]

Great Day dafi
Can you post the Merlin pics. A bit of a bogey bird for me, only ever had fleeting Glances.
Hi Kas i will put it in my gallery in a mo. Its not the greatest pic just my best one. Im just a snapper realy. see them regulary about but have been lucky around tankerness this last while. You should come over for the day to see whats about and have a laugh.

[dafi]

Managed to get a fast half hour between jobs today and went out to Barnhouse hide. This hide is situated at the back of the standing stones of stenness beside Barnhouse neolithic village and looks out over the south end of Harray loch. The whole area is now a world heritage site and is older than the pyramids. any way parked up looking over stenness loch to the west and there are thirty or so mute swans driven along the shore by the fresh breeze. Three golden eye and two tuffted duck can be seen bobing sporadicaly in the chop.
I head through the stone circle over to the opposit corner and over the style where i see my first spot as nice big hair takes off heading in the opposit direction. In the adjasent field a dead swan is lying with a hoodie crow standing on top pecking away[must think its christmas]. However theres nothing else to see in the fields as i aproach the hide. In side i get my hi vis off and settle down for a scan about.
Only a few birds are in close a pair of wigeon stay close together and mute swans lurk about upending. To the right widgeon oyester catcher and mallard are roosting. South to the island 2to3 hundred gulls are sitting to far to tell what thay are wi bins but i guess comon gull. In the middle distance three g eye drakes are making a fuss over three femails and another three mails are watching and shadowing from a distance. A count of mute swans gives forty.
On the far bank two flocks of oyster catcher 150 and 120 strong are nervously feeding. Past them another flock of gulls 2to 3 hundred strong sit quietly thay look mostly common judging by the three lesser black backs amongst them. after counting them my bins lite on a pair of incoming wigeon . Thay cause a panic and briefly put every thing up witch then settles along the shore.
Along the shore opposit is a hidden bay and from this starts to emerge a mix of greaylag and wigeon after five mins thay are all out heading south 82 geese 50 ducks the few tufteds moving out the way.Over the hide i hear a reed bunting but dont see it. but do see the seventy odd rooks heading up the loch coming from the direction of Binscarth woods. Below the farm of Overbigging 60 pluss greaylag are grazing away thats about it for a fast look about im suprised there arent more lapwing and curlew to be seen. but if this game was predictable then it wouldnt be mutch of a game

[dafi]

After a day and half of rain the weather started to dry up a bit so we took a quick spin out to the hide at the Loch of banks .This area is situated west of the village of Dounby on the west mainland and is an area of lochans and wetland with the wetland of the loons and the loch of Isbister just behind it. On ariving the field opposit has a hundred or so Greylag and thirty eight Whooper Swans grazing away ,in fact on the journey here there have been litraly thousands of Graylag grazing in the road side fields. The hide is looking a bit ramshackle but the view is cracking,watter levels are quite high but its not detering the Lapwings from displaying. These are the first i have seen display this year with six or more tumbling about plus thay are not alone as a few Curlew are also bubling away. What a welcome sound it is filling the air. Soon the whole of the isles will reverbrate with it. Seting up the scope for a count of whats about pickings look a bit thin. I can see twenty five Lapwing, thirty six Coot, three hundred Curlew and one hundred and fifty mixed gulls, mostly comon with a few newly arived LBG and a smatering of black headed. there are quite a few ducks about but thay are only visable as you drive further along the road not from the hide. We saw Pied wagtail when we arived with a total of eight all day,nice to see them ariving back one of my faves. All in all its quite quiet species wise. On departing we take a quick spin up the Bigging road opposit to have a spy over the Sabiston loch this produces Kates first good view of a Perigrine over Greeny hill. On the loch there are several hundred wild foul and a massive gull roost on the shore and i mean massive. Unfortunately the low sun is directly in our eyes so about all we can see is silloueted. The near bank has five dozen Oyster catcher and twenty Curlew. But with a few spits of rain we are off to do some visiting and get warm all in all not its not to bad for a quick spin out.

[dafi]

As you may know its been a wee bit windy this weekend so i took a spin out to the cliffs at Marwick to check out the state of the sea never thinking about seeing birds as things didnt look to promising. However as i arrived and was taking my helmet off a hoodie flew across my field of vew. So that was a start. I was heading up the memorial path. It heads straight up a gentle quarter mile slope to the high cliffs. In the field to the left there are a good flock of oyster catchers feeding away. thay dont fly till im almost on them and even then thay dont go to far. Taken off with them were a few stock doves but thay dissapear in the direction of marwick bay. almost at the end of the last grazing field a skylark flys a little in to the field and lands shows well on a tussuock for about ten seconds thinks better of it and dissapears to cover.Got more scence than me i think. Out of the end of the path and the wind is whiping up and over the cliff edge .Along the cliff to the right there is a natural bowl where your out the wind and get a great view south. I sit here for a while taking photos and watching a few fulmars dancing in the updraught and gliding away on straight stiff wings. Moving to thse south end for some more shots the first rock pippet appears. bouncing about in the mass of vilolent air thats pouring over the cliff top seemingly unbothered , unlike me concentrating on every step in places. At the south end there is a good spot with a small stone sticking out the ground i head for this but its beeing guarded by an agressive raven. The raven is about the only bird breeding at the moment and thay tend to chase and harrie pepole and birds near the nest site . As there is only one about i hope this means the other is sitting on a nest. i approach it and off it gos taking its aggresion out on the next passing fulmar with a winding chase before it peels off to land a hundred yards away above the nest sight. Looking out to sea there is nothing at all on the water. [apart from a six meter swell]. Two or three comongull pass. and fifteen or more fulmar cruise around ,one gannet heading north and a few shag fly low level. On the rock only three fulmars are in view. Loads of rock doves are dotted about. Thats about it for me. This place will soon be transformed in to a huge sea bird collony with drama smell bussle and noise but for now its wind swept and barren even the fulmas dont want to sit on the cliffs and niether do i so with the horizon looking nasty i leg it to the bike and home to a nice big fire .So long till next time.

[dafi]

The Brig Of Waithe
The Brig Of Waithe is a bridge that spans the tidal outfall from the Loch of Steness to the sea and the east shore of this channel would be my first wheatear hunting ground of the day. this is new ground for me and i am told its not often visited. As I set out from the parking i see three Reed Buntings. One singing its heart out the other two chasing each other about hell for leather. As i start the tide is three quarters up and falling; conditions are dry and bright with a light breeze[lovely].
On the far bank the first birds are a group of twenty or so Oyster Catchers one or two are sleeping, it looks like the others are just hanging out digesting. Moving along, the crys and excitable flights from the red shanks put up the Curlews which in turn put up the Wigeon. Out on the water Eider and Mallard head into the safety of the falling tide. All along the shore fields Medow Pippits are displaying, flying up singing then parachuting down to land on fence posts. Skylarks are competing for their territories and mates. What a difference two weeks can make to the landscape.
The next bay is called Dead Sand and is in fact a small mud flat which is any thing but dead. The opposite side is a spit of ground that rises up called Cummi Ness; to the left of that is the remains of Cummi Howe Broch. This is a good spot because it gives a hidden approach to the next section of shore and looking over it to the sea beyond i can already see at least six Goosander. Creeping along to the raised ground of the broch i cautiously look over the top to the shore and am amazed. Before me i count fifty three Goosander spread out. Some are chasing about displaying, one or two are diving although thay arent actively feeding. then inevitably one of the closer birds spooks and up they go, heading off low for a half mile and settle again.

I move on to the last vantage point, looking across Cumminess Bay. Edging round the point, looking into the bay reveals a good flock of Widgeon,a dozen or more Curlew and Redshank,Oyster Catchers, two Ringed Plover on the strand line. An exellent view. I withdraw and return to Cummi Ness Where i can approach Dead Sand hidden from view. the game is almost up as i surprise a Heron four foot from me. I should say he suprised me. and boy my heart thumped for a second. After waiting ten minutes i crested the rise to find the mud exposed. A flock of Curlew fed in one area. Thirty Redshank were picking away and Oyster Catcher were dotted about all over. Turnstone flew along the far shore in a small flock disappearing in the distance and out on the open water a few Gooseander and Mallard paddled about. I cross the mud and on the opposite shore put up a Snipe; the third of the morning. After scanning every dyke and fence post and hummock there is still no sign of Wheatear so mayby a change of scene is needed.
Bay of Skaill. Marwick Head.
Heading off to the East coast might give me a chance, lots of nice maritime heath, a great habitat for breeding Wheatears. I park up at skaill and walk along the beach below the ancient settlement of Skara Brae. The beach is bare of birds and full of dogs. Leaving the beach is a pleasure and I immediately start scanning the dykes and posts and folds in the ground for tell tale movement. The only small birds i see are Meadow Pippits and Pied Wagtails. Moving along the shore path toward the Hole o' Row [a rock arch in the cliff], Oyster Catchers are noisily displaying in the field. Back toward Skail Farm, Lapwings are also giving it some when suddenly all the starlings around the farm are up in a ball then every thing rises over Skail Loch. I look and look but cant find a protagonist. Another sweep of the posts as everything starts to settle. No wheatears. Having a look at the Hole o' Row i decide to move further upthe cliffs. Looking out to sea, i put the bins on the birds on the sea and boy oh boy they are Guillimots. two rafts of Guillimots! this is great, a return of Auks. Things are getting under way. Scoping them i start seeing Razorbills. To the north, thirty or more Eider bob about in the current heading slowly north. With this i move up the cliff line to Yettna Geo to see if anything is on the cliffs. Bingo! two Razorbills low down and a few ledges of Guillimots all standing facing inward side by side. I find it amazing that thay manage to incubate such a large egg with no nest on such narrow ledges, crowded together [the eggs are huge in relation to the bird - like a nine stone woman giving birtth to an eighteen pound baby]. Counting the birds on the sea gives a hundred and fifty this is great. I head back for the bike, scanning for Wheatears as i go, still nothing, but over the farm everything is up in front of me, the gulls and jackdaws rise in panic as a female Perigrine passes heading south.[im so chuffed with my new bins] The rest of the walk back is uneventful and i shoot up the coast to Marwick Head for a look before home.
Marwick Head.
Walking up from the beach is the favoured approach to this spectacular breeding colony. As the path rises there are a couple of little side paths to wee geos that give good close views of Kittywake, Guillimot and Razorbill, so checking here i find Kittywakes sitting on the remnants of last years nests, Guillimots and more Razorbills. As you put yor head toward the cliff edge you suddenly hear the Kittywakes and breath in the smell, its exhilarating. pushing on to the cliff top proper, its fantastic, the cliffs are studded with Auks, Kittywakes and Fulmars, Rock Dove, Jackdaws. Disturbingly, there's no sign of the Ravens all the time im here. On the sea its mobbed with Auks; two thousand or more in sight and more than that on the cliffs .One Gannet heads north. A few Black Backs lurk but for now the Auks have a Bonxie-free life. It wont be long before the skuas arrive back and the daily drama of life and death recommences.
Two weeks ago i was up here after a 120mph wind and it was quite different, two weeks is a long time in bird watching. Roll on the next two weeks -i might even see a Wheatear. For now though im quite content with the inevitable progression of spring.
Just a word on the Great Egret it was on the Loch of Banks but i didnt find it again the next day. i had a spy about today but no luck,but it may still be out there, who knows.

[Timedrifter]

I discovered this thread almost by accident and I think its brilliant! Dafi has a way with words that takes you to the spot he's at. You're there with him peering over a bank and feeling the wind and cold, as well as the exhilaration of the sighting. Thanks Dafi - I'll join you again!
Timedrifter

[dafi]

If your birding out and about Orkney why not post up here .Lets see if we cant get a bit more info and intrest going.

[dafi]

Just returned from a trip over to the island of Shapinsay orgnised by The Orkney fField Club/RSPB. Ably led by the ever informative Dick Matson nine of us trooped over. Im intending to write this one difrently this time,not one long ramble but three short ones and sightings lists bear with me.

The Boat.
We met up at the shap slip 9.30 for the 9.45 sailing. a mixture of old and new faces. the sailing is a short one and Shapnsay is the nearest of the northern isles. We have three destinations on the island however thats later and now we have birds to see. So from pier to pier in no particular order we saw..
Sparrow
Jackdaw
Starling
Rock pippit
Comon gull
LBG
Shag
Cormrant
Greaylag
Black guillimot
Shellduck
Rook
Raven
Oyster catcher
BH gull
Herring gull
Hoodie
Fullmar

We wander through the village to the start the woods. These half surround Balfour castle an old baronial style house and provides one of the best woodland habitats in the isles.This is something quite rare in orkney as trees dont get much of a chance with the constant winds. Strait away the sound of wrens was every where as we moved in for our circuit. Above the first clearing a femail Sparrowhawk circled displaying then was joined by another, but thay were soon harrased away by the gulls. Chafinch and Green finch showed well and we had nice views of Goldcrests. But it was over all to soon.
Wren
Chafinch
Greenfinch
Linnit
Blackbird
RL Partrige
Goldcrest
Robin
Blackcap
Wood pidjeon
Rockdove
BH Gull
Sparrowhawk

Next we head for the RSPB hide that over looks the Mill Dam reserve. the hide over looks a vally with water and wetland with a BH Gull colony at one end and wetland where large numbers of redshank will breed at the other. there were dissapointingly few ducks to be seen but still there was a variety. there also seemed to be quite a few Greaylag geese about with no intention of leaving.
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Redshank
Widgon
Tuffted duck
Shovler
Pintail
Ruddy duck
Gadwall
Shellduck
Teal
Mallard
Potchard
Graylag
BH Gull
Moorhen
Coot
Phesant
LBG

We now split in to two groups to visit The Ouze. This is an area of shore with a large tidal lagoon that empties at low watter to provide an exelent larder for wading birds. The wet holes on the way down the track offer up nesting Coot, moorhen. pintail and mallard just twenty yards from the car. Moving further down the track we have comanding views over the exposed sands. all parts are scanned in search of Godwits but disapointingly none are to be seen. Shellduck feed with a few Curlew ringed plover come and go.All around us skylark and Meddow pipitt display. A good flock of Dunlin take to the air once or twice before moving off along the shore. Two Sanwich terns are down on the sands [a nice spot]. We head down to turn at the shore[dont try this in a low slung car]. Taking the oppertunity to scan the sea and west side of the shore. Far out is a raft of Long tailed duck about 100-150. Looking west below the farm of Garth two Red throated divers are expertly picked out a Great northen was also seen.A pair of Red breasted meganser padled away with the tide and as we turn a Wheatear lands in front of us pleasing every body. With that we turn to the 3.15 ferry.
Pintail
Mallard
Moorhen
Coot
Skylark
Medow pippit
Curlew
Ringed plover
Green plover
Oyster catcher
Dunlin
LT Duck
Shovler
Redshank
GN Diver
RT Diver
Common Gull
LBG
Sanwich tern
Wheatear

All in all its been a good trip out. Fifty or sixty spiecies and a bonus of sunny weather. its nice to get out to a bit of the patch i only get to visit a few times a year and the Goldcrests just made my day.
laters everyboby
Daf

[dolphinbride]

What a day Dafi! So many birds and in such an idyllic spot! I want to go!

[Sue Wright]

Hi Dafi,

That was absolutely fascinating! I've just read the entire lot of the reports....I HAD to as I was spellbound by it all. You have such a way with writing that you have the ability to literally take the reader to all the places that you go to and all that I "saw" with you was absolutely brilliant.

The way you described the GND flying SO close to you had to be about one of the best encounters with any Bird that a person could have wished for. To see them and RTDs in summer plumage too has to be terrific! My friend in British Columbia (Canada) has them (GNDs) on their lake and she's totally fascinated by them and their haunting song/calls.

The way you describe the Kittiwakes, Gullimots, Razorbills and so many Cliff Birds alone is from the viewpoint of a passionate Birder and I now feel as though I've been up there with you Dafi, surveying it all as well as creeping up on so much wonderful Birdlife, especially THAT many Goosanders!!!

Fantastic reading Dafi, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi there Sue and Kristina thanks for your kind words. its verry encouraging. but i feel iv gone as far as im going to go with local patch there dont seem a lot of point if theres no one localy to share information with. i think i might concentrate my effots in exbeebs and come back to this if i find any local intrest.

[dolphinbride]

Shame that no Orcadians are posting, but please, please, continue to share your beautiful narratives, no matter where. I look forward to the next installment...!

Kristina

[delia todd]

Oh Please keep going Dafi, it's really interesting to read what's happening up there

D

[dafi]

Oh i dont know Delia theres not mutch point if im the only one posting from here, you can still find my stuff at exbeeb its just that it wont be strung together. Its been a strange sort of day with all this kicking off like this. i will have to think about it. But i would rather be posting where i get some interaction and feed back be it positive or negative.

[dafi]

Well after all the messages of suport it would be churlish of me to let the thread sink so i will keep posting in one fashion or another and if anybody from the isles wants to jump in please do. Thats what its here for.

[Sue Wright]

Well after all the messages of suport it would be churlish of me to let the thread sink so i will keep posting in one fashion or another and if anybody from the isles wants to jump in please do. Thats what its here for.

I'm so thrilled you're sticking with it Dafi, after all it is in it's rightful place here, especially for those intending to visit. Having said that I can quite see why you had become despondent, but onward and upward!

Sue.

[dolphinbride]

Still want to tag along, but alas, passport issues... vicarious for now.

-Kristina

[ionemosia]

Hi Dafi, Good call. I for one have enjoyed your orkney thread. I've been over there a few times and always enjoyed my visits. Must come back some time soon, it's only a short ferry journey from Thurso.
Cheers,
Iain

[dafi]

I had a quick spin to the hides on each of these reserves today after work. Just a quick thirty minute watch at each. At the loch of Banks The air was full of Lapwings displaying and defending their teratories against all comers. Hugely entertaining with the rise and fall flight and noisey encounters. Coots paddled to and fro with nesting matierel and Moorhens skulked around the banks. A breeding pair of Wigeon showed well right in front of the hide with the male paddling around whistling like a football referee. Stock Dove were picking away on the far side of the water and in the distance a dozen Graylag were hanging out. No long flight to Iceland fot these fellas as thay have nothing but a bit of good loveing on their minds. Redshank were in good numbers wading around ocasionaly taking to the air with their pleepy crys. Six Mallard were in view. along with a pair of Shellduck. A dozen Curlew were in sight all the time with menny in the air bubbling away.A small number of Oyster Catcher were in the distance. The wee bird list was small though with two Reed Bunting and a few Mippit displaying. Skylark could be heard in the distance. All these numbers are but the tip of the iceberg and an there lot more is out there.out of view of the hide. If your there its worth a walk along the road to see a bigger area!
At the Loons hide three diffrent groups of birders came and went with in the thirty minutes. It was there a plesant change from winter time. This is another hide overlooking a wetland area. A Heron took off as i set up. 2pr of Wigeon were moving about feeding along with 2pr of Tuffted 3 Graylag 2 Mute Swan nesting right in front of the hide [should be intresting] A pair of Shoveler were feeding together with another male skulking about obviously with bad intentions. After a while something put all three up and a mid air dispute erupted mutch to the delight of all the obsevers.thay circled for a bit and returned to the pool where a huge disagreement ensued .It ended uith the would be usurper leaving with his tail well and truely between his legs. A Snipe briefly displayed wth a wee drum and then was silent Reed Buntings were about with one dropping into the reeds and one flying across the front of the hide. The rest of the usual suspects were there in force with Lapwing and Curlew doth displaying strongly. Redshank picked away around the waters edge. 9 BH Gull sat about dooing little and there was 8 Mallard in sight. So thirty minutes and that was that its a shame no raptors appeared as its a good sight for Hen harriers Merlin Perigrine and SE Owl .and when these appear and put every thing up its truely a sight to behold.
Untill next time
Oh yea there was a Ringed Ouzel on widford a few days ago and a Chifchaf on Hoy[Berridale ]to day. Swallows around the Stenness hillside today

[Timedrifter]

Dafi, I must add my pleasure at hearing you are to continue posting. I feel sure that there are more people all over the world who are reading your posts than you realise. They are all the MORE important because you are the only one reporting from there.
I will reply to your PM shortly

Regards Timedrifter

[Sue Wright]

Dafi, I must add my pleasure at hearing you are to continue posting. I feel sure that there are more people all over the world who are reading your posts than you realise. They are all the MORE important because you are the only one reporting from there.
I will reply to your PM shortly

Regards Timedrifter

Hi Dafi,

I think TD's post says it all as you just never know how many folk are reading your reports on a daily basis, but just don't bother to reply to them. Some viewers might only be guests and in that case, they CAN'T post.

I thoroughly enjoyed the report above Dafi and could 'see' the commotion that happened when they all went up. Almost hear the drumming Snipe and Redshanks with their magical call, they always remind me a little of Curlews and I love to see those white trailing wings as they whip across land or water - beautiful.

Thanks again Dafi, a really great report!

Sue.

[dolphinbride]

Beautiful and evocative as always!
Thanks Dafi!

Kristina

[dafi]

Hi Dafi, Good call. I for one have enjoyed your orkney thread. I've been over there a few times and always enjoyed my visits. Must come back some time soon, it's only a short ferry journey from Thurso.
Cheers,
Iain

hi Iain good to hear from you why not come over for a look and the big spin about. i might even come over there for a look and visit old haunts. i used to live out on dunnet head and my brother out at castletown a realy nice place. drop us a PM if you fancy it and we will see what we can arange.

[ionemosia]

hi Iain good to hear from you why not come over for a look and the big spin about. i might even come over there for a look and visit old haunts. i used to live out on dunnet head and my brother out at castletown a realy nice place. drop us a PM if you fancy it and we will see what we can arange.
Thanks Dafi, sounds like a plan, the first BF orkney bash. I'll work something out and let you know.
Cheers

[dafi]

I have just returned from Roseness a headland on the east end off Holm This is a brand new area for me as its always been fairly closed access and visitors were ‘discouraged’. However the land owner has opened a new Land Management Path so now there is a shore walk around the headland.
To get there drive past st Nicholas church the road goes left and past Ducrow the paths on the next corner. There is room to park two cars with out blocking the gates. Follow the path to the cliff and you can go left along the high cliffs to Stembister or right to Roseness . This way takes you along the east side and as I was looking for migrants this was the side for me.
A quick scan of the sea produces a raft of common gull a load of Eider a few Guillemot a dozen Black Guillemot Fulmar glide along the cliff faces . As the bay of Semolie ends and the ground rises there is a noticeable change in the grass under foot the monoculture of grazing gives way to the infinitely more diverse maritime heat that borders the cliff with a central area of short heather and crowberry dotted with peaty pools lapwing and curlew make there presence heard and starlings seem to be everywhere
Even though its damp and drizzly its not helping me as im to late in the day. If any migrants were here they were long gone the wet had arrived to late to hold them on the ground. I decide to go as far as the light house. The cliff line is punctuated with deep Geos [these are inlets cut into the cliffs by the sea]. Floating off shore from each Geo is its summer population of black guillemots these lovely little things with there red mouths and feet can be heard for a good distance calling each other. They have a really high pitched whistle of a call that seems to verge on the ultra sonic. These birds will occupy the rabbit holes around the cliff tops for nesting and soon any hole in the ground will be in big demand here. Moving on from Tur Geo I head to the hole of Ness not realising its there. I’m moving along watching lapwing on the ground close in and a bonxie in the distance when the ground opens up in front of me in a large Gloup . Now a Gloup is where a sea cave has had its roof collapse leaving a huge hole and a tunnel to the open sea. This is extremely dangerous with crumbling edges and a drop of seventy feet. This is also a magnet for exhausted migrants in dirty weather. Not productive to day but worth a look again.
Moving on again flushes a Pied Wagtail and then a male Wheatear. Small birds are not much in evidence. But a bonxie is heading towards me ,as I look it is set upon by a hoodie then a lapwing it twists a bit and lands on north cairn. This is [I think] an old burial mound that resembles a mini volcano from past excavations. From there I pass pantie Geo where there is some interesting geology it looks like a basalt intrusion or dyke in the red sand stone. Then on to the tower. This is a large stone tower. All I know about it is it gave cover to see forteen graylag geese. Part of our growing breeding population. While here a snipe drummed a few times but wasn’t heard again. From here I go to the wee light house and on to the cliff top rocks. The black rock is like ice asiI pick my way forward to watch the sea for a half hour. I see no Cetaceans at all only three seals out on the water black guillies are paired up shags dive and eider move around waters edge. Its damp and quiet. I retrace my steps back . this is going to be a fantastic place to come at the right time. An early summers evening with sea birds and moorland birds all giving it lalldey. I cant wait I might be back before that for the stunning shore walk though.

On the way back I took in Graemeshall loch and was lucky enough to get a brief glimpse of the Gargeny and great views of the Marsh harrier. It was the first one iv seen since leaving kent. Excellent if your out that way have a look it’s a beauty.

Swallows much more in evidence today still in ones and twos.

[danehower]

dafi ! - I love your reports from the northern land - It seems an amazing and rugged place. I am going to have to go over there and bug you one of these years - lol - Keep the reports coming dude, beautiful stuff !

[Sue Wright]

Another great report of your time there Dafi, even if it wasn't too productive. I'm pleased you typed in the meanings for the Geos and Gloups (that would have terrified me!), though it's good to also learn a few of the local ones. I think the Eider would have made that so special for me, along with the Fulmars and Guillimots, such gorgeous little things.

I hope you do go back again when there's more there, for your sake as well as ours. I'm taking these place names in, just imagine what trade you're drumming up for Orkney for the future, let alone your own pleasure, as well as holding us spellbound too!

Thanks a lot for that Dafi, an awful lot of valuable information there.

Sue.

[michaelmacey]

Nice reports Dafi, i'm trying to organise a trip to Mull in july, hopefully il get it together. Plenty to see there i hope. Mick

[dafi]

Should be absloute rakes to see there Mick. It might be a bit early but pack the midgie protection!!!

[dolphinbride]

Dave and I may appear in July too, hope there is much to see!

[Oh wait, dafi, did you say something about bugs? I don't care for bugs, but they sure seem to like me. Fact is we've got some mean insects here in July too! No escaping them! Scared...]

[michaelmacey]

I use citronella oil when im fishing, the mozzies wont go near it. The trouble is, its fairly potent stuff. And people give you a few funny looks, but who cares about that when your in danger of being eaten alive. The essential oil is a bit strong to put straight on, so drip a few drops on to the roller of an adult jungle formula and roll them on together, providing you dont miss any, its 100% effective. I ware light golfing waterproofs too, which they cant get through (unlike cotton trousers) so you only have to cover your hands and neck and face. Mick

[Sue Wright]

The essential oil is a bit strong to put straight on, so drip a few drops on to the roller of an adult jungle formula and roll them on together, providing you dont miss any, its 100% effective. I ware light golfing waterproofs too, which they cant get through (unlike cotton trousers) so you only have to cover your hands and neck and face. Mick

Hi Michael,

I'm very interested in your citronella use, but do I read it rightly that you use a roll-on version of the Jungle Formula and put a few drops of the citronella on to the roller part of it?

We've tried Avon's 'Skin so soft' but with going to the Great Glen a fair bit and especially to Loch Loy where it literally teems with them in showery/sunny periods, you need something pretty special to keep the little beggars at bay. We usually end up diving out to do what we want, then running like the clappers back to the car....which can get pretty thick with them too at times!

What would North West Scotland be without them though!:frog:

Sue.

[dafi]

Aye there a pest right enough. still its a good while to midgie season yet.
A little preperation is worth a thousand woes.

[dolphinbride]

Bzzzzzz...waiting for a new report, Dafi!

Thanks for the tips Michael. I need all I can get, I think my fair skin makes me a serious target. Still scared, but less so!

Kristina

[Sue Wright]

Bzzzzzz...waiting for a new report, Dafi!

Thanks for the tips Michael. I need all I can get, I think my fair skin makes me a serious target. Still scared, but less so!

Kristina

Tis only the females you need to watch Kristina.....trouble is..trying to sex them before they get you!o:D

Sue.

[dafi]

just out at the Piedie sea and saw low slung diver to far off to tell with out bims. but saw artic terns there for the first time this year. Loads of wheatear around Marwick last night. any body else seen puffins?

[dafi]

Black throated diver tonight off Hunda along side the fish farm cages showing well in summer plumage.
two Whimbrel seen on the shore. seven counted yesterday over Kirkwall. Lots of passage movement at the moment. listen for the calls.

[Sue Wright]

Oooh I do envy you with those beautiful sights to see Dafi, I love Black-throated Divers, Reds too and any species of Tern. No sign of Puffin down on the nearest coast to us, that's why we're looking forward to getting back up to Handa Is to see them there....so long as it doesn't get rained off as it did last year when it tipped it down for a good 2 or 3 days.

I'm pleased you're keeping up with those sightings Daf, letting us all know about them to! Happy viewings!

Sue.

[dafi]

Last night was the first outing of my summer birding class with Tim Dean. tonights destination was the island of Hunda this is located west of Burray and conected to it by a causeway that gives acess at all states of the tide. the island its self is half grazing half heather moor you can walk around the entire island but just the heathery half is for us tonight.
We meet up in the farm yard of of Littlequoy on whos ground this walk is over tonight There are ten of us tonight and its a mix of old faces and new all eager for the off so after intros all round we head out the farm yard the way we came in to spy out the rough ground between us and the shore. At the back of us sing Skylarks and Mippits with a Linnet hanging out some where there as well. South to the shore and St Margrets hope over the water. Lapwings display over a Common Gull colony that looks like its starting to establish. Graylag geese have growing goslings out in the open and around them are paired up Oystercatchers and Lapwings. On the small wet pools Mallard move about feeding. overhead a Bonixie passes and soon another. Greater Black Backs pass over as well. Looming figures of menace inviting aggressive atacks from the nesting throng.The distant sea throws up the first duck of the night a Great Northen Diver in summer plumage.and a few Eider beond. So with that its off through the farm to the track for Hunda. Please if your visiting park sensiblly and look out as its a working farm. Dont take your dogs to the island as theres loads of lambs at the moment not to mention a million ground nesting birds and do visit the shop.while your here.
Down the track theres a year round wet hole that gives us Rinnged Plover Redshank and Piedwagtail. Beond this over the field a Shorteared Owl quarters the ground then the fence lines pouncing twice before attracting to mutch attention and moving off harrased .This one a paler male will be seen more now during the day light hours as thay have hungry young to feed. the shore side has a raft of long tailed ducks in the distance some eider dotted here and there.
A few Red Breasted Mergansers mostly females. More Skuas pass over head these are heading for Hoy probaly to roost at the colony. the foreshore is a little bereft of birds two Ringed Plover dont stay long following the Redshanks pinging calls. A few Turnstones in the weed and a trilling Dunlin is out there some where. Off the shore of Hunda a low slung diver turns out to be a Red Throat.
We head over the causeway to the island getting better views of the rocky shore. With the sun behind us now helping locating the dunlin in there summer finery. As we are looking up Hunda sound behind us are the approaching sounds of Artic Terns fantastic stuff these birds might have been in South Africa or even Australia and have found there way back here to breed. Last year there was a good wee Tern colony on Hunda but its early to tell if thay will return to this exact spot. Thay will nest in the locality but can be fickle. Still its good to see them in numbers to night. looking south toward the Cairn Head numorus seals are strewen across the rocks and as we scan them over a Whimbrel is heard calling there is a pair of some thing on a patch of sand but it is tantlisingly to far away to tell if its a Curlew or Wimbrill Oh well onward
Turning left ofF the causeway we move along the shore line toward the fish farm. The heather moor at our back is dominated by the Black Backed Gulls that sit on the highest points of the low lying ground. thay will nest here in a small group, two Skuas sit together in the heather two pairs usualy nest over here. The shore of Hunda Sound now produced a bizare spectical with twenty four eider males vieing for the attention of one unattached female. This female may just have lost a clutch of eggs or mayby late coming in to her fertile cycle .but as comic as it looks it can be a serious situation for the lassie as the poor girl can get exausted and drowned fending off unwranted suitors. Out in the bay the raft of long tails is 100 to 150 strong and there must be fifty plus mostly immature eiders we are finding them sat on nests as we carefully move along the shore. About this point we see the best bird of the night a Black Throated Diver in full summer plumage. this stunner is a good way off but looks good in the scopes .BTD winter here ocsionaly one has been reported at Rerwick. but are not often seen in summer garb the nearest ones to us are south in Northren Scotland thay require larger lochs for breeding than we have here to acomadate there long takeoff style. Tim is delighted as its his first summer bird ever in orkney [ its a rare one] moving around the point of East Ayre we head slightly uphill towards a wet pond .that proves to be empty. Graylag take off in to the distance complaining while more still sit in the heather eyeing us suspiciously. They have more to loose if thay fly so we try not to provoke them we pass. Sunnless Geo to turn and head back along the fence line to take us to the shore and back to the causeway. stopping to rescan the sea before the causeway fifteen Megansers are now counted in diffrent groups we get over the causeway in the failling light to be greeted on the far shore by trilling Dunlin right in front of us giving great views. A nice end for my first summer class and first time back on Hunda.
next tusday its Corncrakes!

[Mabel]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I WANT TO GO TO ORKNEY! Great stuff, mate, as always.

[dolphinbride]

Sounds like an amazing evening Dafi! I wish I had more experience (read any)with the beautiful birds you describe. Photos will have to do for now!
Great report, Thanks!

Kristina

[delia todd]

Thanks for that one Dafi - what a great evening you had.

Dunlins are brilliant in breeding mode aren't they.

I REALLY MUST get to Orkney

D

[Sue Wright]

Dafi, as always that was a brilliant account of all you saw and it took me there to 'see' it all with you! Thanks for the great descriptions Dafi, I could almost see the BTD, such fantastic Birds that we always seem to find each year, RTD's too. Both usually found in the vicinity of Scourie as well as some near Ruthven.

I'm really looking forward to the Corncrakes next time! Thanks so much for that Dafi.

Sue.

[dafi]

Spinning about to day my first visit was to the RSPB Reserve at Cotasgarth. On its day Cotasgarth can be a realy rewarding place to visit with the full array of moorland spiecies. not to mention Henharrier. merlin and s/e owl. However it can be hit or miss and today was a bit of a miss.
On the way in to the hide from the farm i saw
Hooded crow
5 Swallows
3 Lapwing
3 Curlew
M Wheatear
Pied Wagtail
mipits
4 Graylag[thay seem to be strong everywhere]
At the hide a long watch saw no raptors come into view it was so quiet a pair of mippits displaying a bit of pre quoital affection was the high point.So a bit bored i swept up and left. It was on the way out i spotted a female harrier soaring and rising ,i watched till she dissapeared then ploded back to the bike. A final scan with the bins produced a male coming over the top of the hill and start to quater Oh well another time.

RSPB HOBISTER.
I approached Hobister via Finstown and the road past kirbister loch where i saw two flocks of graylag with goslings one 110 strong the other 80to a 100strong the only ducks were a few tufted and mallard with two RTD by the crannog if indeed it is a crannog.
My idea with Hobister was to photograph Stonechats and although there were stonechats about thay seemed to have no intention to sing out of cover. Hobister is a moorland reserve that covers a huge area the bit from the parking to the shore has a circular walk the first part taking you past great areas of willow scrub loved by the stonechats and is the place to see them [but not to day],I did hear Red Grouse calling, Several Wrens moved about and a reed bunting showed for about ten seconds along with some singing black birds but little else was to be seen. Beyond the scrub the path leads down across the heather to the cliffs above Scapa Flow for a cliff top walk that swings up the hill and back to return you to the the road in. I content myself with a sit on the clif top for a spy out over the water. The wind has been dropping all day and now is about flat calm, Ideal for seeing what little is about
Two Fulmars sitting[ only a few sitting on the cliffs here]
8 Shags out on the point left of me
several Rock Pippit
2 twite
18 Black Guillimot
1 RTD
6 Eider
The icing on the cake comes as i see Black Guillimots taking off in all directions a closer look reveals two fins cutting the water and diving this is thrilling. I must say im not mutch cop at telling all the diffrent spiecies appart but from the size of the fins whitch were quite small i think these were Porpoise.
The two of them swam in circles diving as thay go some times together some times apart i supose that are feeding on sillocks or cathes thay stay for a while though and gradualy move off in to the distance. My first this year verry nice.
That was about it for the day quite quiet where i was i did see Sanwitch Terns on the shore below Renebister but not mutch else.

[Mabel]

Nice selection there, dafi, and the porpoises must have been a real treat! Thanks for sharing.

[dolphinbride]

Not too bad for a slow day Dafi! As for those porpoise, I'll leave you to guess my level of jealousy...sounds like quite a nice day out to me!

Kristina

[Sue Wright]

Another good list Daf, even better with the Porpoise! I do love the way you tell your reports, you have a good way with describing it all Daf. Thanks so much for another great visit. I love Fulmars and Guillemots (or Tysties) are real beauties.

Thanks again Dafi and I'm very much looking forward to the next time.

Sue.

[dafi]

I heard last night there was a Golden Eagle on Hoy monday

[dolphinbride]

Glad to hear it! I was beginning to think all the birds had left Orkney...;)

[dafi]

Glad to hear it! I was beginning to think all the birds had left Orkney...;)
Yea sorry about that but i had a dose of photosensitive burns and havent been outside much this last week but im back out and about now so this ones for you Kristina.

[dafi]

Tonight’s outing on the patch was a class night visit to Cottasgarth RSPB and the Eddie Balfour hide then a trek along the heather path to Queenamidda and out the moorland track to the road to return to the Rendall hall.
We meet up at the Rendall community centre car park. Tonight there are eight of us and its nice to be out in a group again. Looking toward the hills we can see the Dale of Cottasgarth and to the right the heathery expanse leading to the narrow plantations of trees at Queenamidda and beyond. The mile or so of flat land between us and the hill is composed of wet ground Moor, heather and willow scrub. It streches away for miles on either side. The ground is the Rendall moss. Its a habitat par exelance in fact it don’t get much better than this. Out there is the greatest density of breeding Curlew in Western Europe its also protected as its one of the best sights for breeding short eared owl and Merlin. Its also recognised for its breeding red throated divers. This area is a strong hold of the Hen Harrier and spiritual home of all Hen Harrier study it being the stomping grounds of the late great Eddie Balfour.
The weather has been blowing F6 and showers all day but is starting to ease and apart from a few threatening clouds and spitting showers its not to bad. We travel up to Cottasgarth farm with half the cars and set out from there. The walk up to the hide produces Curlew, Lapwing. Graylag, Hoodies and a few Meadow Pipits Sky Lark singing. Moving to the top of the track we crest the rise and before us lies the Dale of Cottasgarth; the flat hillside valley has grazing ground punctuated with rush grass that changes to bog and heather as the land rises. The centre of the ground is dominated by a derelict farm steading and beyond it the hide. Moving past the steading the air is full of the cheeping calls of young starlings and nervous parents returning stop to watch us with beaks full of worms and caterpillars. Nervous ewes with young lambs scatter away from us as we stop to scan the hill sides. The idea is to find our target species of the night [Hen harrier Merlin Short eared Owl] this produces nothing and we move the short distance to the hide.
Almost the instant we arrive Tims eagle eye spots action and within seconds we are watching a male Hen Harrier sky dancing above a female . they are way off up the hill but easily seen through bins. He rises and falls a few times then quarters the hill side a few times before returning to the female. To my amazement he drops down beside her promptly jumps on her back and has his wicked way. We are delighted with this and as the male tales off to land near by Tim explains to us how this is probably the second mating of this bird as it already has a female sitting on eggs. In Orkney it is common for harriers to be polygamous as there are such a large amount of females to males. Its quite a life unless you’re a late brood chick of course. Looking at each bird that crosses the hill side soon produces a Bonxie[great Skua]]and then two Artic Skuas these are my first or the year and favourites of mine one is a dark phase and one a handsome light phase. An elegant sleek aggressor. when they skim low they provoke a robust response from the nesting birds which they just shrug off and get on with there job. Soon some of them will breed in isolated pairs making them some of Brittan’s rarest breeding sea birds. The excitement of these has barely passed when a hooded crow flying just below the ridge line puts up a Merlin with lightning speed it harries the hoodies swooping down with lightning attacks shooting back up to bank and dive again the crow thinks better of it and moves off . The Merlin soars around to land near its nest[this was news to me I had been here last Sunday and hadn’t sused this at all] He settles on a tussock of grass in the heather. The male bird is just viewable in the scopes preening but it’s the sort of distance that makes my eyes water after a while. Back down the hill Graylag land on the far side of the valley . Over that side a young ringtail passes right to left and the male is up over the female again. Once again while im watching they mate again so it looks like another brood on the way here.
With this we start to move off but instead of heading back down the track we follow the burn of Dale and then along the hillside through the heather path. This gives fabulous views over the moors below. Close to us are big stands of scrubby willow from whitch come the song of Wren, Blackbird and Willow Warbler all the song is quite discernable in the lessening wind. Looking over the expanse of moor below us and the heather hillside above us you get a real sense of being a part of the hill swallowed up in its great scale of things. The first raptor spotted is a S/E Owl followed by another then a young ring tailed harrier. Dissapering into the distance. During the day its been windy and wet Tim had a class out during the day and they had a pretty lean time of it seeing almost no raptors at all but now the weather is improving and the birds need to feed before dark. Moving along we visit the graves of the Harray men. Hundreds of years ago seven men from the landlocked parish of Harray while returning from collecting [shore meat] shellfish ect they perished in a snow storm on there return journey when found they were buried where they fell and ir you search you can still find the grave marker stones [ you wont find this on any map] the path up produced some nice flowers though this years first Milkwort, Lousewort, and Birdsfoot Trefoil are out. All about are ladies smock Eyebright and Tormintill with white cotton heads bobing in the heather. Spying from here produces another two Bonxies and the usual reception committies plus another S/E Owl.
We move through the trees to the road at Queenamidda we put up a noisy pheasant that takes everybody’s breath away. The trees are quiet as we move through them to the track out . it’s a bit disappointing to see so little as Queenamidda features quite prominently in sightings reports and the county bird report. But its my first visit and it’s an impressive looking wee plantation that’s been set out over the last twenty years, to produce this gem of protection for small birds. It’s a veritable magnet of attraction in this treeless landscape. Down the track toward the main road we cross the moor putting us in the middle of the whole place where we see yet another S/E Owl slowly quartering the ground. When we are nearly out we pass a colony of Common gulls nesting on the commons. Tim explained that Common gulls were called Common gulls because that nested on commons and not because they are particularly common. Some thing new learned for me there. So that was about it we exit the moor at the main road and watch Swallows hawking around some pine trees before heading to the hall car park and the big run around and home. All in all its been great three Merlin half a dozen harriers and more Short Eared Owls than you could poke a stick at. The only missing regular were Stonechats who weren’t seen all night. Shame but never mind its been a big difference to my last visit short ago. And a walk I will do again soon in the hope of seeing Willow Warblers.[and more of the same]

[Mabel]

Great stuff Dafi! What a statement! "More SEO's then you could poke a stick at!"

[dolphinbride]

Thank you so very, very much Dafi!
That was well worth waiting for! I'm a bit at a loss for words though, what a stunning night out!

(Glad to hear that you're on the mend and back in pursuit of our feathered friends!)


Kristina

[Sue Wright]

Hi Daf

Another great report of a very interesting walk and the Birdwatching done during it. My highlights being the Short-eared Owls as well as the Merlin, Harriers, Great Skuas and especially the Arctics! I'd really love to see them someday.

Thanks Daf, I really enjoyed that.

Sue.

[dafi]

Cheers Guys

Just seen 2 Glaucous Gulls feeding in with Herring Gulls below Weyland Farm Kirkwall 12.12.

[dafi]

I thought I might do a wee forthcoming events programme once a month or so for every one out there on the patch. Mostly its bird or wild life based and this is by no means a comprehensive list of events. There’s stacks going on all over the patch but if you want to get out and about or you’re a visitor and want to go island hopping I hope it helps a wee bit

June 07

SUN 3
Cuween and Wideford.
There will be a ranger at each of these tombs to give a short introduction to these sights,suitable for all ages.
Time 2.30-4.30……meet at the tombs
INFO/BOOKINGS..WHS Ranger service..841732

SUN
A VISIT TO EDAY ORKNEY FIELD CLUB
In conjunction with the Eday ranger ,doing a walk from Vinquoy to Red Head looking at wild flowers of coastal heath, sea birds and raptors. Spectacular scenery!!
INFO/ BOOKINGS…..Eday ranger ..07908148004

SUN 3
SANDAY,
WHITEMILL WANDER. SANDY RANGER
Coastal birds and flowers
Time 2pm….Meet Whitemill car park.
INFO/BOOKINGS SANDAY RANGER Rod Thorne 01857600341

THURS 7
MARWICK SEABIRD CITY RSPB
Come see hear smell this seabird city with RSPB field teacher at the magnificent Marwick head reserve
COST Members free non members £2 children under 16 £1 infants free
TIME 10 am………MEET Marwick carpark
INFO/BOOKINGS Aileen Hall 850176

SUN 10
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE,SANDY
Cross to Start island and go up the tower with the light keeper. Wellies essential
TIME 11.30am…..MEET School
INFO/BOOKINGS SANDAY RANGER

SUN 10
FAMILIES MOORLAND SAFARI ORKNEY FIELD CLUB/RSPB
Explore the moorland around the Stromness water works-search for wild flowers, hunt the Juniper and spot the bird life. Suitable for all. Children must be accompanied by an adult
TIME 2-5pm……MEET Stromness OLD academy car park.
INFO BOOKINGS Alison Skene 850406

THURS 10
HOBBISTER COASTAL WALK RSPB
Join an RSPB warden on a walk around the coastal trail and across the moorland see Stonechats Fulmars maybe even Short eared Owls and Hen Harriers. Gain an understanding of the habitat.
TIME9.30am……..MEET Hobbister car park Hobbister RSPB.
COST Members free non members £2 children£1 infants free
INFO/BOOKINGS Derren Fox 850176

THURS 14
SANDAY,TRESNESS TRECK.
See the remains of Wasso broch, kelp pits,a horse-engine shed and plenty of birds.
TIME 2pm……..MEET Brickie hut
INFO/BOOKINGS SANDAY RANGER.

FRI 15
EDAY
WILD THINGS PHOTOGRAPHY AND SCETCHING WALK.
An afternoon on Eday enjoying the natural world from an artistic perspective. Drawing materials are provided but you can come and just take photos if you wish. Beginners welcome. Bring a camera
TIME 12pm….DURATION 3-4Hours……MEET MILL LOCH BIRD HIDE.
INFO/BOOKINGS…Anne 07908148004

SAT 16
RANGER ISLAND TRIP WORLD HERITAGE SITE RANGER SERVICE
A visit to one of seventy diverse islands.
This venue is yet to be decided but it will be happening.
INFO/BOOKINGS WHS Ranger service 841732

THURS 21
BIRDS AND BIODIVERSITY AT BRODGAR RSPB
Join the RSPB warden on a relaxing and informative walk around the ring of Brodgar trail and along the loch of Stenness shore to see the birds and other wild life of this unique site.
TIME10.30…..MEET Ring of Brodgar car park
COST members free non members £2 children £1 infants free
INFO/BOOKINGS Derren Fox 850176

THURS 21
SANDAY
BURNESS PREAMBULATION
A ramble along side the coast, loch and farm land of the parish
TIME 11.30am……..MEET Orkney Angora
INFO/BOOKINGS SANDY RANGER..Rod Thorn..01857 600341

SAT 23
EDAY
THE EDAY RIDER
All day ride and hike around Eday. A route of twenty five miles that covers the island from the rocky beaches of Greentoft bay in the south to the stunning Red Head in the north. Guided walks on route that incorporate the islands key archaeological sites and important wild life spots. Booking essential
INFO/BOOKINGS Anne 87908148004

SAT 23
SANDAY
BIRD RACE
Everyone welcome
TIME Dawn till 9.00pm…..FINISH Nearhouse
INFO/BOOKINGS Rod Thorne Sanday ranger

Sun 24
FLORA AND FAUNA OF HARRAY ORKNEY FIELD CLUB
Taking a closer look at the plants insects and birds to be found around Winksetter and Bosquoy loch. Wellies advised.
MEET Harray hall car park……..TIME 10am
INFO/BOOKINGS Dick Matson

TUES 26
HOY
WILD LIFE DETECTIVES RSPB
An adventurous day out for families [not suitable for under 8s] and the young at heart! Join the warden for a 7-mile walk to explore how hoys natural environment has changed over the last 400 million years. A good level of fitness, a sense of humour[!], waterproofs and stout boots are essential.
TIME 10.30am……..MEET Moaness pier DURATION 6.5 hours.
COST free but donations would be appreciated
Booking essential. Warden Lea Shields…791298

THURS 28
MARWICK SEABIRD CITY
As thurs 7

In addition to these

EDAY RANGER
Every wed from may 9th to sep 26th the ranger will be guiding walks along the Eday heritage trail.

Every Thursday the ranger will be leading walks as part of a project to map the islands habitat types.

The ranger will be guiding walks on request every Friday afternoon when other events don’t coincide.
INFO Eday Ranger Anne 07908148004

HOY NATURE TRAILS RSPB
GUIDED WALKS WITH THE WARDEN
TIME 10.30am TUESDAYS DURATION 2-3Hours
MAY 8,15,22
JUNE 5,12,19
JULY 3,10,19,31
AUG 7,14,21
MEET Moaness pier COSTS Free donations appreciated
INFO BOOKINGS Warden Lee Shields 791298

SANDAY RANGER
Every wed and fri 12.00-12.30 welcomes visitors at the waiting room at Loth ferry terminal car park. Call in for advice, guidance ,leaflets ect.
Sanday Ranger Rod Thorne 01867600341

WORLD HERITAGE SITE RANGERS
Join the rangers and explore the area around one of Orkneys stone circles the Ring of Brodgar. Daily walks June,July,Aug.
Weekly guided walks every Thursday 1pm April, May and September.
TIME 1pm…….MEET Ring of Brodgar car park..
INFO/BOOKINGS WHSRS 01856841732

PAPA WESTRAY RSPB
Guided walks with the warden in a land that time forgot.
Every Tus, Thurs, and Sat May till Aug
Booking is essential.
TIME 1.30-3-30…….MEET Rose Cottage
Papay warden 01857 644240


PIEDIE PACKAGE TOUR
PAPAY
Tues, Thurs, Sat every month May till Aug
Inclusive trip.
Ferry from Kirkwall
Mini bus tour of archaeological sights in the morning.
Lunch at the hostel
RSPB guided walk around the reserve to see all the local wild life.
Afternoon tea before the ferry back to Kirkwall
COSTS/INFO/BOOKINGS Papay CO-OP 01857644321

[Sue Wright]

Hi Dafi,

That is wonderful of you to go to such lengths to inform folk before they go as well as informing the locals. Brilliant and many thanks!

So Glaucous Gulls to aim to see also then, this gets more tempting as each week goes by.

Much appreciated all of it. Orkney's tourism will have a great deal to thank you for!!

Sue.

[Mabel]

Fair play Dafi!

[dolphinbride]

Thanks Dafi, if you were trying to make me turn green with envy you've succeeded!! :flowers:

(btw, I got the job, so I'll be waiting for July's calander...!)

[dafi]

To night I was out on a weekly class walk along the coastal path going from Hobbister RSPB car park to the bay of Waulkmill as it’s a liner walk we leave two cars at the Waulkmill end but before travelling back to start from Hobbister. we are all ready spying our first birds before we leave Waulkmill. Below us a Red Throated Diver is feeding to the right of it are a few Eider and a loan Shag. Further to the right and the bay opens out into Scapa flow and a few solitary gulls float about. In the other direction towards the beach a few Oyster Catchers and Redshank fringe the shrinking edges of the sand bars. It all looks quiet. There is a light breeze blowing with a constant spitting rain that’s been falling for the last three hours. Just as we are heading off another Red throated diver flys noisily the length of the bay. So with this we are almost off. In fact we were in first gear and moving when a Twite flys along side the car and lands in front of us and starts to eat dandelions. So it’s all stop and bail out until traffic forces us to get a move on.
At the Hobbister car park little is seen to be moving, a pair of Hoodies move sulkily away from us and despite the rain Pipits scurry around beaks full of caterpillars. On a lovely warm summers evening this can be a wonderful and rewarding place even in the car park you will be assailed by the sounds of Curlew lapwing Skylark and drumming Snipe. To night though its seven oclock cold raining and looks quiet. Heading down the track heather moor opens up on both sides. To the east is the Highland park distillery peat banks whtch form part of this vast reserve. Then along side the track is a plantation of willow that’s loved by Stonechats. Walking along side the plantation we only see a few Meadow Pipits and very little else. Taking the right fork at the peat banks junction we move along side a broader plantation for fifty yards or so. Stopping now to look and listen for Stonechats. Where we are standing earlier in the day a family of newly fledged chats were out and about showing well. However they aren’t to be seen now. Normally you would expect to hear Wren Blackbird Stonechat Robin, All we are hearing is the patter of rain on our coats and hoods until two brief bursts of Sedge warbler song cut through the air. This encourages a loan Stonechat to move from bush to bush. At this Tim tries some gentle phishing.. Stonechats are inquisitive birds and a little patience and stillness often can bring the birds to you. They are having none of it though so we back track to the peat bank gate to try for the sedgie.Tim takes the same approach again this time sounding passably like a Sedge Warbler to us and sure enough it was responding within twenty seconds. It also wouldn’t come out and sit in the open but its curiosity drew it to the front of the bush giving us good views and a couple of full bursts of song before deciding we were just some wet humans and no longer of any interest so disappear into cover again.
Returning to the track we head downhill to the cliff edge while over head two Red Throated Divers head nosily in land after feeding. Looking to sea the waters edge and beyond hold immature Eider and Black Guillemot.. The wind is off shore and we can’t hear their strange high pitched calls to one another. In the first bay is yet another diver and on the headland rocks one or two Shags lurk about doing little. Following the path toward Walukmill single twite are passing stopping to feed in the heather and grass. On past the bomb hole and a rather incongruous picnic table.. The next bay has a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers feeding along the seaward side of the breaking shore wave. Each it seems is taking turns to dive and feed and they are un bothered with our presence and continue until every thing arounds attention is drawn by a male Peregrine making a huge racket as he moves along the cliff line, circling twice before disappearing toward scapa we enjoyed good views and no sooner had he gone and the Meadow Pipits put their heads up again.. Moving along more ArticTerns are passing down the flow...As we arrive at the last headland the path heads inland for two hundred yards or so then turns left or right. Right takes you back to the car park over the hill and the left takes you to the Waulkmill road. This is the one for us the path is newly opened so now puts in a vital new link in the coastal pathways. As we exit the path for the road the rain is falling in earnest and not expecting much we tramp towards waulkmill lodge where in the garden flitting about in the rain are a family group of Stonechats. Wondering who has less scene them or us we watch for a while before moving on to the cars.
With one last rub of the lenses we look out from our vantage point. The view is spectacular even in the rain a long thin shallow bay with heather hills either side when the tide falls it exposes a beautiful expanse of sand. At the back of this there is Orkneys largest area of salt marsh and as such is designated a SSSI .[a new footpath exists somewhere over looking this but is yet to be marked but its going to be great this winter!!] So the last scan produced three Red Throated Divers together in the middle of the bay, another one close in to shore near a Merganser and some Eiders but not a lot more. .Its not been to bad given the conditions. If it hadn’t been a class I would have been off after an hour and missed a lot. But now we are off home for a nice dry out.

Red Throated Divers

In Britain there are about a thousand breeding pairs, In Orkney we have about one hundred pairs. Tonight we have seen about ten percent of them in about three miles so im quite chuffed with that. Given the amount we have seen, the conditions and the noise they were making flying to and fro its easy to see where they get the local name rain goose.

On a foot note I thought I saw a med gull at the piedie sea yesterday any one else seen it?

[dolphinbride]

Wonderful report Dafi! I'm impressed that you went, despite the rain. It seems you were rewarded for your efforts. I'd love to see that Peregrine, I've only ever seen one in captivity. Hope you had a hot cup of tea after your class (or perhaps something a bit stronger...!)

Kristina

[Sue Wright]

That made beautiful reading Dafi, what a sight the Reds are, though, as ye, I've never heard them utter a sound. Is it mainly in flight that they do so? Glad you got your Stonechats in the end. There's something about Sedge Warblers that makes them a real joy to watch. What a rotten night, good sights though, wonderful scenery also, can't be bad really and at least you could change and warm up when you got home.

Thanks for all that Daf, really lovely.

Sue.

[dafi]

Having been stuck indoors awaiting the return of transport I decided to get a taxi to Inganess beach and do the Wideford burn walk. This walk starts off at the beach follows the Wideford burn along side a wee loch and then up a scrubby wooded valley and out to the road through Wideford farm and cottages
On arrival [by taxi] the sea is looking blue but very quiet. Far off at the point are two groups of Eider and one loan Cormorant flying low. there are no gulls no ducks nothing on the sands the shore side is quite empty. Over the back is our route the small loch is quiet holding one pair of Shell Duck with one in the open and the other in a hole some where nearby two common gull take off as soon as the flash from the binoculars hits them the only others on the water are a pair of coots with three young looking fluffy and colourful. As im looking across the water the first Sedge Warbler starts up swiftly followed by another almost on top of the first. I managed three views as they manoeuvred about the regosa bush singing at each other. before I move off.
A path leads inland from the corner of the loch to the right is the loch to the left is a burn bordered by a Flag Iris dominated wetland that turns to rough grazing then an airport. Moving along the path some of which is board walked Wrens are singing in blizzard of song competing with Skylark and Meadow Pipits and a half dozen noisy Swallows through alL of this I can hear the calls of Coot chics and the gentle noises of their guiding parents. From the second bit of board walk I had a view of the chicks long enough to get the camera on them only for the battery to die oh well. Moving along the path I see a female mallard on a nest and a few wee birds fly over three Twite chattering and a Rreed Bunting that passes parallel to the burn at the bridge that crosses the burn I see the strangest thing iv seen for ages [more at exbeebs] and flitting around is a brand new Pied wagtail. All it wants to do is circle the bridge sitting on the fence posts ,im probably near the nest so I move along . In the fields now are black thorn bushes and willow scrub and each one seems to have a Sedge Warbler singing away I have counted six now. With the wind from the south and east for days it seems to have brought in all these new birds. To the right the ground rises up a hill and a Raven is taking my attention when a circling Whimbrell starts to call with its distinctive call It soon disappears north over the hill and im left with displaying Meadow pipits.
The path leads across the main road [ a bend on a deceptively fast hill]and in to a willow lined path with the burn at one side and Flag Iris and willow on the other Sedgies are singing in the distance and Wrens at my feet in fact the one becomes two so I must be on top of a nest so I move on .the ground starts to rise and become a valley and the path gains height we emerge into the open. Now I can see back over where I have walked to the airport and beyond to the left a flock of Jackdaws are feeding and on the opposite side Oyster Catchers are precariously nesting among sheep and big lambs. Progressing up the path the willow scrub deepens and spreads down the deepening valley side .on entering I hear the first of two Willow Warblers. All around the discordant song of Sedgies fills the bushes and moving along a family of Pied Wagtails heads down towards the sea then moments later another party heads towards the farm on the hill side. Over a blackthorn containing a Hoodie nest[long since fledged]the second Willow Warbler sing now but with something else singing as well . A loud fluent song rising and falling. Im not much good with songs and I don’t recognise this one. Once out at the head of the wee valley the path runs through pasture on the level . At the end of the field the path turns hard right up hill to the farm but on the corner is a ford through the burn, it’s a good place to come on birds drinking and bathing and sure enough I get great views of Curlew bathing before they are spooked be me coming towards them .So past this and up hill half way the landing lights come on down the runway so I put the scope on the strip and wait till the plane comes in low overhead. and lands with a puff of smoke. Its my last big bird of the day, it’s a roadside walk back into town. Reflecting on the road back about the insane amount of Sedgies I have just seen usually there are a few regularly breeding but its been a big fall to day. Later tonight I was speaking to Dick Matson of the RSPB about the cancelled weekend trips[bad weather coming] and he told me there were good warblers reported out west and a really good fall of migrants on North Ronaldsay today. I should have written it down but there you go. If it rains before first light and a wet morning it may well be the dogs out there tomorrow morning. FINGERS CROSSED.
Forgot to mention the Chifchaf singing at the bottom of my road [Quadrant/Carters parkRd this lunch time.

[dolphinbride]

Hi Dafi,
Sorry to hear you had to resort to a taxi ride, but glad that you got out! Nothing beats a warbler for me, except maybe a woodthush! Oh, and that airplane sounds dodgy, puffs of smoke and all!

ps - I think I know someone that likes chichafs...!

[Mabel]

Hi Dafi,
Sorry to hear you had to resort to a taxi ride, but glad that you got out! Nothing beats a warbler for me, except maybe a woodthush! Oh, and that airplane sounds dodgy, puffs of smoke and all!

ps - I think I know someone that likes chichafs...!


Chiffchaffs are always good.

Glad you got out, Dafi!

[Sue Wright]

Hi Dafi,

That was a lovely peaceful walk and what some beautiful Birds along the way. So many Sedges too! Each Bird you spoke of I could almost hear their songs with your descriptions of them all. I hope you've at last got your bike back and won't need a taxi again.

ps - I think I know someone that likes chichafs...!

D'you reckon she could be talking about me by any chance?! Cheeky devil! Talking of Chiffchaffs though, we hardly hear any up in the north, a few odd ones, but nothing like Willow Warblers, strange.

Thanks for that Daf, a good'un.

Sue.

[dafi]

Went out in the car with Kate for a spin about. The endless rain putting a damper on things this weekend.
Stopped off at lochside view point Harray
2doz Tuffted scatered about
1pr Mergansers
2 Stonechats
1 Wren
Meadow Pipits
Couple of Curlew

All quite quiet there then i met Dick Matson coming back from fishing.
He had seen.
The Harray Black Swan
Three sandpiper moving between the islands.
Two house Martins
A single Sandmartin.

Merkister

The wet ground between Brialea and North Bigging held several Redshank famlies and a bit of a Reedbunting fest. The merkister bay held very little. and definately no Sandpipers [is a good place to see them though] so on to Loch of Banks hide cos its dry!

Loch Of Banks

Quiet though it was Snipe were periodicaly drumming and showing well on fence posts. Coots moved about with their fluffy red headed young. Loads of Reed Warblers came and went gathering food for hungry young. Bedragled looking Hoodies haunted far off fence posts. While around the hide Sedge warblers sang. To top the day two Housemartins briefly halked over the pool. My first this year.
Yesterday i was at Cotsgarth briefly. The hill was socked in saw brief Merlin on Hoodie action and male Hen Harrier quartering close to the hide but little else.

Evie Sands

North end produced great close views of R/T Diver

[dafi]

Sand martins showing well at Barnhouse hide late this afternoon.

[Sue Wright]

Hi Daf,

I'm pleased Kate got in on some of the action too. You certainly have your share of Reed and Sedge Warblers up there, Reed Buntings too now, great! The amount of drumming Snipes you see/hear is amazing, good news too!

Thanks for more good news of it all Daf.

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi Sue i think wideford burn will be back to normal now after the fall with just a few pairs dotted about. The other day there were birds all over, all i was seeing were sedgies but there were redstarts,pied and spotted flycatchers ouzels warblers,all sorts of stuff. Check out this blury short ear we saw last night. tell you about it and where it was next post.

[dafi]

To nights outing was to the excellent area of the south parish called Windwick [but pronounced winick]Its a rocky bay with cliffs either side and backed by an excellent area of rough ground behind called Blows Moss. The plan had originally been to look for migrants. However the wind hasn’t been in the right direction to be bringing any thing in unfortunately. Are we down hearted, never a bit, There is always something to see if you just look.
We park up at the parking spot an take in the view of the bay. Before us to the right the cliffs gently rise above boulder strewn beaches. To the left steep cliffs start to rise guarded by sentinel like rock stacks.Around the headland the cliffs of Hesta Head rise up to be some of the finest sea cliffs in Orkney. Home of Peregrine and Raven with good colonies of Auks and Gulls. The residents of the cliffs are obvious as we start to scan the waters. With every one [nine of us in total tonight] scanning the sea we soon start to see r
Razor bills and the occasional Guillemot. Tim pops down his scope and within seconds he is in to seven Puffins in a group sitting about on the water. They are a bit distant and hard work for the bins.Iits decided to take a walk along the cliff to get a closer view. The roadside verges are looking particularly verdant at the moment. Big stands of Campion are blooming the Birdsfoot Trefoil are just starting to flower and the grass is full of flowering Clover,Tormentul and Plantains. In the poorer areas Northen Marsh Orchids are pushing through in profusion. These purple flowers are one of my favourite summer flowers. Beyond the verges Meadow Pipits are busy most flit back and forward with food for the hungry broods. Above them males are displaying. These maybe unsuccessful males or they may have fledged there first brood. and be up for the second.
We turn off the road and follow the cliff track up hill . In places its quite exposed with long slopes to the shore below. Fulmars nest all over these faces. and many are roosting up for the night in their pairs. At the waters edge a pair of Shellduck move about feeding while further out dotted about are black Guillemots with there conspicuous white patches showing well through binoculars. We stop at a point we can over look the Puffins there are a dozen or so close in view. It’s a strange thing but they are easer to find in the evening than during the day. This bay and along these cliffs are reputed to be one of the more reliable places to see them. With our puffin lust slaked we were about to move off as a pair of jackdaws landed on top of the nearest rock stack giving fantastic views in the telescopes. Both birds looking in top shape iridescent plumage and that wonderful eye it a shame that I take them so for granted. With that we turn to retrace our path back to the bay. . Wrens sing as we pass , On the shore a few immature Eider lurk about .
Beyond the car park and houses the Burn of Stanes runs to the sea this is bordered by good stands of reeds and home to Sedge Warblers and Reed bunting nether of witch seem interested in coming out to sing and all a quick pish reveals is a curious Wren . Onward beyond the farm buildings a pair of Linnets dance along drawing us on and of course we follow. Beyond the farm the trail turns left through the fields to the cliffs. However traversing the fields proves to be a noisey business with Curlew and Oystercatcher parents determined to make there presence felt and drive us off. Around our feeton the cliff top we are surrounded by Heath Spotted Orchid as well as some big areas of Spring Squill.The path runs along the cliff top to reveal a boulder strewn shore with little to see on it but if you return in autumn then it will be alive with puping seals and you can observe from here till your hearts content. Looking over the water on this side of the bay reveals a little less activity from auks but they nest less in this area. Its more home for fulmars on the grassy ledges and Tysties In the old rabbit holes. Our first raptor puts in an appearance with a Sparrow hawk crossing the bay . The path only leads for a few fields before turning for the inland loop this takes us through a field of frisky cattle to a path past a willow lined lochan. Looking down on the lochan Tufted Duck come immediately to sight followed by Tim calling look look for in his scope he had a Shorteared owl sitting on a fence. It sat patiently watching us but not moving. It seemed amazingly un bothered by ten pairs of bins probing it. Scanning around a pair of Widgeon pass over head to circle and land on the nearest pools of Blows Moss. A few months ago Widgeon were every where and at times its been a matter of waiting for them to move so you can see the birds but now thay have virtually all migrated leaving only a few pairs to breed so from the commonest of ducks on the sea to the rarest of british breeders we get strangely excited by them. We shorten our distance to the owl to a hundred yards, then we are as close as we will get. Its parallel with the path we are on about seventy yards from it .Tims thoughts are it may be sick or it may have just come in from the sea and is exhausted. Or its full of food and cant be arsed to fly. I take the opportunity to shoot a few photos but its not very successful as you can see in the previous post We move along with his head turning completely around watching us until we turn along side the lochan and willows shield us from view.
To the right is Blows Moss an area of wet land extending in land and providing great habitat. Tim told us that at the moment you can hear Water Rail calling and displaying of an evening..Something I have never heard and as it sounds like screaming pigs it’s a song even I might recognise!! To the right the willows contain Sedgies and ReedBbunting singing as we move along. following them until the willow ends and the path crosses the last of the pasture. A scan across the fence posts shows four Oystercatchers sitting looking over young and to our rear the Owl still sits. More Bonxies pass overhead. . They have been passing regularly all evening heading back to roost in the huge colony on Hoy no doubt after spending a hard day mugging auks for there dinners!. We pass the house Quoyorallya on the right as we rejoin the road down through the farm buildings to rejoin the Linnets moving through the tops of the fusias. .At the the bridge Sedgeies still don’t make an appearance until we are all leaving then they join us flitting along the ditch. On reaching the cars a last scan about shows a strangely autumnal sight away beside Hestly there are Oystercatchers mixed in with gulls . They may be late starters that didn’t find mates of they may have had there chicks already [or have lost them] whatever it was summer is over for them and is a stark reminder how far the season is on all ready.
Until the next time.
DAF

[dolphinbride]

Sounds like a wonderful night out, Dafi! Great report as usual!

Thanks,
Kristina

[dafi]

Six Widgeon flying over Brig of Wathe this lunch time.
Birds with young everywhere.
Lapwing,Curlew. Oystercatcher. cause me concern as the silage cutting is getting under way but at the same time it realy draws in the birds to feed.
Sparrowhawk hunting over the willows Kirkwall the last two nights.
Arnt Auk numbers low on Marwick?. Looks like more of the same this year.

[dafi]

Tonight’s outing was across the barriers with a visit to all four. but first a little explanation to set the Sean on the history of the landscape. During the war[sound like grandad now] the military built causeways between the islands of Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay .these were constructed with huge concrete blocks and Italian POW labour. With these Islands then land locked it secured the eastern end of the huge natural harbour of Scapa Flow for the British fleet. They have been maintained to this day and Carrie the main road over the sea. With the north sea on one side and the Flow leading to the Adlantic on the other the barriers generally have birds some where along them.
We meet in the car park at the St Marys end of the first barrier the aim is to head south from here scanning around the fish farm cages hold a few roosting Black Guillemot and couple of Eider. Black headed and herring gulls move about but little else. A flock of male Eider hang about aimlessly. The immature males are now joined by the breeding aged males. .As there job is now done[they take no part in feeding or raising the young] that have started the moult from summer plumage. this means they are now flightless and will gather in bigger and bigger groups in the coming weeks. On one of the blocks stands a loan Razorbill looking for all the world like a wee penguin little else is to bee seen so it’s of to number two. barrier.
The first barrier takes us to the small island of Lamb Holm. This tiny island has the Italian chapel. A war time chapel built by the POW’S and is truly astonishing to see . the other thing is the grass air strip which seems to be host to a micro light fly in . The whole night they seem to be arriving from a southerly direction.
A wee moan now how come my bike has to have a regulated noise emission yet these buzz bombs seem to get off with droning about with open pipes. BOO.
Crossing Lamb Holm we stop at the end the second barrier to look out from The Glimps Holm shore in to Scapa flow Here the Artic Terns are up and feeding fifty yards in front of us noisily swooping and diving in spectacular fashion more often than not emerging to swallow a sand eel. Quite a few are passing food to there partners reinforcing the pair bond. These particular birds may well be nesting in the colony that’s right on top of Glimps Holm this year. Two small groups of razor bills are out there nine in one group and four in an other then to the left of them a Red Throated Diver is called as it makes it way to the left. Almost instantly another is spotted then the oddest one of the lot another RTD but this time its in winter plumage. As to why well I haven’t a clue. Among the Artics we se a couple of dark wing tipped common terns then disappearing into the distance carrying a sand eell is our first Little Gull. Followed by a group of five Gannets its getting good now!
The next stop is not really a barrier but a road over a rocky shore with a loch at the back of it. We stop at the car park at the south end. This is the fantastic Ecnaloch bay and Echa loch. Scanning the sea produces a raft of fifteen or so Eiders and more spectacularly twenty five Mergansers they are on the move diving in groups for sand ells around them are diving terns. one or two Shags are along the shores and a few more razorbills are dotted about along with a few Black Guillies. The first Dunter chicks are being stewarded about by there mothers.. Another nine mergansers land and its turning in to a bit of a merganser fest.. Over on Echna Loch the swans have growing signets with a few tufted duck at the far end drawing our attention the air over them is full of swallows darting hear and there they are a delight to watch and soon two sand martins are picked out from amongst them. In the reeds a Mallard has her small chicks Then comes the bird of the night in the short reeds Tim calls a widgeon with two chicks excellent. Four months ago there were more widgeon than you could point a stick at but now like the rest of the UK they are all gone the UK breeding population is some where over a hundred pairs so as we are watching this gem and having a drool another one is called with a chick this time in open water. Echna Loch never fails. You have to see this place in winter its unreal. The road side car park is a premier place for otters as well. With that it’s off to the forth barrier.
Parking at the north end we take the track to the sands. Sea rocket and sandwort are blooming .large clumps of Scots Lovage are growing. This beach holds good numbers of the extremely rare Oyster plant witch is now coming in to bloom with its stunning blue flowers. On the seas a raft of Eiders [surprise surprise]but the one we have come to see is the Little Tern. The Little Tern is Orkneys rarest breeding sea bird with just one pair on this beach last year this year one nest is all ready established and to night we count six maybe seven birds around.. so its looking good for then so far. They seem to make strange choices of nest area and are prone to disturbance and this is a popular beach for kids and dogs and it’s a bit concerning to see bike tracks running through the nesting area. Fingers crossed. Over them fly’s an Artic Scua so that’s Brittan’s rarest breeding sea bird in shot with Orkneys rarest breeding sea bird how cool is this. we head away. You don’t need to get near to the Little Gulls to observe them as thay settle the hole length of the beach so eventually will land near you with some paticience. And what fantastic birds they are. The most elegant of the terns but also the most feisty harrying any bird that ventures near there nesting area. Terrific stuff.. As we leave for the night the last birds we see is a flock of Sanderling feeding in the breaking waves. They specialise in feeding in the backwash of the breaking waves and are constantly on the move. Looking good in there summer plumage these late migrants have stopped off on there journey from west Africa heading to Greenland or the artic to refuel before heading off for their brief breeding season. That’s it for the night. I forgot to mention the pair of Black Throated Divers[oops] Its been a great night with some truly excellent birds and they are all out there now so get out and enjoy. The only dark cloud was not having sue and terry to share it with sorry guys and I had loads planned but that’s a tale for some one else to tell.

[dolphinbride]

Sounds like it all turned out quite well for you, daf! What incredible history (modern as well as ancient) you have there in Orkney!

The only dark cloud was not having sue and terry to share it with sorry guys and I had loads planned but that’s a tale for some one else to tell.

What sad news, and you had chachiffs ;) all lined up! Kidding of course! I hope all is well with all, it truly is sad news.

All the best,
Kristina

[dafi]

I took a fancy to see a Puffin or two tonight, so after a late tea I headed out to Deerness and the local nature reserve of Mull Head. Situated on the east coast, parts of its cliff tops attract a few Puffins to nest and as it’s the closest spot to Kirkwall for them it was the first choice. Heading out about nine thirty, the first view in the distance is not encouraging. Looking over the Parrish of Tankerness towards Deerness, one end is being swallowed up by a large bank of haar [sea fog] but I press on to take a chance. By the time I pass Dingishowe beach and enter Deerness I am enveloped in a wet fog with a visabilaty of fifty yards ugg. Three miles of this and I’m approaching Mull Head at a fairly slow pace. Along side the road Black Headed Gulls are hawking for insects oblivious to my presence. Parking up the visibility rises to seventy yards or so and I decide to go for it.
Meadow pipits abound .two families are about and the parents seem to be teaching their young the pipit art of sitting on fence posts. Moving from one to another they are every where and fun as it is to stand in the middle of it its not what I have come for so onwards. The air is full of evening song despite the fog with two Blackbirds and two or more Wrens singing. Somewhere in the mists Curlew bubbles and the sounds of Oyster Catchers displaying cut through the gloom. The Gloop holds little but starlings and I move on as I have a mile or so to walk over land, Along the cliff tops the visibility improves and from time to time you can see inland then as fast the sun turns to a dull orb as I step back in to the damp fog .Meadow pipits seem to be everywhere. The first clutches have hatched and fledged. Soon these youngsters will be left to get on with it and the next eggs will be laid. Above the youngsters there are males displaying .Parachuting down with aplomb to land on the tallest heather tussock to the female. Then out of the fog a Curlew circles me crying its agitated cry .I must be near its young so i keep moving three Oyster Catchers pass me nosily at low level. Looks like a male seeing off a rival with his misses bringing up the rear.
So far the path has been lined with a fine display of Birds Foot Trefoil and interspersed with Buttercups producing a fine mat of yellow flowers other things are out too; Ribwort Plantain dwarfs its smaller cousin sea Plantain and thin flowering grasses like Red Fescue abound. the Ling heather is yet to bloom but the new growth of the Crowberry looks fresh and green. approaching the Broch of Deerness[an amazing sight with so much history]. I step out of the fog completely Mull Head is before me and the flowers change now to patches of pink Thrift and and Tormentil. White drifts of scurvy grass still bloom and here and there the purple flowers of lousewort and Northern Bog Orchid are spotted about. Where the heather gives way to the maritime heath grasses the last of the delicate Spring Squill is still in flower. Looking back to Brough the ledges are occupied by good numbers of roosting and nesting Shags and Razorbills. Above them on the grassy ledges the ubiquitous Fulmar is every where. I can see my destination in the distance. Above me I am being circled by Black Back Gulls .as I count eight I cant help wondering if they are waiting for me to go over the edge in the fog. Even as I think this the world closes up again yet with in two minutes its passed yet the fogs character has changed again and is now rising up and forming over the low ground and gullies in the cliff line rolling inland in flat narrow sheets and making for an impressive vista.
On the sea little is sitting about. I watch Shag Razorbill Fulmar and Common Gull returning for a while before being moved on by the first midgies of the year[its been quite cold and wet this last while and it don’t bode well] Moving off the path takes me up and down in and out of the haar - at times thin tendrils are snaking over my boots mostly its just a walk through soup but the track is quite well defined. If your out here stick to it cos it would be easy to come to the edge of a geo and there’s some spectacularly deep ones on the cliff path. Just along the Howan lickan shore is a case in point .A narrow geo twenty foot wide cuts into the headland and has a drop of a hundred feet. Impressive in the light but you wouldn’t want to fall in. The sun has now set but it wont be getting dark for a long while yet as we are so far north. This is one of the best times to see the small amount of Puffins as they return to their nest holes to roost up and the next headland is the place to be. Moving up hill now I leave the fog and emerge into clear air. Leaving the path to get to the cliff edge I settle down on the wet grass[ugg] to scan about. Nothing is sitting on the sea but along the rocks below are five male Eider two Blackbacks and a few Common Gulls. Rock pi[its display either side of me and as I watch the first Puffin appears dashing up to the cliff. It banks sharply and heads out into the fog. several more false calls get me going as returning Razorbills approach and land. Mostly the razorbills are in pairs sitting face to face on ledges and nest sights cutely preening each other and billing away. Fulmars silently glide along the gently moving air of the cliff face then another group of four Puffins circle twice before two land out of sight.
Looking back from my vantage point the high ground sticks out of the fog as it rises over the low points in a series of white rivers of mist. Its strange how you take the landscape for granted I have been here dozens upon dozens of times but have never seen a view as stunningly beautiful as it is tonight while contemplating this six Puffins in the largest group of the night appear, bank right to disappear along the face but only two reappear to head out to sea. Over the next thirty minutes they appear in ones and twos and I count eighteen in all. Add to all this two Cormorants and I decide to haul ass back towards the bike. Once again through the rivers of fog with occasionally a big bank rolling over everything. At the gate before the Brough there is a noisy clamour when out of the fog in front of me literally ten yards away appears a Fulmar being attacked by an Artic Skua. The Skua sees me and breaks off its attack. The lucky Fulmar holds on to its supper as it heads in the other direction. The moor land of Mull Head holds at least one pair of these rare breeding sea birds and the path across the centre of the moor will provide views of them for walkers they are britans rarest breeding sea bird and I think the light phase birds are also the most attractive sea bird going ,Elegant graceful sleek and deadly. A spectacular bird. From the brough back it’s a case of much the same .
Curlews circle and almost out at the Gloup the field of horses produces an agitated lapwing that gives me a little harrie. I look for its chicks in the field but nothing is to be seen. They must be listening to mum and sitting still wise birds with Skuas and Blackbacks about. The last place to look is in the Gloup. A gloup is a hole where the roof of a sea cave has collapsed but sill retains the tunnel to the sea. This is the biggest one in Orkney and intrepid boatmen have been known to sail the length of the cave to appear inside. There is little to see inside, grey mist falls down the far end and starlings chatter in the gathering gloom. If these conditions occurred during migration time then it could well be another story for in the treeless landscape of the east mainland this huge hole provides sheltered haven for small birds to rest up in and it can fill spectacularly with Blackcaps Robins Goldcrests and all manner of migratory birds. However not tonight all there is mist and damp. That’s it for me. I reach the bike stash the bins in their bag under the bungies and steel my self for the long wet ride home. I’ve not seen much but its been visually stunning occasionally to the point of a lump in the throat. Orkney! I love it!!

[Mabel]

Look at you Dafi-saviour of the Fulmars! What descriptions of the area, with it's plants and all.
I think we should start a Dafi-report Fan Club, hell a Dafi fan club!

Well done, mate.

[dafi]

No i dont think so mate. All i want to do is to try and tell it like it is for me and encourage others to get out and enjoy whats about.

[dafi]

Saying that though other contributers would be like a breath of fresh air. So if your out there why not join in. lets have your sightings tips reports thoughts and opinions. If your a guest why not join up and join in. Local patch is a great idea and is for everybody and who knows what we may help each other see! Dont be shy join in.

[dafi]

Been out on a class to night and most of the route was along the road the length of the loch of banks looking over the pools and loch. Just a quick list up to give a taste cos its late and i have to be up early to go counting birds!
Oyster Catchers in the loch side fields with chicks.
Two doz Redshanks.
Eighteen Gargany.
Two doz Teal with a flock of thirty landing.
Mute swans flying over.
Several Lapwing and a fourty strong flock in the air
Twenty plus Shellduck. One with nine young[harried by a blackback]
Reed buntings
Sedge warblers
Several mallard with young
Sixty or more Greaylag with loads of young
Several snipe with some drumming.
Loads of Meadow pipits
Swallows feeding.
A doz or more Redshank dotted about.
A flock of fourteen Redshank flew over
One Shorteared owl feeding
assorted gulls
Several Comon Terns fishing
Five Artic Squas three light two dark actively feeding
Five Shovlers with three flying over.
Several Tufted duck most with young
All in all not bad for a short walk.in the cold

[aythya_hybrid]

Eighteen Gargany.


18?????!!!!!!!!!

[dafi]

Yea there were rakes of them last night. Its been a bit of a boom year this year!

[Mabel]

Great stuff, Dafi! I have yet to see one Garganey, let alone 18!!

[dafi]

Well i actualy think that Athya Hybred has a point and i may well be quite out with my count but i havent been able to get hold of Tim to get his count of the night. I just dashed of that report when i got in with out the aid or notes. When i get an acurate count i will post it up to clarify.

[dafi]

18?????!!!!!!!!!


Good call there Jonathan. Am i sitting here red faced? You bet yer ass cos it was only when i said Gargany to Tim and he said Gadwall that i thought oooo s**t s**T S**T.
I stand corected. well caught.
If you keep reading another one will probaly be along sooner or later.
Cheers.
DAF.

[aythya_hybrid]

Good call there Jonathan. Am i sitting here red faced? You bet yer ass cos it was only when i said Gargany to Tim and he said Gadwall that i thought oooo s**t s**T S**T.
I stand corected. well caught.
If you keep reading another one will probaly be along sooner or later.
Cheers.
DAF.

Hey, no worries. Even in East Anglia seeing more than 3 Garganey at once would be quite something, so I thought 18 on Orkney did seem a tad improbable!

I'm actually going to be on Orkney for a week at the end of July, looking forward to it!

[dafi]

If you give us a shout when your closer we could meet up,have a spin about and get off the beaten track. If your up for it. You can keep me right with my spotting LOL.

[dafi]

Its been my good fortune to get the opportunity to visit the island of Auskerry to day. This is some thing that doesn’t come along very often. The RSPB trip there was cancelled at the last minute this year and that’s about my only visit in a year. It’s a far flung bit of the patch but its an absolute jewel. Auskerry’s a low lying island off the south east of Stronsay. It is owned and farmed by one family who manage it for sheep with a wild life bias. Today I was visiting as a volunteer for SNH taking part in an Artic Tern/Storm Petrel survey[more on the survey work on ex beeb] any way this is one of the finest places to see many of our sea birds in an environment where they are a bit less nervous of humans.
We travelled over from Kirkwall with Smith Foubister aboard his gem of a boat Creole. It’s a two hour trip and with a F6 NNE blowing across our bows it’s a wee bit rock n roll but time soon passes. We have been accompanied by the usual suspects and a surprising amount of Black Guillemots[Tysties]. Arriving at the small jetty built to service the light house we are immediately welcomed by three Tysties actually displaying on the low cliff top very strange as its so late in the year but their whistling calls are joined by more in the water paddling around beside the boat. We get ashore and move off toward the light house where we can hear Terns in the distance. Peering over the wall of the lighthouse gardens produces no terns at all. Within these sheltered walls is the favoured place for the Artics colony. but not this year it seems. Moving to the south shore to have our elevenses’ I can see. Thirty Artic Terns who look like failed breeders sitting about on the rocks. Greater and lesser Blackbacks are about. Eider ducks compete a little for rocks to roost up on with seals but generally have to take what they can get. Two pair of Ringed Plovers have territories and scurry around below where we sit. Gulls dot the rocks with Rock Pipits are continually on the move around us with mouth fulls of food.
We move along the shore line from Hunters geo to Chapel geo checking all holes under rocks and old rabbit holes trying to elicit calls from Storm Petrels as we go. The rocks between the geos hold a few Shag and a lot of the gulls that have moved forward of us.Lesser Blackbacks with young some well grown are being led about the lower rocks by nervous parents so we move along. As we pass the rocks known as the Lothers the first of the Puffins come in sight. Standing around in small groups these are probably non breeding birds. They are quite tolerant of approach. I haven’t brought my scope so didgibin a few photos for the way of it. While im sitting doing this flights of twenty or more Puffins are landing over the rise But before heading on a scan of the rocks shows two separate pairs of Turnstones two of which are in there splendid summer plumage. I think they are an absolute delight to see in the sun shine. Heading over the rise is Whale Geo and just approaching it the high pitched singing of Tysties can be heard. Looking over sends off three doz Puffins who actually don’t go far but land just off the headland and there float around like the little sea parrots they are. Below in the water of the geo seven Tysties paddle around feeling safe enough they don’t disappear out to sea. I take a few snaps but this is my bogy bird. It has the darkest black feathers that the light sinks in to and wont return then the white wing patches reflect light with almost the opposite effect and I can never seem to get any sort of balanced exposure. The muddy low cliff face has Fulmars sitting on ledges then the rabbit holes and burros are occupied by the Tysties. The rocks nearest the sea are occupied by Shags with there growing young. Now the size of adults but distinguishable by there grey looking plumage. Beyond them lie the ubiquitous seals
Moving along the Gerson shore we walk over the main Puffin borough THE air is alive with puffins on the east side. Still no sign of a Tern colony and its not looking good on that score. At the loch of Ddinnapow we all assist in locating a rare plant and then moving inland locate another[Adders tounge]then leaving the shore line I head inland to locate any Greater Blackback nests so I can check pellets for Storm petrel rings. We now have forty five minutes till the boat leaves. I cross two fence lines and what a pleasure it is to have no barbed wire in use and even better no electric fences. In land I head for the higher ground where the Greater Blackbacks nest. I see a pair of wheatears then two males chasing. See one Pied Wagtail hear one Skylark.. Meadow pipits are every where though. I put up an Artic Scua whitch is one of a breeding pair. This one makes several close passes and I can see the almost sooty grey of its plumage very close up. Two small brown birds pass over and I think they were Linnets but am not really sure. Now try as I might I cant even find an old Blackbacks nest let alone any pellets. It looks like this may also be a sight that they may have failed on this year[another seabird not having a good season here]. So with that my time is up after having my ear down every rabbit hole and having examined every sheep turd looking for pellets all that’s left is a brisk walk to the light house and the taxi. On the way back I put up two Snipe which are probably the ones I saw earlier on arrival. With little ado we are off and strangely enough its even rougher on the way back. It was to rough for scanning about with bins so the highlights being eight Gannets nice and close in occasionally passing one sitting on the water ,loads more Tysties on the water and not as many Guillemots as I expected but loads flying about the boat and those fulmars were never far away. Probably smelling that last cheese sandwich . The only damper was the poor state of breeding. Apart its been an excellent day on land and sea..

[Ben Nevis]

The lack of breeding evidence,is a little worrying.Were there large numbers of breeding birds last year ?

[dafi]

Hi Ben The trend is of constant poor preformance, the last two years its seemed that breeding took off late as the food came on song. Ths year there seems little food at all. two weeks ago terns over the south mainland and isles seemed to be going fine and feeding well around the barriers but now even these are failing and the whole of Orkney looks like a tern free zone. It may happen that the sand Eels may come sweeping in to save the day. A nice end of season spurt would be great. We can only sit and hope

[dafi]

Today I have been on the not often visited islands of Muckle Skerry and Swona. These two islands lie at the southern end of the Orkney Islands in the powerful tidal waters of the Pentland Firth. Neither of them is inhabited and Muckle skerry is the first visit of the trip,. What I saw of the island was rank looking grass but as I was there to help out the local ringing group my view of the island was to be limited to really the north side cliffs. These are situated below the lighthouses on the short walk up we saw Wheatear, Meadow Pipits, a Pied wagtail, Snipe. Some went to look for gulls. While we went for sea birds.. Along the Geos were Shags and Razor Bills and crowning the rocky prominence’s were lines of Puffins.
As we had arrived two Ravens had left. Putting off out over the sea and every where is strewn with stolen eggs fulmars are dotted about sitting on eggs and spitting nervously as we work. Its hard not to notice the eaten carcases of Auks mostly with beak shaped bites taken straight through the breast bone.[Peregrine predation] every thing breeding is under enough pressure with out this Nature is tough. We see lots of dead chicks in nests under weight and dead adults and numbers of birds breeding are all down. All too soon its back to the boat and on to Swona.
Setting off in the RIB its now flat calm and before us is the rolling boiling mass of the Pentland firth. The huge tidal race is the Atlantic Ocean trying to get in too the North Sea and later the North Sea has a shot. In this moving mass nutrients are forced upwards and provide a natural attraction to all manner of fish and birds yet the whole place is a complete desert. On the RIB there is about One hundred and Fiftyyears experience of Orkney and no one has seen it like this before. Its almost eerie.
Swona. We put in at a wee geo landing called the Haven we all jump ashore. Just yards away the tide is moving past at eight knots like a river in spate an impressive sight. and an extremely isolating factor. Those fellers in the days of sail must have been artists to get in and out of such dangerous places. Onward up the low cliff and before us is the settlement here the main part of the community lived. Four or five houses in different states or repair. The island now has no fences and is freely grazed by a herd of feral cattle. There is a herd, a couple of ostracised bulls and cows. They are down the other end of the island and that seems fair to me. The community left en mass in 1974 and these beasts have been left to there own devices ever since. Over such a large area they manage not to over graze but the sward is way more diverse than sheep grazed pasture. The whole place is carpeted in wild flowers from orchids to raged Robin it is unique and visually stunning. We stash our bags and split up. Our area is the cliffs heading south. Here are Shags and Razor bills fulmars and Puffins, .Plenty of Seals but mostly and gloriously the Puffins landing all around. At the top of seaward sloping cliffs muddy slopes contain warrens of Puffin boroughs. Birds are returning with sand eels but its precious few. But the Puffins seem in good numbers and are pleasingly visible all the way to Sooth Cleat where our work stops. Packing up our stuff we return over land to see what we can see. The ground seems perfect for Snipe and every one is putting them up as they walk along. Meadow pipits abound .Skylarks abound. Only a few gulls are to be seen and it looks like the various gull colony’s of recent years are finished or have failed. And yet again there are no Terns on either island.. I also saw little sine of Lapwing or Oystercatcher.today. and if there were Curlew they are probably off to the mainland feeding bounty that is silage cutting. Only two pair of Bonxies were nesting on Swona. I don’t think anyone saw a Ringed Plover either although I did see two separate male Wheatears. That was about it for us. Before we left Eric Meek was telling us of times in the eighties when there were thousands of Artic Skuas here. Of thousands of gulls in colonys, Artic and Sandwich Terns Of walking down to the boat trying not to stand on the closely packed Fulmars It all seems so faraway when you look over the empty expanse now. With that we troop down to the boat nobody really wanting to leave, Clamber over the bow and get our life jackets on then whoosh we are off. Speeding through the blue desert back to Burwick.absolute magic..
For me I have had a brilliant time doing something that I have always wanted to do getting up close and working with wild birds hands on yet its saddening that things seem in such dire straights. However if you get the chance to land on Swona do it cos it is an absolute unique gem and a stunning beautiful place..I forgot to mention the huge gloop didn’t i……….Oh well next time.

[Sue Wright]

Hi Ben The trend is of constant poor preformance, the last two years its seemed that breeding took off late as the food came on song. Ths year there seems little food at all. two weeks ago terns over the south mainland and isles seemed to be going fine and feeding well around the barriers but now even these are failing and the whole of Orkney looks like a tern free zone. It may happen that the sand Eels may come sweeping in to save the day. A nice end of season spurt would be great. We can only sit and hope

Hi Dafi,

I've just been going over your reports whilst we were away and I see it wasn't just us noticing how few Terns there were on the mainland. We always watch a fair-sized colony at Ault Bea near to Gairloch and we were shocked at how few were there, BH Gulls too. The story for Terns was much the same wherever we went, so sad to see. I do hope things will improve before long as they'd be such a loss if they can't reproduce and feed themselves and their young properly.

The only dark cloud was not having sue and terry to share it with sorry guys and I had loads planned but that’s a tale for some one else to tell.

Oh Daf, I just read the above in one of your reports and could have cried, especially as we yearned so much to come on over and discover Orkney with you. We must do it next year Daf! We want to so much, if only the bill for the car hadn't stumped us we'd have been there for it all and savoured many beautiful moments I'm sure. Still, worse things happen that's for sure and here's to next year............without motoring problems!!!

Thanks so much for your kind words Dafi.

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi Sue its nice to hear from you again. Total bummer about your motor by the way. These things are sent to try us i supose. Never mind when you come up we will take you abseiling or something to make up for it. You have to try that RIB that runs out of John'oGroats if you get this far up. Expensive but fun and loads of close views of the wild life and islands. Not to mention the tide whitch has to be seen to be believed. Never mind it will still all be here next year. As to the terns im realy no sort of athoritive voice all i do is chuck out my two bobs worth but whats happening for whatever reasons seems wide spread across the isles. I hear that Marwick head is sparsely ocupied with Auks now so i might have a look at dusk to see whats there and what comes back to roost.
It seems Terns can stand loosing a breeding year once in a while as they are long lived birds. What i realy hope is they are gone. Have headed off to some where there is food and space. After all five hundred miles is not a lot for a bird that winters as far as South Africa and Australia. Plus terns are quite fickle and will move sights from year to year. I think the problems here will be down to lack of food at the end of the day. The general concencus of opinion has been theres a lack of plancton to draw the sand eels and hence little for the birds.I dont realy know how terns are dooing around the Scottish coast. But wouldnt mind some anacdotal observations and opinions from some regular haunts to give a wider picture
Sorry for going on Sue but the whole thing has realy pissed me off this last while. It seems the more i learn the worse it seems to be. Oh well fingers crossed and crash on i supose.

[Sue Wright]

Thanks for that Dafi, at least I feel a little better now. We are so looking forward to getting up there next year now, though ABSEILING......Terry??? I've never been able to get him up the gondola near Fort William yet and Applecross is definately out for us, unless our lad comes up some time! Ah well.

Maybe we will try the RIB as the sights must be amazing. Not sure about the tide though!

Yes, no doubt you're right about the Terns being able to survive it all after all the travelling they have to endure. Bill (Moss) thought we'd see Little and Sandwich Terns around the Scottish coast, but we certainly didn't sadly. Obviously we didn't cover every bit of it, but were very disappointed with what we did see. Still, no doubt it'll all turn around for them next year. No worries about you 'going on' at all I can quite understand your frustrations - a bit like ours the week before last, though ours were minor in comparison. Good luck with the Auk numbers Daf.

All the best,

Sue.

[dafi]

I was out on a class to night and heard a corncrake calling. Chuffed i was as it was my first. Any way its out in birsay. if you park at the old Birsay kirk yard. It is calling in the field on the right as you walk towards the village along the grassy track. this is a new sight for one to be heard on. There is also one calling at marwick so hopfully this is one brood on the way and another brood in the offing.
heres a quick list of the birds i have just heard about
4 in the west mainland
Marwick
Birsay
Comlaquoy
1 on the East mainland
Tankerness
7 on Papa Westray
2 on Westray
4 on Sandy
2 on Egilsay[Top job there RSPB]
So there we go will the next person to here one be you?

[Sue Wright]

Wonderful news Dafi!!!

I'll bet that great sound is still ringing in your ears now! All the best of luck on seeing one as well, though for us, to hear one would be truly magical.

Well done indeed Daf,

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi Sue
The corncrake was the only bright bit of the birding day im afraid Sue. I have just had my worstever birding day. Things have gone from bad to worse to extra worse in rapid sucsession. It now looks to me like a huge if not compleat colapse of the breeding sea bird population.There is just no food. Virtualy no Kitywakes are on chicks. The birds themselves are hunting insects and stuff inland. Terns are heading away south already virtualy none have reared young. i was at Marwick head to day. The cliffs have some birds on them and some of those birds have eggs and chicks but in the grand scale of the place its a drop in he ocean. Sorry to be on a downer Sue but its realy realy pissed me off this last ten days watching how its going down the toilet.

sucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksu cksucksucksucksucks

[Sue Wright]

Hi Daf,

Oh dear, what some sad news, but maybe that accounts why a Fulmar was seen inland at Gloucestershire today, searching out food unobtainable at sea, same with a couple of Gannets last year and one a week ago. I know they said it would happen with the Sand Eels and that it's quite possibly the Bass Shark that are to blame for taking all the Plankton, but what to do??? I've no idea, though something will need to be done somewhere if we're to keep our Sea Birds going. We're hoping to get the chance to pop down to Weymouth in Dorset any day now to see what the C Tern colony is like there this year, I hop they've faired better, but we'll see.

On a brighter note but sadly a lot further south from you there were young Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks to be seen at Bempton Cliffs, I've got photos one of which I'll put on here. Others had eggs visible too. Strangely enough though we were told that the Puffins were lacking the Eels so much there that they were going further north to breed, but not too many to be seen on Handa Island.

We just have to hold up Daf and hope that all will be better for them all next year and that the Bass Sharks may go further on up or down for their food. Don't get too down Daf as you're doing such a grand job for the Birds, yourself and not to mention tourism on Orkney....though sadly not for us...THIS year, but look out next!!!

Take care.

Sue. PS. Your PM box is full. PPS. I can't upload the photo as it keeps failing for some reason, I'll try again later.

[dafi]

The food thing looks like the sea is staying warmer and this is probaly the gulf stream pushing a bit further north and the cold waters of the north Atlantic not pushing so far south. and all along the interphase of this is the area where the nutrients are pushed up to form the rich soup that atracts every thing to feed. It might be that it is to far for the birds to get to now. It might be that the water is to warm for the food for the sand eels so they are further off. What ever it is there seems to be little or no food and its another realy bad year in a series of bad years. Fulmars are sitting on eggs and they seem the most widespred of the sea birds to be dooing so. Yet when we did the count along the Westray cliffs a couple of weeks ago my count was 800 five years ago the count was 4500, Speaks fo its self realy. The real fear that pepole are starting to voice is is this going to be some sort of permenant situation. Last year and the year before it kind of rallyed at the end of the season and there was a rush to to breed at the end of the season. However its all starting to look a bit late now. Every thing looks pretty well gubbed now. Lets see what the next month brings.

[Sue Wright]

Fulmars are sitting on eggs and they seem the most widespred of the sea birds to be dooing so. Yet when we did the count along the Westray cliffs a couple of weeks ago my count was 800 five years ago the count was 4500, Speaks fo its self realy. The real fear that pepole are starting to voice is is this going to be some sort of permenant situation. Last year and the year before it kind of rallyed at the end of the season and there was a rush to to breed at the end of the season. However its all starting to look a bit late now. Every thing looks pretty well gubbed now. Lets see what the next month brings.

Hi Daf,

What a heck of a difference in numbers that is!!! I knew things were getting bad, but that was shocking to read. The 'man on the ground' knows best about the numbers close to him so I can really see what you mean with figures like those above. The situation is indeed dire. The temperatures you speak of could well be a lot to do with it to though, another thing I hadn't thought of. Things don't look at all good Daf, let's just hope Nature can sort the problems out....and SOON!

Back to the photo, I hadn't saved it properly and that's why it wouldn't load on my post last night, so here it is.

Fingers crossed for all the Sea Birds Daf!

Sue.

[dolphinbride]

How is it that I've missed so many posts to on this thread? Sounds like things have been a rollercoaster for you, Dafi, out there in Orkney.

Doesn't look like I will be making a journey to your fair isles this summer. My passport has expired and the US passport agency is behind by months. (I have an Irish passport, but US citizens are not allowed to travel on anything other than their US passport, hmmmm.....?)

What other times of year are good to visit in regards to the feathery ones?

All the best,
Kristina

[timwootton]

Hi Dafi - Just been scanning the last several months' worth of material to get me up to speed, so to speak (and thanks for the tip-off!). First things first - great thread and even for someone who sees and hears all you write of on a daily basis, this is enthralling stuff!
I won't enter the thread with news of doom and gloom (although I suppose by my PM regarding the tern situation, you already know all that, plus your own observations) - but I'll do so on a brighter birding note.
The Glaucous gull which turned up on the ouze in front of my house returned again to roost yesterday evening. There's a small seal been washed in and it seems to spend its time milling about this - in company with a couple of GBB gulls. A Bonxie joined them for a gob-full of seal burger - a glauc and a bonxie in mid-summer (thought I was in the high arctic for a while - then I got the barbie going and drifted back to Orkney).
I'm getting a bit bogged down with the report writing for the bird monitoring, but the surveys have all been completed. I can now go and do some birding for pleasure rather than pay. Less stress and all.
See ya.

[dafi]

Nice one Tim welcome to our thread. Now we have two pairs of eyes. I have been encouraging pepole to join up but it seems with little sucsess so far how ever live in hope[sic] I have to go to harray tonight so i may get up marwick at dusk and try to see how many auks come in to roost and get an idea whats left and maybe catch a corncrcke. as long as its not thick harr again!

[timwootton]

Got blazing sun here Daf - just been cleaning the winter out of the boat - Uuuurrrghhhhhh!!! effing disgusting (serves me right for leaving it so long). But the mackeral are in (as evidenced by 2 Great black-backs squabbling over one on the ouze only to be relieved of it by a bonxie), so I ought to be out catching a few suppers.
Good luck with the auks (i'm on official tern duty tonight) - you know the ones.
With regards to others chipping in - it seems you already have an extremely healthy and interesting bunch of contributors - keep it up (also I'm not sure how many BFers there are up here - Paul's one, but is usually too busy chasing round after skuas to type more than a 'hi!' - would be interesting to know if there's anyone else???????)

[Sue Wright]

Hi Dafi - Just been scanning the last several months' worth of material to get me up to speed, so to speak (and thanks for the tip-off!). First things first - great thread and even for someone who sees and hears all you write of on a daily basis, this is enthralling stuff!

Aha! Is that thee Tim you so often speak of the Daf? If so, yet another to notice what great stuff you write about and whoever Tim is he's right in that your news is enthralling! Keep it up Daf, no matter if things are good or bad, you still write about it all with a great passion, that's so important. Terry & I really can't wait til next year now!

Very sad news about Kristina & Dave not being able to visit either now, maybe we'll all be there together next year! What a thought!!!

Keep it all going Daf, it makes wonderful reading...good or bad - it's Nature and Nature works in it's own way - but - always bounces back! Keep looking forward to that Dafi, it'll come.

Sue.

[timwootton]

Back from 'doing' the lil'terns - looking quite healthy - colony appears strong - adults in close attendance and very vocal. Had an interesting count, too - but we'll see what transpires.
Beautiful evening outside, so I hope the haar stayed away in the north for your auks, Daf.
Speak later.

[dafi]

Well I went out to the cliffs but on the way dallied at the loons hide as I saw a Herron close to the hide. Anyway in fifteen minutes I managed to amass the low total of…
Herron looking very scabby
3 f male Shoveler
6 asst Mallard
2 Reed bunting
Snipe on post
Oyster catcher on post with young
GBB Gull on post
Coots fighting at the drop of a hat
Hoodies mooching about
2 Curlews with young
On then to Marwick bay parking at the north end. The first thing I hear on removing my crash helmet is the call of a corncrake. Thats about par for the course. Seven attempts to hear my first one ever and that’s two in three nights at different sites. Great start tho. Down the beach birds are concentrated at the outfall of the burn with…
19 Kittiwakes
6 comon gull
53 Oyster catchers
2 lesser black backs
Along the shore towards me are
4 knot?
A few2 redshanks
5 Wheatear 3 m 2 f
Off up the cliff track and there are a few rock pipit young about but for a good while two Twite move ahead of me on the fence. They are one section of fence ahead all the time and seem to be enjoying the attention as much as me. Nearly at the top and I see my best bird of the night as a Swift shoots past feet from me. This is the absolute dogs for me as I don’t see many in Orkney in fact this is my first this year . It hawks about over the cliff edge all the time im there giving fantastic and thrillingly close views. The reason im here is to see how many auks come in to roost. However its immediately obvious it’s a waste of time as the cliff face is virtually deserted it looks like that’s that for this year. I really hope other sights in Scotland are doing better than us. On a brighter note I counted 21 puffins at one time, a personal best. So with the sun down and nothing to stay for it was back to the bike where the Corncrake was still calling flat out. I gave a lift to another birder back to his motor at the memorial car park He had seen a Corncrake but had never been on the back of a bike. So it was new experiences all around this week.


Any way enough of this ramble you have me curious now Tim. My count has consistently been seven . So how did you do?

[dafi]

Hi Sue to clarify Tim i speak of is Tim Dean of the SNH and birder extrodinair. Tim contributing is Tim Wooton the writer and artist. you should check out his thread in wild life art called from Tim Wootons studio. Its a realy exelent thread.You will see the boy can paint a bit as well. Anyway its well late and i have to get off
cheers for now.

[timwootton]

Ten, Dafi - as it has been every time I've visited. Seems extraordinary that the regular watchers are never seeing this amount - although I'm either lucky or going at different times of day (last night it was just before 10pm - and all the birds would have been back on territory). Good shout for the corncrake, too - well done.

[Barrie Hamill]

Hello Dafi and Tim (and all of Dafi's regulars)

There is someone else on Birdforum living on Orkney. Me!

Moved up a few weeks ago from Milton Keynes. We are on the shore in Burray Village and can see the Little Terns feeding each day in front of the house from our kitchen window along with lots of other good stuff.

I joined Bird Forum last week and have particularly enjoyed this thread and Tim's Wildlife art one.

Pleased that my first post on Bird Forum is on this thread. Hopefully it will be the first of many.

Cheers,

Barrie

[delia todd]

Hi Barrie and welcome to Bird Forum from all the Staff and Moderators

Keep an eye on the Scottish Bash Discussion Thread (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=62547) we have a few through the year and you'd be more than welcome to join us if you can manage. Dafi missed the last one due to transport problems:-C (you got it going yet Dafi??)

D

[dafi]

Hi Barrie and welcome to the forum and welcome to Orkney. Nice place Burray and you have one of the best winter spots around in walking distance over at Echna Loch and Echnaloch bay and Hundas a great place for a walk around. Not to mention the Little Terns at the forth barrier. Its also worth checking for Oyster plant there if your in to that sort of thing.
Its good to get another on board thats two in three days and two corncrakes in three days a touch of serindipity or something going on here Barrie. I look forward to hearing of your sightings and explorations. If i can help you with any info on places and the like just drop me a PM.
WELCOME ABOARD.

Hi Delia yes it did get going about six hundred quid later[ouch] i still havent had a holiday yet and its not looking like it at the moment. Things seem to be going good on the thread all of a sudden. Strange it gathers momentum just as im about to loose my internet link for a month. life eh you gota laugh!

[timwootton]

Hi Barrie - as has been so eloquently put before - welcome to BF and to Orkney - I'm sure our paths will cross pretty soon. Any obsrvations you have of the aforementioned 'special' species - what they're catching, where they're going, if with food, etc would be greatly appreciated (er, by PM if that's ok).
Hi Dafi - night 2 of my stint with 'the special ones' (no, NOT Jose-effing- Morhinio) and I have definitely 10 birds in the air - at least.
By the way Delia - when's the next Scottish bash gonna be in Orkney????? ;)

[delia todd]

By the way Delia - when's the next Scottish bash gonna be in Orkney?????

I'm up for that :t: Time I visited Orkney:-O . Come up with a suitable date and that's it really..

Would you lead it?

D

[timwootton]

Er - I could certainly help, but Dafi's born and bred, knows his stuff and would be a brilliant guide. (Just when you all start booking ferries and accommodation - I have a very nice 6-berth caravan for rent!!! ;) )
Over to you, Dafi - when's a good time?

[dafi]

migrants and seal pups winter waders Hen Harrier roosts. theres loads to think about. we would probaly get a group rate on a BnB i know.
What do you reckon on timing then Tim. anything under a force 9 being a goer LOL

[dafi]

We are coming to the end of the season so its either migrants that im not lucky with or the winter wild foul, wader sand shore birds. its all ways nice to see the 'proper' autum seal pups.What do you fancy Delia.

[timwootton]

If this is gonna roll, then I'm buying shares in 'Visit Orkney' - if they're available. But seriously, anything at anytime and I don't know the lead-in times necessary. Obviously now's a great time - reasonable weather (!), birds on the cliffs (!) birds on the moors and wonderful light - er, sometimes.
Put out some feelers, Delia - see who nibbles.

[dafi]

acomodation might be problmatic at this time of year. i dont know how the seasons going but it gets pretty booked up. could have an army of tents out in Harray if folks were minded to camp. i gotta have another whisky.

[Sue Wright]

Hi Sue to clarify Tim i speak of is Tim Dean of the SNH and birder extrodinair. Tim contributing is Tim Wooton the writer and artist. you should check out his thread in wild life art called from Tim Wootons studio. Its a realy exelent thread.You will see the boy can paint a bit as well. Anyway its well late and i have to get off
cheers for now.

Hi Daf, thanks for letting me know who Tim is, as soon as I saw Tim Dean's name I knew I had the wrong chap. Though what an artist you - Tim Wooton are! You're obviously extremely gifted, good to see you using your talent to it's full. I adore the Shortest Day SE Owl and the Puffin pair paintings, along with many more, but I must have a really good look through asap. Good to meet you and I'm pleased Dafi has another voice from Orkney.

All best wishes,

Sue.

Hello Dafi and Tim (and all of Dafi's regulars)

There is someone else on Birdforum living on Orkney. Me!

A very warm welcome to Bird Forum from me too Barrie, though it's especially good to see you also come from Orkney and will be able to chat here with Daf. He's needed others up there to join in and it seems he's getting lucky at last, so good to see as he's worked passionately and tirelessly to make these threads successful and it looks as though they're heading that way, fast!

Best wishes Barrie and I'll look forward to see your sightings now too. Those Little Terns from your kitchen window sound wonderful!

Sue.

[timwootton]

Hi Sue, many thanks for the kind words -much appreciated, Miss!
And - Shock, horror - managed to actually 'get in the field' tonight - just back, effing frozen -middle of bloody summer, t-shirt, fleece and three-way jacket and still brass-monkeyed!!! And it was sunny at that! Biting 'breeze' from the norwest and hugely disappointed to find that where I'd last left 'my' lovely female skua with chick, now in residence was a pair of bonxies - albeit 150 metres from aforementioned "gorgeous one". Ah well - if they've eaten the chick it's sad, but I love bonxies too -anyway one (I'm thinking the female - was much bonnier alongside its rather dark and angular mate) just sat doing very little, about 70 metres from me giving lovely scope views. Spent about an hour with 'her' then decided was too cold on this exposed heather clifftop, so retreated towards the car.
Then - just where I'd last left her a couple of weeks ago, was the arctic skua female. I never noticed her arrive over my shoulder and she was just too beautiful to resist. Already cold and knackered from all-day meetings about effing graphic design and how to collate my bird report information (eeeek!!!) I was lured into another 45 minutes of watching and drawing. As I creaked upright I decided to take a look where she was sitting and, although I didn't see it, the chick was, I'm sure, still alive. She put on a wonderful distraction display whilst gently calling all the time.
Great evening and one happy camper.

[dafi]

We were out at Mull Head last night for the last class of the summer. Tonight its one of those nights with a damp kiss in the air. A fresh wind crossing our path from the south and west. We are to look at the seasonal birds and flora as we go. We pass the Gloup stopping at the shore end to have a look inside [this is a deep hole produced by the collapse of a sea caves roof and the remaining cave still open to the sea] Nothing is stirring around the walls except one or two Rock Doves and Starlings. Hopefully this place and area will soon be a magnet for migrating birds needing a rest. With something to look forward to we head off in to the gloom. Fulmars and Blackbacks keep us company as we go and one or two Curlew nervously circle us with protesting cries. Meadow Pipits abound and in the misty air ever persistent Skylarks still sing away. I can’t help but admire them. Persistent effort, brilliant song, sticky up haircut. Just a cool bird.
Sedges and Plantains are flowering away and its not long before we see this years first grass of Parnassus flower standing on its own shining brightly like a white buttercup. Another reminder of high summer. Un like the weather. Last night I was out fishing about now. Reeling in cod dressed in a t shirt now we are a mile along the track and im thinking about my water proof trousers strapped on the bike seat. Reaching the Brough and moving beyond produces Shags with young on the lower ledges and a smattering of Razor Bills with a few guillemots grouped together. One or two bridled ones are interspersed with the others. The grey light seemed to show the chocolate brown of the guillemots in contrast to the black of the Razor bills Very well. Out on the sea a few Shags lurked close in with Tysties fishing in the ware for Butter fish. Further out groups of Puffins soon fell to Ians scope. All along the upper ledges Fulmars still sit on eggs and still are quite visible despite somewhat reduced numbers in several places.
At the last gate before the heather im sure I have a Twite but its nodded off as a Meadow pipit and a Pied wagtail crosses our bows here. Now we are to follow the track across the heather which will take us across the middle of the reserve to the northern cliffs of the head. The moor itself holds breeding bonxies, a few pairs are dotted about and the gem of gems light phase Artic Scuas nest here. As we go the Bonxies curiosity is soon aroused and one soon lands on a prominent mound in the heather looking to see if there’s a threat or anything to be gained. Crossing the air has been the occasional Curlew and now one is followed by three noisy Oystercatchers and out of the gloom our first close pass of an Artic Skua fast and elegant it circles twice and moves off. Although it disappears its never far away for the rest of the night.
On reaching the cliffs it’s a familiar sight, birds are about but not in numbers. Kittiwake nests are unused from last year and birds are loafing about, waiting for their trigger to migrate. It’s a poor state of affairs but its been dwelt on enough of late. At Mull head you have a fair run of tide and on a flat calm day with a pair of bins it’s a great place to look for porpoise, dolphin and whales. Tonight we are only seeing seals but other classes with Tim here have seen whales and had great views of otters. Looking out over the sea there is a steady passage of Gannets heading west some times close in providing excellent views although im convinced I saw the same bird three times. Moving back along the cliffs we turn south and the water before us is the north sea looking cold and grey. The air is now filled with a light drizzle and I cant help but think of my trousers on the bike. At least the chill factor is not minus thirty as it would have been in the winter. The next head land is the place to watch Puffins and we see several rafts sitting off shore with birds coming and going from them while checking them out and several moulting Eiders a patch of Scots lovage in full flower is found and soon has the plant snappers prostrate in the wet grass looking for that perfect keeper shot. Moving along a Red Throated Diver put in an appearance. Feeding for a while before making its noisy departure[I felt like saying its already raining thanks] ….On arriving back at the last gate we put up a group of five Twite that flit about not bothered by us. They are giving great views until they drift away chattering in a twity manner.
Now the drizzle is falling in a solid sort of manner and the last mile and a half turns into a proper little bash back. Mmm if I just had the foresight to take those leggings. We arrive back at the car park rather strung out I put on the trousers to cut the wind chill on the way home and am off sorry if I didn’t hang around in the rain but sod that!
Just a word about these classes as a few people have asked about them these are run through the adult education dept of the college and the winter classes will be in the new enrolment in I think September[WATCH THE ORCADIAN] Tim has I think three classes once a month over the winter. Mid week saterday and Sunday. The first two last three or four hours. The one I go for is the Sunday class. This lasts from ten till four or dusk. And involves a walk of at least six miles what ever the weather. Commitment to going is important. however if your into it then you are out with someone who knows his stuff inside out and you will see birds lots of really good birds. If this isn’t enough he is also expert on the flora and archaeology. So its working out at less than a pound an hour where can you get a better bargin than that. Isn’t community education great!

[dafi]

Nice one Tim a good result. lets hope the chicks keep their heads down. To change the subjct completly i got a new fishing rod monday so had a shot off scapa pier catching a mackrel then over to the first barrier to get a codling well chuffed i was. Its a lot of years since i have been spinning off the rocks and in such weather. lots of tern activity on lamb holm although they wont make any thing of it now, got well chased off though!!

[Sue Wright]

Hi Dafi and Tim,

a good read from you both, especially about the Arctics, I really fell for them on Handa, though there's something so irresistible about Bonxies too, but we all seem to love 'em and loathe 'em...a little.

You always manage to take me out there with you Daf, you have such a great way of telling it all, even the rain had me wishing for waterproofs! I'm glad you've resigned yourself to the shortage in numbers as well as food, by far the best way.

Thanks for a great evening both. Good luck with the fishing Daf, it takes me back a year or two with Terry and our lad fishing for mackerel by the coast in Dorset, though how many I gutted I'll choose to forget!

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi Tim i saw this in the paper to day. Is this yer pal quoyangry i was wondering.

Happy bithday if it is you Paul.

[dafi]

good flocks of Golden Plover in summer plumage last night and today in the fields before the kirk, Deerness.
Evening Barrie.

[timwootton]

Tis he, indeed - Dafi!!! - and he doesn't look a day older! I hadn't seen that, I'll bet he'll be delighted not only to have made the inner spreads of the Orcadian, but to be Cybercast through the ether of BirdForum - excellent!!!
Oh - well done on the mackerel by the way - I took my boat out two nights ago and got one caithe (which subsequently dropped off when nearing the boat) - then the engine conked under Hoxa Head and we only managed to limp back to port (our front garden).
Goldies must have been lovely - great birds in full dress.
Evening from me, Barrie.

[Barrie Hamill]

Evening Dafi, Tim and the thread regulars.

Dafi - another great evocative report. I was in Deerness tonight looking for Waders. Still trying to work out the tides and how quickly any exposed mud dissapears at each site. Managed to see 17 Bar-Tailed Godwits and 2 nice Knots in summer plumage. Quite a few juv Black-headed gulls about, so at least one species seems to have had some success.

Also this afternoon I had a Great Northern Diver off Barrier One

Tim - was interested in your Bonxie story. Funnily enough I have had 2 interesting Bonxie experiences this week. On Tuesday a couple of Gannets were passing by outside the house. Suddenly a Bonxie came on the scene and started chasing them. It managed to down the first one by grabbing its wing and the two of them plummeted to the sea, where I guess the gannet must have given up any food it had. The second gannet had landed and then both took off. Straight away the Bonxie again came after them. It approached them at twice the speed that they were flying and again he grabbed another (not sure if it was the other one?) by the wing and again plummeted to the sea. Interestingly the gannets seemed to be flying in quite a leisurely way, even after the first attack, so perhaps they didn't have any food? After a bit of a kerfuffle the gannets managed to fly away without the Bonxie in pursuit.

More spell-binding and perhaps more sinister, was the event that I witnessed this afternoon. Approaching Echna Loch by car I noticed 2 large birds tusseling in the sky. Once I reached the layby I was able to get out of the car and get my bins on them. It was a Bonxie and a Grey Heron. Both birds eventually spiralled to the surface of the loch and fierce squabling ensued. After what seemed about a minute the Bonxie managed to get the Heron's head and neck under the water. Then the Bonxie just sat there with its body on top of the neck and head of the Heron. It looked as if it was trying to drown it. Occassionaly the Bonxie appeared to try and take a chunk out of the Heron; this however seemed to give the Heron a chance to fight back but always the Bonxie got its dig in first and each time the head and neck of the Heron was forced back under the water, the Bonxie again sitting on top as if nothing was happening. For about one minute there was no struggle from the Heron.

Bonxie decided it was tea-time and started to try to eat the Heron. I'm not sure if the Heron was playing dead, but the Bonxie moved slightly, allowing the Heron to come up and this time stab the Bonxie with its bill (previously it had always tried to bite the Bonxie which was a most unsuccessful strategy). This had the desired effect; the Bonxie flew up, allowing the Heron a breather. The Heron was now sitting on the water like a duck. The Bonxie however would not be dererred and launced another couple of attacks. The Heron this time was able to keep its head an neck above water, and as the Bonxie again circled for another go the Heron managed to swim over to the relative safety of the reeds were it stayed whilst the Bonxie set itself down a few yards away. The Heron had managed to get away.

Nearby were a number of ducks including a family of Tufted Ducks, yet the Bonxie showed interest only in the Heron.

I'm sure the Bonxie wanted to drown and eat the Heron - it may have also wanted to do this with the Gannets as they didn't look as if they had been feeding, but instead were just passing. Perhaps the lack of fish etc is causing Bonxies to try and eat the birds it would normally harass?

Cheers,

Barrie

[Sue Wright]

Hi Barrie,

Just about to switch off when your post came through. I was fascinated by the 2nd Bonxie story, whoever would have thought it would go to such lengths to get a meal. I suppose it was hungry itself as well as having peckish dependants perhaps which is why it wasn't bothered by the Tufteds. An incredible tale of Nature for sure, thanks Barrie, all tales like that are amazing to read, though secretly I was pleased the Heron got away!

A wonderful read.

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi Barrie. What a beast of a Bonxie. Aint shy you gota give it that. The last herons iv seen have looked pretty scaby and i wonder if they arent in moult now but even so its a big lump to take on. You can get tide tables from Pattersons in Bridge St Kirkwall,costs about £2.50 and has the various time diferences for around the place. GOOD STUFF!.
As for the Bonxie if you see it coming duck!!

[timwootton]

Fascinating stuff Barrie - I've seen bonxies take a heron down, but it's been out at sea. The big bird can't get airborne again and ends up as dinner. Perhaps the bonxie thought it would have the same kind of success inshore?
They are brutes, aren't they - but I still love'em.
Oh, but I've also seen what a heron's bill can do to an adult coot (and a man's forearm, come to that,) so if only they learn when to 'talk' and when to 'poke' they'll be ok.

[dafi]

Spoots soon!!......mmmmm

[timwootton]

Spoots soon!!......mmmmm
Echnaloch Bay????
Other suggestions? - besides the isles, I mean.

[dafi]

Deerness St Peters pool.
Orphir Swanbister.
Im shure i went below Berstan one year but i cant mind on where.
Its some time around the first, early morning. But i have packed my tables along with every thing else. If anybody sees the tide times feel free to post them up.
Cant beat a feed of spoots and butter. the ultimate sea food bar none!!
anybody off patch know what we are on about?

[delia todd]

Deerness St Peters pool.
Orphir Swanbister.
Im shure i went below Berstan one year but i cant mind on where.
Its some time around the first, early morning. But i have packed my tables along with every thing else. If anybody sees the tide times feel free to post them up.
Cant beat a feed of spoots and butter. the ultimate sea food bar none!!
anybody off patch know what we are on about?

Nope!:eek!:

D

[dafi]

SPOOTS

Spoots are a seasonal delicacy revealed by the tides a few times a year. Razorfish as spoots are called im other places are a shellfish that resemble cut throat razors. Measuring between 18 and 28cm or 7to 11 inches... On the lowest of the low tides the sand banks they live in are exposed enough to venture out on to fish.

Dressing up
To be kitted out for the task you need to be warm as you will be on the exposed beach at any time of night or day. Its down to the tide.times.
Right you have wellies ,oilskin trousers. Knee pads are good. Marrygolds... warm short jacket with deep pockets.
You will be carrying a bucket and your longest bread knife.


Technique
The idea is to go to the furthest out sand bars and go out and return ahead of the tide. Slowly walking backwards taking little steps[I kid you not] watch out for the tell tale jet of water. This we call a spoot. The spoot shows where it is. But it is also jettisoning water in order to dive down in the sand. It has a long foot protruding below the shell and is now going to drag its self to deeper down and safety.
Now the cold wet hard part.
To catch your spoot plunge the knife in to the sand by the spoot and cut till you feel the shell. You don’t want to damage it just stop it from digging in. A firm pressure should hold it in place. So far so good.. Next push your other hand into the sand till you can get a grip on the spoot .. Watching your fingers on the knife and shell.. Having a good grip with thumb and fore finger gently start a circular motion until the sand starts to liquefy and you can withdraw your prize and pop it in your bucket.
What could be easier repeat thirty times and toddle off with a happy smile

The catch
Bundle your spoots with the blow holes to the top and stand in fresh water for a while.[they will spoot every where]
Open with a small sharp knife
Remove the dark fruit[guts] and the rough end of the blow hole. Wash.

Cooking
Have ready. Warm buttered bread, a warm plate, A glass of whisky.
Cooked fast is best sixty seconds is plenty.
Fry in a lot of hot butter. A sprinkling of salt and pepper. Coup it out on plates pour the juice over the top and eat with the bread.
The ambrosia of the seas.
Forty quid up west guv.!!

[seggs]

hi barrie and all
just found this thread.
fantastic bonxie reads!!...i knew they were ruthless but not to this extent..
trying to eat herons and gannets!!!..

[dafi]

Hi Seggs welcome along.
Yes mate its a bird eat bird world around here.

[seggs]

Hi Seggs welcome along.
Yes mate its a bird eat bird world around here.
cheers dafi
will keep a eye on the thread in future,,excellent..
a place i would like to visit

[dafi]

Well thats about me. I am about to loose my internet conection for a month or so and wont be doing much spontanious reporting for a while but i will put up a report or two if i can find a computer and figure out how to load it up. lets have lots of activity so i have something to go look for when i do check in.
Laters guys.

[Barrie Hamill]

Dafi,

Sorry to hear you'll be away for a while. Noticed yesterday that you said you were packing up. Hopefully not going too far?

Seggs - welcome to the thread, unfortunately now minus "the main event" for a while

Barrie

[Sue Wright]

Well thats about me. I am about to loose my internet conection for a month or so and wont be doing much spontanious reporting for a while but i will put up a report or two if i can find a computer and figure out how to load it up. lets have lots of activity so i have something to go look for when i do check in.
Laters guys.

Hi Daf,

I know you're not able to read this at the moment, but as and when you're able to get on, don't forget what I said about me being glad to be of help if possible. Looking forward to you getting back soon. Til then, make the most of it - spooting an all!! Have one for me as they sound terrific.

No doubt Barrie and Tim can keep your great work up and I'll chip in, in reply.

Best wishes to Kate also,

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi guys Im only moving to Harray for a month it aint far realy but thats it im gone.

[dafi]

Just a quick view across Harray to see what’s about.

9.30 in the morning and I was enjoying a last cup of coffee before I have to haul myself to work - its funny how its all right once you get there. It’s just the motivation to get on the move. I had thought a breath of fresh air in the front garden just what I need. However the sound of birds in the bushes is distracting and the patch of white gulls down the field really bears a further look.
9.32 Now standing with bins, coffee is on the wall. Time has stopped and all that exists is bird song and calls around me and movement in the distance being registered through the binoculars,
Before me is the west mainland and I am looking west across it. My vantage point on the Stoneyhill road is elevated a little to give a fine view across a basin-like depression, with the loch of Harray dominating the middle ground and the parishes or Quoyloo, Sandwick and Birsay in the far west. Its peaceful and grey and dull.
Looking down to the muddy depression below Breckan I count 40 Common gulls with another 40 sitting along fence posts with one post occupied by a Lesser black back. In the field above them 40 or more Starlings are methodically working over the soft wet ground. A scan around the fence posts produces little else than Oystercatchers sitting. Its always worth looking for SE Owls sitting at this time of year even this late in the morning.
9.40Mmm coffees a bit cool. My attention has been drawn by wee birds flitting across my view. Watching them come and go from Cathleen’s excellent garden next door I get at least seven house sparrows and four and five Greenfinches in two groups. A juvenile blackbird is making its presence very obvious. Not the wisest thing to do given the amount of cats that haunt these parts. A Greater blackback gull passes low over all the bushes startling a few birds up and is chased amusingly by Meadow pipits [go on guys sort it out] as it heads away on slowly flapping wings.
Cries in the air attract my attention as in the distance I can hear a Raven heading north; Oystercatchers are calling here and there. A lone Redshank cries as its moving off towards the loch and the other incessant chatter is from a family of swallows as they circle the houses feeding quite low. Listening to and watching the swallows I soon become aware a Snipe is drumming and while distracted by this, Skylarks start up over the back. Its the proper song to get lost in and im engrossed in it once again. Movement in the distance snaps me out of the listening and back to watching. For flying left to right and landing in the field by Furso are 150+ Curlew in one of the largest flocks I have seen outside of a silage field so far. Below Breckan the gulls had increased their number substantially but to the left of them I spy two shell duck. Even though they are three quarters of a mile away they take off as soon as the glasses come to rest on them. Its annoying but I count five as they all arise from hiding and head north.
10.05 Hell my coffees completely cold how did that happen. I turn to go as a Pied wagtail flies over my head. A nice bouncy bird to end on I feel a bit more invigorated as I head back in to get on with the day. It’s nice to be out of the town and I look forward to revisiting a few old haunts around the parish over the next month.
10.10 sit down with a fresh cuppa and plan a 10.30 start.

As a footnote yesterday I saw a flock of Curlew that was over three hundred strong in the fields below Saverock Kirkwall.
The seasons march on relentlessly.

[dafi]

Just seen a Buzzard hunting at the wee quarry opposite Binscarth woods.
Shorteared Owls ranging over Harray. Easily seen each night.
Perigrine over the Stenness hillside for the last two days.

[timwootton]

Another crackingly told report Dafi. So what 's the story with the relocation to the West? Having said that - a change of scenery is no bad thing from time to time - enjoy it.

[dafi]

Hi Tim
we are house sitting at Stonyhill for a month., unfortunately with out a computer link. so we are in the internet cafe in the toon.

[Mabel]

Cracking read Dafi. Hope your relocation is treating you well.

[timwootton]

Hi Tim
we are house sitting at Stonyhill for a month., unfortunately with out a computer link. so we are in the internet cafe in the toon.
Ahh - away from it all in the west, I see!
Actually took the girls and Sal up to Harray Loch today - me setting up my fine spinning gear and letting the little'uns plod about with a 'start-up' set from Kemps (£13). I popped a small lob on their float rig, cast it in and left them to it.
Half an hour later and i'm still making bird's nests out of my line - Savannah asks quietly - "Daddy, where's that float-thingy gone?" - Bugger, they've gotta bite - "Quickly, sweetie, reel your line in- no, not like that - here pass it to me" - and so I took full credit for the landing of a fine 3/4 pound trout (although we all know it was Sav who actually caught the beast!). Had it as an appitiseur for the main chicken meal of the evening - lovely jubbely!!!
Hope you're spending your time in the wilds wisely, young sir!

[Barrie Hamill]

Hello all,

Went to Loch of Tankerness this evening with fellow BF member Paul Higson to see a White Winged Black Tern that had been found yesterday. Bird was showing well, but at quite a distance, if you view from the road. There are a couple of pics of the bird on Surfbirds for those that are interested.

It has been mentioned previously that this year has again been a bit of a disaster for seabirds in Orkney. I was very pleased therefore to see a couple of young Razorbills (albeit very tiny) in Echna Bay at the weekend.

Tonight, in front of the house there was a Razorbill with one young bird, slightly larger than the two young I saw at the weekend. The parent caught a reasonably large fish but this was also noticed by a nearby Herring Gull which plonked itself down beside the auks. Both Razorbills immediately dived. The HG sat on the water, no doubt wondering where they had gone, when the parent bird came up from beneath the gull and attacked it! HG then flew away. Parental instinct was obviously very strong.

The Razorbills and their young are quite interesting to watch. The youngsters stick amazingly close to the parent, i.e no more than a few inches, unlike for example ducks where the young seem to wander a bit further away from the parent. In both Razorbill cases the young replicted everything done by the parent - for example when the parent raised itself up and flapped its wings, the young immediately did the same.

Barrie

[Sue Wright]

Hi Barrie,

That was a really good tale and fascinating to read how the parent Razorbill made sure it's youngster wasn't going to come to harm, not if he/she could help it anyway. I'm pleased you went into detail about how the young imitates all that the parent does, it' great to visualise. Not getting too many chances to watch and really study Sea Birds it's wonderful to read about all the ones you get on Orkney. So please keep them coming Barrie, I love an interesting read, especially about such Birds.

Thanks again,

Sue.

[Sue Wright]

Just seen a Buzzard hunting at the wee quarry opposite Binscarth woods.
Shorteared Owls ranging over Harray. Easily seen each night.
Perigrine over the Stenness hillside for the last two days.

Hi Daf,

Great to read about each of those as well as your time above spent watching the Birds go by too. One things for sure, it's far easier to make another coffee than get the Birds back. I'm glad you're making the most of your time at Harray, keep doing so Daf as it's more interesting tales to read about.

BTW. Your internet charge isn't too bad compared with what they charged us at Balloch, that really was extortionate...and we didn't even get through!

Looking forward to the next read Daf, yours too Tim. Good for Savannah! Get her to give you some tips!;)

Sue.

[dafi]

Just a quick note
Perigrin showing well over the Hobister shore.
Curlew in a flock of 400+ lochside Harray.

[dolphinbride]

I'm looking forward to a full report of life on Harray, Dafi! So wonderful to read all of the reports from diiferent spots on the island! Vive la Orkney!

[aythya_hybrid]

Just back from a week on Orkney, staying in Dounby. Mostly non-birding was kept the eyes open.

Nothing sensational... best views of hen harrier I've had in the UK, plus usual Orkney/north Scottish stuff like Black G, Puffin, Rock Dove, Merlin, Peregrine, RT Diver, Twite, Bonxie, Arctic Skua.

On the ferry back yesterday from St.Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay had good views of at least four Storm Petrel and also had a Sooty Shearwater fly past - first time I've seen one in july.

[Bagpuss]

Hi dafi

Thanks for the PM, I hope to meet up with you shortly. I met Dick Matson for the first time today at the moth day at Binscarth. Nice chap! Turned out he'd served with my brother in the RAF.

I greatly enjoyed your accounts but are you absolutely sure about those goosanders? I've seen one, once, at St. Mary's - I think it made it into the 2005 Bird Guide. Red breasted mergansers are much, much more common and display spectaculary. In their winter plumage the males look a bit like goosanders, only quite a bit smaller.

Regards

Bagpuss

[dafi]

Hi Bagpuss. yes mate shure im shure theres photos on the computer somewhere. You will have to have a look some time.
Loads of rain today,and not much dooing.

[dafi]

WHITE RUMPED SANDPIPER
Reported on Mill sands Tankerness.

[dafi]

Well after watching for the last two and a half hours of the tide i managed to see a load of dunlin some in summer plumage a few godwits and curlew twenty odd turnstones, five comon tern, a few bh gulls and pied wagtails. the heart lept for a second when i saw the first of four sanderling. but no sign of a white rumped sandpiper. I might try again in the afternoon when the tide falls and the bike battery is charged up and the optics have dryed out.

[dafi]

Its that time of year again. Time to sign up for birding classes.
The Community Learning course guide is out today with the Orcadian. As usual Tim Dean's classes are avaIlable. First though, A bitch about the price as once again all night classes seem to have suffered a 20% price hike on top of last years big rise. I had a chat with Malcom Graves at the council but all I got was bla bla expenditure bla increased costs bla admin bla bla. I dont know if we can expect 20% more birds for the money!.
There are courses on four days; monday, tuesday, and saturday that last four hours. Sunday's walks last for six hours and are the best of the lot!.
All courses are once a month for the next eight months. Week day four hour walks are £80 and sundays are £116 all in. Some consessions are available. and it all starts on week commencing mon 24th sept.
So what do you get for your money?.
For a start you get out with a top birder whose powers of identification and recognition sometimes strike me as not of this world. He's an author, an active member of the field club and currently working for Scottish Natural Heritage. A good thing for them as he knows the name of every plant in the wild here.The location of every byway and right of way, the name of every fold of land scape and every farm on it. It seems at time that he knows every farmer as well, not to mention the archelogical history of everywhere we go. All of this is freely shared and endlessly fascinating.
The monday classes will involve short walks for the less able, tuesdays and saturdays will be three to four miles and sundays will be up to six miles. All start from different points and will cover autumn migrants, wintering wild fowl, waders and the like. All of this for £2.50 an hour!. It looks like a bargin to me.
So if your into a wander about in all weathers birding and enjoy a laugh in like minded company This is a brilliant way to blow away the winter cobwebs once a month.
These classes fill up fast so dont delay.

The ref numbers are
MONDAY
B112

TUESDAY
B113

SATURDAY
B114

SUNDAY
B115

More information or to book phone the council customer services on 873535.

Isnt education wonderfull.

[Sue Wright]

Its that time of year again. Time to sign up for birding classes.
The Community Learning course guide is out today with the Orcadian. As usual Tim Dean's classes are avaIlable. First though, A bitch about the price as once again all night classes seem to have suffered a 20% price hike on top of last years big rise. I had a chat with Malcom Graves at the council but all I got was bla bla expenditure bla increased costs bla admin bla bla. I dont know if we can expect 20% more birds for the money!.
There are courses on four days; monday, tuesday, and saturday that last four hours. Sunday's walks last for six hours and are the best of the lot!.
All courses are once a month for the next eight months. Week day four hour walks are £80 and sundays are £116 all in. Some consessions are available. and it all starts on week commencing mon 24th sept.

The monday classes will involve short walks for the less able, tuesdays and saturdays will be three to four miles and sundays will be up to six miles. All start from different points and will cover autumn migrants, wintering wild fowl, waders and the like. All of this for £2.50 an hour!. It looks like a bargin to me.


Hi Daf and great to see you back in 'your place'! Seems strange seeing your 'Orkney Birding' alerts come in to the in box now, good though.

Is that right about the week day 4 hour walks being £80 a session and the Sunday ones being £116?!!! If that's the case that is one heck of an amount and not affordable for a lot of people surely. Depending how many of you go each time that's a great deal for whoever gets it.

Then you say the Monday, Tuesday & Sunday classes are just £2.50 an hour...am I missing something or is that because the folk are less able?

Keeping fingers crossed for you with the WR Sandpiper, beautiful Waders.

Sue

[dafi]

Hi Sue you get eight four hour walks for £80 and eight six hour walks for £116 i think that works out at around £2.50 an hour but i run out of fingers so fast!
And you get to see some pile of birds at that time of year. I cant wait for them to start ariving back in force. YEE HA.

[Sue Wright]

Ah that's better and far more affordable too, though I don't think it would pay us to join in, a wee bit pricey on the diesel!!;) It does sound wonderful though, you enjoy em all Daf and let us know what you see...please.

Sue.

[dafi]

14.00 just seen a pair of Grey Wagtails on the Willow burn, Kirkwall. Both showing realy well.

[dafi]

I have just returned from an hour and a half watch at the Broch of Birsay. Although the wind has fallen its still in the north west and quite fresh. However it failed to blow in any thing exotic or exciting for me. This count was just a lazy tick em as you see em affair to get a taste of whats about.

GANNETS...138

BONXIES...12

COMON GULL...3

TURNSTONE...10

HERRING GULL...13

FULMAR...146

GBB GULL...12

LBB GULL..22

SHAG...66

ROCK DOVE...20

STARLING...13

WHEATEAR...2

REDSHANK...11

ROCKPIPPIT..2

Well not a lot exciting there. A lot of imature fulmars and the oposite with the gannets. Most of them were mature birds. It was well chilly in that north westerly but nice sitting in a noust out of the wind watching the big swells roll in. Lovely jubly.

[Sue Wright]

Oh I don't know Dafi, I'd have been thrilled to have seen those Turnstone, Gannets, Great Skuas and Fulmar and that view of the waves was brilliant, I could almost feel the air too. Ah, blissful, no doubt about that. I'm longing to see some Turnstone down here, but nowt yet.

Sue.

[dafi]

This morning i took a spin out to the parish of Tankerness for a quick spin about partly cos it’s a nice sunny morning and partly cos the wife’s about to wake up with a massif hangover so its better to be out than in!!. My first stop was at Rerwick point the road out provided me with the sight of several big flocks of Meadow Pipits moving along the fence line and across the pasture land . I suppose the next good north wind will have them away to milder climes. Walking across the field track to the shore the same thing seemed to be evident with the swallows as they feed and feed fattening up for the passage to Africa.
The tide had turned from slack and was starting to return yet the ware covered rocks held very little to be seen Redshanks flew off complaining but didn’t flush much up in there noisy panic. Out on the point its self a few shag were dotted about and a few Eider were hauled up on the rocks. Moving along the shore towards Heatherhouse I stop to scan the bay. Little is to be seen. Several Bonxies squabbled over some thing in the water, GBB Gulls circled them taking an interest but as fast as it started it was over with them quickly dispersing. Below the farm of Heatherhouse A single Red Throated Diver was feeding. It wont be long before this bay starts to receive its winter visitors in the form of Great Northern Divers and Red Throated Divers making this spot a lot more rewarding than it is to day. Several Fulmars passed over on there regular gliding cruises of the shore line. And an artic Skua moved east across the sea little else was about so I headed off. On the road out a single Wheatear crossed my path this is a sight that’s getting rarer every day. It hardly seems any time at all since I was wandering all over looking for the first one of the year! Passing Tankerness loch I see a small flock of swans and three tufted duck but little else.
Beyond the loch I turn right down the track to the hall of Tankerness. Following the track through the farm and down to the shore you are faced with a small mud flat and sandy bay with a long ayre separating this bay from the Mill sand on the other side. Moving about the shore line are four noisy Linnets all looking fine as they settle in a patch of sun light Pied wagtails are evident as well .Scoping these up there seems to be a lot of juveniles about. I don’t know if they have had a good year or not but they do seem to be everywhere!. In front of me are a dozen Oyster Catchers and beyond them two dozen lapwings I take a deep breath and move on to the muddy flat. My intention is to move across to the ayre and have a spy over to the Mill sand. The OYC’S move off walking before being spooked by a Redshank this in turn sets off the lapwings. Half way across I am confronted with a flock of Ringed Plover who mill about feeding. I count thirty or more and they seem very tolerant of my presence. In the distance On the point I count twenty three Curlew but there’s more than that when they eventually take flight. Over on the Toab skerry a large flock of lapwing take flight and I take a quick snap to count later [250] almost at the ayre I put up three Snipe feeding in the bladder wrack. On reaching the divide of the ayre and looking over the tide is to low to bring any waders near me for a decent view. The sands are empty except for the centre which has water flowing. The fringes of this hold feeding Knot and Dunlin. Idecide to retrace my steps and ride around to the other side for a better view. Before I leave I spy Keith Hague with his scope on the far shore.
A quick spin around and I park up at the hard standing with the old trailers. Moving to a position for a look out across the sands to my disappointment there is nothing at all to be seen in close apart from one Artic Skua sitting on a rock. Looks like im another victim of that blight of dog walkers. What a bummer. Im just packing up to go when another car pulls up and the driver introduces him self. Its Barrie Hamill. This is a pleasant surprise. He asks me if I have been to the muddy pool along the shore and I must admit that I have never been down there so we set off to have a look. Further along the shore heading south a farmer has drained a small lochan providing a fine muddy feeding area and on this are Dunlin Knot Ringed Plover and Redshank. Moving along the shore for cover we look over to be greeted with fine views of the waders in the best light of the day. I have a wee curse as the batteries in my camera are now flat. Never mind its great stuff anyway as we head back we meet local birder Keith Hague. He has spotted us and wondered if we had seen the White rumped Sandpiper. Apparently I had flushed it on the other side of the bay towards him. earlier. This is a pleasing turn of events as I thought it had flown off to Shetland. So that one must be another bird entirely. With that good news and some time to shoot the breeze it was off home for dinner[some hope] and probably back out here this afternoon with the big scope for the next tide…..Never say die.
As a foot note Keith’s excellent web site… Mostly Orkney Birds…. is well worth a look concentrated on the parish of Tankerness it really shows what you can see if you make a serious effort.

[Mabel]

I need my first Skua... hope your wife's head is OK this morning!

[dafi]

Out and about the west mainland this afternoon the bigest numbers of birds i saw were Greylag and Curlew. With flocks of Greylag on Skail loch of 983 and at least 135 at Marwick. The Loch of Banks held fair numbers but we passed to quick to count. The goslings look large and healthy and lots of them!!
Marwick bay held little, one or two Knot and a few turnstones the best sight was an unseen raptor putting up 750 to a 1000 Curlew at the same time with three seprate flocks going up. Pretty windy out to day. A few good flocks of lapwings about, sill seeing Wheatears about. but it was prety quiet and relaxed day out for me.

[dafi]

Spent lunch at Barnhouse hide. the wind was to fresh for any thing on the loch but two Mute Swans were sticking it out. Below the OTFA sixty Mute Swans were strung along the leaward bank. on the far shore was a flock of lapwing that was joined by more and more over the half hour. Amongst the lapwings redshanks were feeding and ariving. these formed there own group within the lapwings over the course of twenty minutes. other sightings were limmited to a few stock dove and a single Fulmar. just before i left an unseen preditor put up all the lapwings and Redshank. 450+ Lapwing. the Redshank crossed the loch at low level and passed the hide along the shore line heading north thirty strong. That was worth waiting for.
On a sader note some low life has vandalised the info boards with a marker pen. It looks the same writing as the last entry in the hide log slaging the place off.
I do hope our paths cross one day pal.!!!

[Terry W]

Hello Dafi.

I've just had a most enjoyable read of your (A Quick Spin Around Tankerness) you sound as if the day ended up quite well for you, shame about the camera batteries, no spares to take with you?

Regards, Terry.

[dafi]

Hello Terry i like to think im nothing if not under prepared.
Nice photo in this months comp by the way.
I had Turnstone feeding around my feet the other day and all i could do was sit still and watch but you and photos crossed my mind.!!

[dafi]

In a packed month this month on Sun Sep 9th. We have Orkney Field Club holding a wader teach in. There will be expert identifcation on hand to point out all the salient points and settle the disputes..lol So as well as seeing all the local species hopefully there will be some more unusual migrants about.
The plan is to range across the east mainland hot spots. so if you have a telescope bring it along.
INFO BOOKINGS Dick Matson 751426.

Orkney Field Club hold a club night talk on fri 21st. I havent heard who is to be the speaker but its allways worth going.
7.30 in the Kirkwall Community Center. £1 for members and £2 for non members.. phone Dick above for info.

Sun 23rd its the big one.. RSPBmg trip to Sanday Last year i missed it as it coincided with a class or something and i missed loads of good birds plants and otters. This year i intend to get out there. I think this is the last MG outing this year. If you havent had your email yet contact Dick Matson 751426. Is there no end to this mans orginising skills.

On Sun 29th Tim Deans sunday winter courses resume there are a couple of places left so a good time to grab them. Or if you know some one thats keen send them here to get the gen or to the Council Customer Services on 873535 who will clue them up and book them in in a twinkling of an eye.

[dafi]

I need my first Skua... hope your wife's head is OK this morning!
Hi Mabel sorry not to reply i think you got a bit buried there. Kate survived to drink again im happy to say. What no bonxies! Ours are geting a bit thin in the air now. They have probably flown over you!!. Never did see the WRS tho...lol

[gordon hamlett]

Here's a copy of Eric Meeks records as submitted to Bird Watching Magazine - unedited version

Gordon


ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS

AUGUST 2007


A Black-throated Diver was in Echnaloch Bay on 12th with three off No.
3 Barrier on 19th. One-two Great Northern Divers were recorded off
North Ronaldsay on three dates after 11th and two were off No.1
Barrier on 23rd.

Sea-watching proved productive, especially in the latter part of the
month. Sooty Shearwaters were on the move in considerable numbers
with a peak of 304 off North Ronaldsay on 28th; up to 32 per hour
were also passing Whitaloo Point, Birsay on 25th while three were off
Egilsay on 12th. Manx Shearwaters were also conspicuous with 34 off
Egilsay on 12th, up to 21 per hour off Whitaloo Point on 25th/26th
and a peak of 35 off North Ronaldsay on 28th. Rarer species included
single Cory’s Shearwaters off North Ronaldsday on 25th, 27th and
28th. 35 Great Shearwaters were noted off North Ronaldsay between
23rd and 30th with a peak of 19 on 28th; off Whitaloo Point there
were five on 26th and two on 28th. A single Balearic Shearwater was
off Whitaloo Point on 26th while a Little Shearwater reported from
North Ronaldsay on 19th would be the first Orkney record if
confirmed. Storm Petrels were on the move too with peaks of 203 off
North Ronaldsay on 18th and 175 on 28th; up to five per day were seen
off Birsay and Egilsay. Three Leach’s Petrels were off North
Ronaldsay on 18th and one off Whitaloo Point on 25th.

Teal flock during August, the largest concentration being of 270 at
Shapinsay’s Mill Dam on 20th. A single Pochard was at the Loch of
Tankerness on 18th and seven Goldeneyes there on 18th. Three Velvet
Scoters were in Echnaloch Bay on 22nd and one off Cava on 30th while
up to thee drake Ruddy Ducks were at the Mill Dam during the month.

A female Marsh Harrier was at The Loons, Birsay on 10th and a
juvenile at Loch of Banks on 28th. An Osprey fished the Harray Loch
on 14th while the only Buzzard away from the Hoy breeding sites was
one at Westness, Rousay on 11th. The most unusual raptor of the
month, however, was a Hobby on North Ronaldsay on 8th/9th.

Golden Plover flocks built up during the month, the largest being 800
at Twatt, Birsay and 550 at Tosts Ness, Sanday. North Ronaldsay
reported the largest Knot numbers with 63 on 16th although 53 were at
Mill Sand, Tankerness on 14th and 30 at Mull Head, Deerness on 15th.
210 Sanderlings at Scuthvie, Sanday on 8th was the biggest
concentration but North Ronaldsay reported 98 on 12th and 19 at the
Bay of Skaill was a large number for the Mainland. Purple Sandpipers
peaked at 21 on North Ronaldsay on 17th, the only other being two on
Sanday on 8th. Dunlin were also on the move with up to 65 on North
Ronaldsay (peak on 6th), 54 at Mill Sand on 14th and 50 at West Ayre
Loch, Sanday on 5th. July’s Buff-breasted Sandpiper on North
Ronaldsay remained until 2nd while another North American vagrant, a
White-rumped Sandpiper, was at Mill Sand, Tankerness from 14th-19th.
Up to 14 Ruff frequented Shapinsay’s Mill Dam with one – five
reported from five other localities. An unfledged Snipe chick was
found on Greeny Hill, Birsay on 19th, an indication of just how late
this particular species sometimes nests. The largest Bar-tailed
Godwit gathering was 140 on Sanday on 24th. Sanday also reported the
biggest Black-tailed Godwit party with 15 at Tofts Ness on 17th;
elsewhere three-eight were seen at five other sites. Whimbrel
passage peaked on 3rd on North Ronaldsay when 12 were recorded
although nine were seen as late as 22nd; up to five were reported
from elsewhere. Curlew flocks built during the month with, for
example, 460 at Marwick on 14th. Greenshanks were conspicuous with
eight at Tofts Ness, Sanday on 17th and numerous other reports of up
to four. The Mill Dam, Shapinsay proved especially attractive to
waders, its lowered water level providing lots of open mud; a Spotted
Redshank was there from 19th-27th and three Wood Sandpipers on 17th.
A Green Sandpiper was also there on 17th, other being reported from
Birsay, Evie, Rendall (two) and Sandwick between 10th-20th. A
migrant Common Sandpiper was on North Ronaldsay on 20th/21st.

Single Pomarine Skuas were off North Ronaldsay on 27th and 29th with
two on 30th while another was off Whitaloo Point on 26th. Single
Sabine’s Gulls were seen from North Ronaldsay on 23rd and from
Whitaloo Point on 30th. The summering Glaucous Gull remained in
South Ronaldsay all month. A Black Tern off Egilsay on 7th was a
rare visitor.

A Stock Dove on North Ronaldsay on 24th was on an unusual date. The
only Cuckoo was a juvenile at Graemston, South Ronaldsay on 25th.
Records of Swifts were concentrated between 8th-15th with one-two on
North Ronaldsay, Sanday, Birsay and Deerness. Sand Martins were few
and far between with only one-two on North Ronaldsay, and in Stenness
and Burray. The usual August concentrations of Pied Wagtails
contained five White Wagtails at the Peedie Sea on 28th and four at
Stenness on 31st.

A Whinchat reached North Ronaldsay on 21st, a dispersing Stonechat
having been recorded there on 7th. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard
reeling near Kirkwall Airport on several dates up to 15th but much
rarer (and only the 2nd Orkney record if confirmed) was an Aquatic
Warbler seen at Dale, Costa on 7th. Single Barred Warblers were seen
on North Ronaldsay on 21st and 24th while one-two Garden Warblers
were seen there on the same dates. North Ronaldsay reported the only
Chiffchaffs with singles on 10th and 18th/19th. Willow Warblers were
a little more widespread with one on North Ronaldsay on 4th and up to
four between 21st-27th and others in Stenness Village and Russadale,
Stenness (two) on 10th. The brood of Spotted Flycatchers in an
Orphir hanging basket fledged successfully and details came to light
of other nesting attempts in Finstown and Evie.

Two Carrion Crows were at Loch of Banks on 12th and one at Birsay Bay
on 14th. The largest Twite flock was 65 at Barswick, South Ronaldsay
on 19th. A Crossbill was in Rendall on 10th and single Scarlet
Rosefinches on North Ronaldsay on four dates after 19th.

Eric Meek

[dafi]

Thanks for sharing that Gordon.
It was realy intresting to see the whole unedited list.
Frustrating too when you realise how close you were at times.
I shall have to practice my skills and get out and about more.....lol

[dolphinbride]

Dafi, I share your frustration! It seems I'm constantly reading the recent lists of local birders amazing sightings. All I seem to see, no matter how early or how far I've traveled, are the lovely birds I can watch in my own back garden.
Well, Hawk migration is now upon us here, at least I can brush up on my raptor ID skills!!!

Best to you,
Kristina

[dafi]

I know what you mean Kris i wonder if i will ever make a decent birder. i must have been on top of the Marsh Harrier that day. Oh well never mind if i had seen every thing on the list. Kate would have thrown me out the house by now for being an insufrable bore that wont shut up. LOL.
I dont half envy you the raptors tho. Lying on your back in the warm sun looking up. Sounds good to me. Enjoy.

[gordon hamlett]

Thanks for sharing that Gordon.
It was realy intresting to see the whole unedited list.
Frustrating too when you realise how close you were at times.
I shall have to practice my skills and get out and about more.....lol

One of the problems I have is that there is only have space in the magazine for 350-400 words from Eric each month while his report usually ranges from 1000-1500 words. Inevitably, this means that readers only get a snapshot of what's been seen as I try to second guess what are the most significant sightings. My philosophy is to include birds, significant numbers and falls of migrants that I reckon a travelling birder would love to see rather than birds they could expect to see at home.

Gordon

[dafi]

Hello Gordon
As long as Eric has no probs with it I am delighted to be able to read it in its entirety. I tend to agree with you . The bigger picture we can paint the more people can gain an insight to what’s about. Hopefully through our all our efforts more people will enjoy the islands and the excellent birding we have to offer.
Cheers
Daf.

[dafi]

I have just returned from the field clubs wader day. Held a day early because of the poor forecast eight of us set out from the town to check out the east mainland hot spots. Starting at stPeters pool its obvious the tide has a bit to fall. Behind us in the fields is a flock of 200+ golden plover and Lapwing and interspersed through them the larger shapes of Curlew. We check out the Golden Plover carefully for Ruff or anything else but nothing is found. The decision is taken to check out the beaches and muddy pools of Deerness. Heading out to Halley beach first we set up looking down the strip of shore we have a couple of Dunlin a few more of turnstones and a smattering of ringed Plover. Fifteen minutes after we arrived a dog walker strolled on down the beach. We watched as he reached the Dunlin waiting for it to fly but it ran in front of his feet fearlessly still probing in the wet sand for yard after yard until the dog finally caught up.
Moving on from here we go over the other side of Deerness to Newark beach. This has us with the west wind at our backs. Little is about to be seen on the sea . A few of the usual suspects along the waters edge. However the fields at the back of the beach we can see flocks of Golden Plover and Curlew. Just how many is shown as every bird around takes to the air in response to some threat. Dick is shouting Right every one look for a Ruff. I am standing looking through my bins and then drop them laughing. Its birds by the thousand and thousand and thousand. Swirling around and picking out a couple of slower moving birds in the golden plovers seems beyond me for the moment so I just savour it until they settle. After that we move on.
Our last beach is Dingeshowe . From the car park we first look at the emptying bay of stPeters pool. A few waders are gathering along the waters edge. It’s a neep tide to day so the low water is quite high and the sea shows no enthusiasm for going out. Some times its strange like that. On the other side of the dunes we find a proper surprise sitting just off shore are a few Artic Terns with young. This for me is the spot of the day. Juvenile Artic Terns are probably one of the rarest young birds in Orkney. I don’t think a single pair bred successfully here this year. These are probably continental birds Whilst discussing this Brian told of a bird a few years ago rung in the nest that fledged and had been re caught by him in Orkney twenty days later. It had come from Estonia.!! Also in the air were a couple of Sandwich terns also pleasing to see. So with a final scope about producing a Bonxie killing and eating a Razorbill its off to stPeters pool.
Ariving at the car park the shore line had produced twenty Knot and little else, apart from a Sparowhawk sitting on the shore. It eventually took off and disappeared over the farm, its progress being charted by flocks of birds appearing over the horizon. Below us the tide was still a piece away from uncovering the sandy bottom so we blow it out and head for Tankerness and the bay at Mill Sands The weather that has been fine so far now gains a hint of drizzle and the threat of more. It’s been wet like this for ages soaking drizzle….mmm nice. Arriving at the sands we have a look around , right in front of us on post is a juvenile Sandwich Tern with one or two others nearby. Hell im pleased with this as it is now to different young terns in one day. It may seem strange to get excited over Terns but I must admit I was well pleased. The tide was receding well and after giving the Toab skerry and its seals a good scoping we turn our attention to the far shore there are birds up there but we have to move closer to get a view, Half way along the shore road there is a pull off beside some bales. We stop here and gain fine views of the feeding throng Here we work our way through the various guises of the Dunlin working on the recognition then trying to find each others birds as described.[Not so easy]. Bar tailed Godwit and Curlew were about but no black tailed which was a bit disappointing. We worked our way through the knot and hundreds of Redshank but nothing exotic jumped out. Over the opposite shore Teal and Widgeon passed over. Another tick came with them as they are the first returns of the season I have seen. Winter is coming excellent!!!
To end the day we drive over first to Grahmshall loch and then stMarys loch in the village of Holm[ham] the shore below the Grahamshall Loch holds a big flock of gulls 70% are Common and the rest Black headed with a few herring scattered about. While im taking this in Elenor says look at all the ducks and sure enough as I look around there are hundreds of Widgeon. What a pleasant surprise to have them back. On the other side of the road the loch has a few tufted Duck on the right hand side. Then Dick calls twenty Gadwall coming into sight and Looking now there are loads and loads of them appearing. Impressive as it is as I watch them I make a mental note Gadwall, Gadwall don’t write down Garganey again!. Smart as it is we move to our last location the hillside above stMarys Loch.
Looking down on the loch we have a fine raft of Widgeon and some tufted duck at the other end. A few Redshank along the shore and that’s about it for the loch. Turning our attention to the fields we work our way through yet another flock of Golden Plover once again we fail to find any interlopers of interest. For me it’s pleasing enough to see the variations in plumage from the last of the summer birds through to the fresh winter plumes. That was about us for the day and we wend our way back to the town looking at spots here and there on the way back as you do. If time hadn’t been a constraint then we would have gone to Scapa beach for the Sanderling that have been there these last few days Oh well tomorrow is another day.
Thanks to Dick and Brian for an enjoyable and interesting day. It was fine fun and very instructional.
TOP STUFF.

[Sue Wright]

Lovely thanks Daf. It's good to hear about the good numbers of Ducks starting to return for the autumn and winter months. I really do share your joy at watching the Terns, such beautiful and very skilful Birds and wonderful flyers. I thought of you in the week when there were reports of huge numbers of Dolphin, Basking Sharks and Minke Whale all around Cornwall. What chances do our Sea Birds stand with them all gobbling up the plankton etc! If great numbers of them around our shores are all due to climate change and the seas warmth then how on earth are our poor birds going to manage in the future? Does Tim have any ideas about this?

Thanks for the read Daf and I do envy you with learning more about the waders.

Sue.

[timwootton]

Great reporting again Dafi. Correct about the arctic terns (sadly) although the juvs you saw could also have been last year's Orkney youngsters - we had several return with the adults (fairly unusual) particularly to Weddell Point and Glimps Holm.
Once again - super stuff and I'll try to drop by more regularly - you bring an Orkney day to life even for me - and I live here!!!!!

[RKell1]

A wonderful read Dafi and thanks for posting. There is something really magical about migration that despite the years of seeing the comings and goings of birds still feels like it's the first time when you see the first arrivals.Glad you got to see the Terns.
I'm afraid I'm still struggling (tide times and traffic) to get over to South Dublin Bay to see the sights where the Terns are still present in large numbers, ~3,000 were counted at the weekend, inc a few Juv Blacks.
Bonxies and Sheerwater off the East coast here now on a regular basis.
Any sign of returning Geese yet?

All the best

Ray

[dafi]

Morning Ray
Nice to have you visit our Orkney thread . I must admit I quite envy you the wide open spaces of the estuary’s especially round Dublin. Most of the feel I get for the area comes from Mabel’s excellent reports. I would be out there every day if I could, mind you its amazing how quickly you end up taking it for granted when its all on your doorstep..lol..
As to the Geese I saw a couple of skeins heading north a few days ago so I would imagine that’s the local Greylags moving around feeding feeling the urge to fly in formation. We are right on the cusp of the birds starting to pass over though. This year there seem to be more than ever that have remained and bred so there are masses of Greylag kicking about. If this is a good thing is another question. Anyway we should have three types return to us, White fronts on the west mainland, Barnacle on south Walls[Hoy] and Greylag just about every where else.
The wind has been blowing from the NW for ages as well and little sign yet but its all about to kick off that’s for sure. The joke is the better it gets the more my head is buried in work and my birding consists of a scan about with the bins while I have a coffee. The wind is forecast to swing round to the east and south east over the weekend and bring showers of rain so that sounds good for a nice fall of migrants, fingers crossed anyway I had better get off to work.
LATERS
D

[Barrie Hamill]

Hello all,

Today there was a Curlew Sandpiper in Burray. It was in the muddy patch in the field beside the Cemetary. A really nice bird.

Cheers,

Barrie

[Barrie Hamill]

Further excitement late afternoon. Went to Echna to see what birds were about and whilst scanning the bay noticed a Basking Shark which was serenely and slowly swimming a couple of hundred yards off-shore. It wasn't a big one - perhaps 5-6 feet between the Dorsal Fin and the Tail Fin.

Also there were the 2 Velvet Scoters which have been around for the last week or so.

Barrie

[dolphinbride]

Further excitement late afternoon. Went to Echna to see what birds were about and whilst scanning the bay noticed a Basking Shark which was serenely and slowly swimming a couple of hundred yards off-shore. It wasn't a big one - perhaps 5-6 feet between the Dorsal Fin and the Tail Fin.

Also there were the 2 Velvet Scoters which have been around for the last week or so.

Barrie


Yet another reason why I must get to Orkney. It seems that no matter what was intended to be seen, there is always something amazing to report!

Best to all! Please keep it coming....

Kristina

[dafi]

Im chuffed to bits as i had the first real geese of the season today with a good big flockthis evening leaving Kirkwall in the fields below Saverock. Later on looking from the stonyhill to Ballarat and the harray loch every thing went up at once with a large flock of Golden,Plover, Lapwing and thousands and thousands of Greylag. They were spread over most of the horizon before circling to land in four or five flocks spread across a couple of miles of grazing and stubble fields. The noise was large envigorating and very welcome.!!

[dafi]

Last week I visited the exhibition of paintings on display from forum stalwart and local patch contributor Tim Wootton . The paintings are currently on display for another two weeks at the Waterfront Gallery in Stromness and provide a nice birdy alternative for something to do on one of these endless afternoons of rain. I must say at this point I know nothing about painting and posses no skills in that direction. So this is more an observation of my favourite paintings than any sort of critique.
.Tim’s paintings are mainly of birds although the centre piece on one wall is a stunning study of a pine martin in life like reality. At this point I should admit I didn’t like one or two of the paintings but overall they are magic. Catching the colours and feeling of heather, the cliffs and shore so well. The jiss of the birds and the vast variety of different light that is the joy of the Orkney outdoors shone out so well. This contrast in light is shown very well in two of my favourite pictures with the warm rays of the setting sun illuminating the heather and moss around two paired up Artic Skuas as they roost up for the hour of twilight in The Longest Day. This warm contented light contrasted with the grim, wet and windy sky as two Bonxies moved along the cliffs in the endless hunt for food in, Into Heavy Weather. This one almost had me turning up my collar! Such was the damp and cold emanating from it.
Razorbill and shag painted near or at north Berwick [im sorry im not sure which] was another cracker that would grace anyone’s walls. While on the thought of gracing my walls there are a couple of working sketches and paintings. One called Artic Skua Field Work involved several working drawings and paintings of Artic Skuas and captured the essence of these fantastic birds with little more than a few flicks and strokes of the pencil. The other was working drawings and pics of some Shellduck . The various studies bringing them to life with a lot of intimate detail. There was another set of just drawings of Artic Skuas that really took my fancy as well.
Many of Tim’s pictures are of the cliffs and Puffins and Sea Pink. Does a fine job of capturing the scene with the cliffs and thrift glowing in the sunshine the solitary Puffins loafing on the cliff side ledges. This theme is carried on with the grand sized Fulmar on red sandstone. A study of a Fulmar on its rocky ledge of our red Orkney sandstone .I don’t think you will get a more iconic image of the isles and painted on a grand scale. Very nice. Hanging opposite this is an all together smaller but no less impressive painting called Cathedral wall and features Guillemots on the cliff ledges. Its painted from a dizzying perspective looking down on the birds. The vertigo inducing view is teased along by the camber of the ledges and the seemingly precarious grip held by the Auks. Nice picture! And finally to my last fav which is Little Terns. A delightful wee painting of a pair of Little Terns hunkered down on the sands. I think its probably the soft spot I have developed for these feisty wee birds over the last three years of knowing them. Seeing them here just makes me smile in side and think ooh its my birds. Far nicer than any of my photos!.
All in all a very nice way to while away an hour.. It’s very nice to see the pictures in the flesh and full size rather than on the monitor. It’s a shame that more of the forum can’t get to see them hung. But I for one enjoyed them. Nice one Tim.
I hope you sell them all!!


Other stuff
With the growing presence of geese out west. Today I saw my first flock of Golden Plover in town with a flock across two fields on the far side of the new pier Hatstown. Some nice big flocks of Swallows now moving about. Oh for some east winds!

[Barrie Hamill]

Dafi,

A wonderful review of a great exhibition. You certainly have a gift with words. I went a few days ago and enjoyed it very much. I had already seen some of the pictures when I visited Tim's gallery on South Ronaldsay a couple of months or so ago. It was good to see these again in different surroundings.

The exhibit also included a number of newer works that I hadn't seen and these were a delight as well. You have obviously been very busy and fruitfull recently Tim.

For those of you who are intending to visit Orkney, Tim's gallery is a must. He captures both the birds and the Orkney Landscape so well and the inter-relationships between the two.

A visit to Tim's thread on the Wildlife Art Forum, where much of his work can be seen is also highly recommended, though I doubt there are many on this thread who are strangers to Tim's.

[dafi]

I have just been out for a wet troll about the muddy holes and brecks of Deerness and Tankreness having a spy for the Lesser Yellow Legs with no luck at all. Anybody know of its last location?

[RKell1]

Lesser Yellow Legs with no luck at all. Anybody know of its last location?

Saw plenty of yellow legs playing for Ireland against France.. :C:C

Great to see the birds are arriving in numbers now Dafi, look forward to hearing you've seen the LYLegs..

[dafi]

[QUOTE=Barrie Hamill;1006288]Dafi,

A wonderful review of a great exhibition. You certainly have a gift with words.

Thank you Barrie,Thats very kind of you to say so.
Its a pity i dont have one with puntuation tho!....LOL.

Hello Ray sorry to see you lads gubbed. Never mind its the All Blacks for us..yeeha

[dafi]

I have just had a PM from Kas in Scrabster telling me she just watched her Cattle Egret take off and head north over the sea at Holborn Head Scrabster. So chances are and with a bit of luck its heading for us.

I might stand more chance of this than the American Golden Plover....lol

Well it roosted over night on the fish pier at Scrabster so its still in Caithness.

[dafi]

The local artistic community certainly looks like its taking the world of birds to its heart. i saw this poster at Bakies in Finstown today. Looks very intresting. I must get along for a look!

on the botom it says exhibition runs throughout october.
Open week days till five.
Closed sat 13th.
Bird watching walk with Eric Meek on sat 28th at 2pm
Suitable for all ages
phone [it looks like either 787 or 781...700] for details.
I will try to find out the numbernext time im out there.

[Barrie Hamill]

Dafi,

Haven't seen this one. Will definitely go. Went to another exhibition in the Strond a couple of weeks ago which was a bit too "abstract" for my tastes. The review in the local papers was as "creative" as the exhibits on show.

On the birding front, had a first winter Glaucous Gull this afternoon at the beach on the western side of Barrier 4.

Barrie

[timwootton]

Dafi - WOW! Thank you sooooo much for the review - amazing. If you want a job as my PR Officer - just apply in writing. many, many thanks and glad you enjoyed yersel!
Barrie, glad you enjoyed the show, too - and for the plug re. the gallery - much appreciated. (Sally went past you at Echna - she spotted you - was that the basking shark day? - Well as you know we finally got married and my sister, on her return to Kirkwall, saw a 25 footer swiming alongside Barrier 2!!! - Eff me, never even seen one, would you Adam it?
So to both you gentlemen - you (and partners, friends, etc) are cordially invited to the Grand Opening of the "Birds" exhibition at the Strond gallery - Sunday 30th September (this Sunday_ between 2pm and 5pm). I have 6 pieces in - some you'll have seen, a couple maybe not - and I have looked at a few other works by contributors. One is b100dy stunning - I won't say which and spoil it, but I'm going to have a word with the artist see if we can't do a swap. I love it! Hope to see you there - I'll ba around at some point in the afternoon. Dafi - I'll do you a very special deal on the little terns - you name the price you want to pay and it's yours - honest!

Back to today- first redwing of the winter in my garden - swallows overhead at the same time! 30 skylarks in 5 mins yesterday - this weekend should be good! If you see 'owt - don't try my mobile - just phone home - cheers.

[dafi]

Cheers Tim i would love to be there for the grand opening. Its unfortunatly the first day of birding classes with Tim for the winter, I think we are going to be in the south east tho. So if its foul weather we might have an art appreceation class for a while...lol.


2 Yellow browed Warblers at the stembister plantation today[cheers Barrie]

[Barrie Hamill]

Thanks Tim,

Linda and I will be there. Tell Sally I'm sorry I didn't wave. Still learning who drives what and amazed at the number of types of white jeepy type things that I keep waving at and getting blank looks.

Dafi,

Glad you got the YBW's. Will probably have a look tomorrow.

[dafi]

Just had my first Redwings at Hall of Heddle Finstown this morning.
Have been midgied out of work[midgies making my tounge turn the air blue] so im off to the south east for a look.

[Barrie Hamill]

This morning I had a Lesser Whitethroat in Burray. It was up on the road to Burray Ness, in the Garden where the road turns down towards the cemetery.
Also in the garden where 2 Goldcrests.

At Echna Bay there were 3 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Velvet Scoter and a Great Northern Diver.

[dafi]

I went out to winnick and got a pair of goldcrest and some Redwings but not much else. I spoke to Tim Wootton [a bit of a pool hustler] who had been ringing there this morning and all thay caught was Goldcrests and a few Wrens. Lets hope the winds improve over the weekend!

[timwootton]

Pool Hustler, Moi? - you should come down when Paul Higson's playing!
Anyway, you left with your shirt I recall ;)

[Sue Wright]

Hi Daf,

Good to finally catch up on the goings-on here. I see you've had some highs and lows, but that's Birding (or owt else) I suppose. The arty side of Orkney seems to be going strong too, great that one area so small can really kick-off with things.

I look forward to your next report and hearing how the classes go.

Sue.

[dafi]

THE SOUTH PARISH TRECK

The first class trip out of the winter is to be a wee run around the south end of South Ronaldsay As this is the most southerly point of the mainland it’s a classic place to visit to observe migration jumping off.
On waking up at first light it looked pretty poor with a flat calm and bright clear skies. Not really much good for bringing migrants down to rest or holding the local birds back. I’m sure they felt like me this morning and couldn’t wait to get on the road. Standing in the back door having a cup of coffee I grab the scope and shoot a few shots of the moon in the morning sky to get me warmed up. The first frost of autumn is on the grass and I am shivering too much to get a result. And then all the rooks from the local rookery rise at once to fill the air with noise. Felling suitably inspired I gather my kit together and head out into the morning.
I have an hour and a half before class so I head for Holm to the loch of St Mary’s. The run down the holm straight is fantastic. The views over Scapa Flow to Hoy and Scotland to the south are sharp and clear with the mountains of Sutherland showing prominently fifty miles away. Its unfortunate that its poor for birding but this is the third good day of weather in a row so I can happily live with the disappointment, On ariveing the sun is warm and the air is still the morning air is full of promis. The loch is well covered in birds and scanning through they seem to be mainly Widgeon with good amounts of tufted and teal; three Shoveller are still here from yesterday, a pair and a female. All the usual suspects are here and the fields behind are heavy with waders. I get the camera out and shoot views of the village and the loch before moving on.[more crap photos] Heading off I think I might stop at Echna Loch for a look but the dry roads in the morning sun are too inviting and the smooth bends take all my concentration as I sweep past Echna and on to Burray. Oops! The barriers have little to see on the water but to tell the truth I’m enjoying the ride too much to care. I stop at the view point near Upper Serrigar to take in the view. It’s stunning and clear this morning yet it seems the scene is too big to be captured on camera. Time is getting on and as I’m saddling up a flock of Meadow Pipits whoosh around me, landing on the fences and swirling around . There must be about forty or more .All ready to go I’m now about two miles from the southern end of the mainland and it’s a sign of things to come.
Arriving at Burwick harbour [lol] Tim is already here scouting the site out and as I take of my helmet he calls a Greywagtail that flies directly over my head calling away. It’s a nice start to get us underway. The class soon arrives and it’s a mix of familiar old faces and one new recruit. After a few intros and the good old health and safety brief we are on to our first bird. On the cliff there is a roosting heron warming itself up in the sun. We are a good distance away and somewhere its used to seeing people so its not too flighty and puts up with our inquisitiveness very well. We move off to the point to look out over the racing tidal flows of the Pentland Firth. The rocks below are covered with Shag adults and youngsters, one or two Blackbacks are in attendance but little else. At one point fifteen Twite fly over head and Tim calls ‘here is migration in action’. As we look at them they head out to sea twenty yards and promptly turn back. ‘Or maybe not’ he calls and we all have a laugh as they change their minds. We move back to the car park still looking through wagtails for whites and greys.
There are a lot of small birds milling about. Mainly Skylarks, Pipits and Twite as these are the ones that will migrate in the day time and there is a constant movement towards the sea. Our plan is first to walk Burwick Bay and see what it has to offer. In the skies to the east a flock of Golden Plovers wheel and turn, with a Merlin stirring it up. It keeps it up for a while but eventually moves off. Eyes too big for the belly, maybe. Along the shore Turnstone and Redshank are very evident with groups of Curlew in the distance and a covering of Rock Pipits in the foreground. Out on the water a large flock of mainly Common Gull interspersed with Widgeon and Eider dominated the bay. Moving out of the achingly ugly car park we walk round the back of the old kirk to look over the Burwick Loch. This loch has long since dried up and the basin left is a mass of meadow sweet thistles and flowering grasses. Among this Twite are feeding in flocks in preparation for the off. The flocks swoop and swirl around some times landing on the kirk roof behind us giving excellent views. The biggest flock was about a hundred and forty. All the time skylarks are about in groups twittering away. Once again every thing in the fields at the back of the loch is up as a female Hen Harrier passes over. She briefly lands on a fence stab but takes of as quick leaving a trail of chaos in her lazy wake.
Ever onwards we stop at the lobster place and get fine views of a knot snoozing along with a flock of Turnstones. and at the old pier the Turnstones have some Purple Sandpiper amongst them. Another young gannet is called to join a growing list. In the fields over the pasture on this side Meadow pipits abound sitting on the fences and electricity lines.. Swooping low are a few swallows these will be the about the last ones I see this year. It seems no time at all I saw my first returning swallow right on this bit of shore just a few months ago. The swallows swoop over the rocks and purple sandpipers. Tim rather poignantly points out we have the Sandpipers just returned from the Canadian shore and the swallows are just heading to South Africa and here we are stuck in bloody Orkney. All cheered up… lol. We retrace our steps back to the derelict buildings of the car park where we overlook the last puddle of fresh water locally. Here the Twite are drinking and bathing to getting best shape for the journey ahead. We had started at ten it was now the back of twelve so taking half the cars we head to our next destination, the Thomistin academy.[hope I spelt that right].
At this old disused academy we have our lunch looking down on the Loch of Lythes. This wee loch lies at the bottom of a shallow valley surrounded by pasture. Shielded by the old school walls we casually take turns scanning the teaming loch. We have Teal and Mallard Widgeon some Shoveller and Pintail. Snipe, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Redshanks on the banks. In the fields a small group of Lapwing and Redshank feed. Yesterday there were seven Ruff feeding in this sort of company. We search in vain and Tim dose a wee reckie of the surrounding fields but no sight of Ruff is seen. One is eventually seen overflying us which cheers us up. We move on to the cemetery near South Flaws to park up. From here we will follow the roads downhill to the shore at Banks and then a coastal walk to Burwick. From the cemetery looking north to Windwick, the view is bright, crisp and clear. Windwick Jackdaws are about in the air calling away a few on the ground offer up great views. We move off over the low rise past the farm of Holland to be presented with a superb view over the fields of South Ronaldsay. The vista is impressive - scanning with the bins produces a Sparrowhawk moving along putting every thing up flock after flock with Golden Plover, Lapwing and Starling all chiding him as he passes. A mile down the road Tim takes us to the garden of an old house. Although the garden is small it’s been overgrown for twenty years and in a landscape like ours so devoid of woodland and scrub it’s a magnet for tired migrants. Sure enough in the dense shrubs there is movement. I see it quickly and think it’s a Blackcap at first sight but it reveals itself to be a Lesser White Throat. Brilliant! It’s a nice migrant. Tim has heard a couple of reports of them from yesterday and the day before. A strange rarity as in Kent every bush seemed to have one!! As we moved on towards Banks Tim’s step definitely had a little more spring in it !
The landscape is pastureland interspersed with stubble fields leading to wetland mixed with maritime heath and moor at the coastal cliff. Heading to the house of Banks to take the coastal path we put up Snipe from a muddy field corner. Writing this reminds me of all the Snipe we have seen so far that I have completely forgotten to mention15 or more. Oops memory loss or some thing. Passing the house of Banks and on to the cliffs Gannets are moving occasionally along the firth. When the cliffs drop the rocky shore holds Wagtails and Rock Pipits in abundance while on our right the Loch of Liddel is another wee loch teeming with life. Most of the species we have already seen. But Shovellers are well represented here. The south parish is one of the best areas in Orkney to see them. So this is a fine loch to watch in the winter time.
Along the shore to the old watch tower Gannets take our attention. While over the fields out across a big horizon flocks rise and fall in an easy motion .The air above is regularly crossed by flighty brown birds with one thing on their minds. Negotiating the path around the watch tower and geo at the side of it we are faced with the point of Brough Ness. and the bay of Burwick. The more exposed rocks have a peppering of Shags and Gulls. Along the rocky shore all the way back our progress is heralded by pleepy redshanks scaring every thing off as we advance. So no more Purple Sandpipers for us. The last path is a bit sparse. At the cars the flocks of seed feeders are still milling about fuelling up. It’s a nice end to the day it’s a fine end to the first class and we head off in our separate directions so to speak [we can only head north] . The road home takes me first to the beach at the fourth barrier to look for a Grey Plover seen short ago but dog walkers are on the beach and its devoid of birds. So onwards to Echna . The sea is flat glass and holds loads of birds far out Guillemots and Razorbills in winter plumage are dotted about but after a lot of searching I can only find one female Scoter and little else of note. Its much the same over the road in the loch so I amuse myself taking photos for a while before I’m driven on by the need for food and coffee. Tim reckoned 6 out of 10 for the day and that was only with a point for the white throat. I was out from 9 Till 6 and didn’t get rained on!!. I would give it 6 out of 10 before we even count the birds.
CRACKING.DAY.

[Mabel]

Well done on the Lesser Whitethroat! That Merlin must have had a real run for its money!

I also have yet to see a Snipe. Well done mate-excellent piece!

[timwootton]

Another beautifully evokative piece of prose, Dafi - congratulations. I saw Tim on the Saturday and he tipped the ruffs up - I went down Lythes for some sketching, parked at Thompson's Academy and spend 10 mins looking for the best approach to the loch. My decision made I was just about to return to the van for the big scope when a call diverted my attention. It was the ruffs - up they went and came almost directly over me and out to sea - bye, then!
No doubt there'll be some highlights to come - Andy and I netted a juv female sparrowhawk and a lesser whitethroat the Saturday morning (along with 7 goldcrests, 3 wrens and a redwing).
Laters.

[dafi]

I saw in the Orcadian last week an extension to the OCEAN calendar.
This was an excellent surprise and extends wildlife events into the winter. So here are a few upcoming bird type things. There is an interesting variety of things to do for every one. So get those garden feeders fired up and those binoculars dusted down. Come on out and enjoy.


Sunday 7 Oct
Berriedale Picnic OFC
Join the annual hike to the most northerly native woodland in the UK for the migrant birds, ferns autumn colours and superb scenery.
TIME Dep Stromness 9.30 am Return Moaness 4.30
COSTS members £1 non members £2
Info/bookings Dick Matson 715426


Friday 19th Oct OFC
Wildlife in Florida.
Gail Churchill SNH Area Officer. Gives an illustrated talk on the animals and birds she encountered on two recent visits
TIME 7.30pm
MEET Kirkwall community centre
Members £1 non members £2
Info Dick Matson 751426


Sunday 21st
BIRDS OF FARM LAND AND SEASHORE
OFC/RSPB
Meeting ate Dale, Costa to see the buntings, finches etc on the winter bird crop, looking at the water birds of Swannay and the Loch of Banks, and then visiting the Loons hide and the Birsay shore.
Info/bookings Dick Matson 752426.


Saturday 27th
RSPB Feed the birds day RSPB/OFC
Practical advice on feeding your garden birds, making bird mixtures and finding out what species you can attract in conjunction with wellpark garden centre
Time to be confirmed
Info bookings RSPB office 850176

[dafi]

RSPB members group Sanday trip

To day I enjoyed the rescheduled MG outing to the isle of Sanday. Having been cancelled earlier for weather the continuing poor winds didn’t look great for today. The S/W airflow added to a 6.30 start and two and a half hour sail put most folks off. One cancelling at the last moment left three of us. I got a whole back seat and two windows!. I wasn’t complaining!!. Leaving in the dark we were passing Shapnsay with the first light of dawn in the east. A shower passes then another starts and wont stop, Falling soft and steady its as perfect start as we can get.
I am not going to do a huge report just some places and sightings. It was my first time birding on Sanday but Eric who is at the wheel knows the island intimately. And leads us across likely sights and gardens and ditches and we see absolutely rakes of birds. The place is hooching. The first place we hit is Stove at the head of the bay of stove. The tide is high and falling. The trees and shrubs here produce the first warbler with a chiffchaff .I put up a Sparrowhawk which drops its prey for Alan to find .A decapitated Redwing. Around the farm on to the shore for a few shore birds. Some nice Sanderling and off.
Heading to Bea loch we get a lesser Whitethroat . The fields are full of golden plover lapwing curlew redwing and starling in the air are constant flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares coming from the east. Down toward the pumping station a male Henharrier drops on Redwings and Lapwings causing the air to fill impressively. On the loch good numbers of Widgeon and a few good ducks milled about. Greylag occupied the bank edge while in the fields behind were two good flocks of Pink feet another flock of fifty passed over high later heading south.
We hit Cata sands for some good wader action and my first grey Plover just loosing its summer plumage. A lifer that’s me happy. 150 Black tailed Godwit is pretty good icing for the cake tho!
Every where there are flocks of small birds Twite,Skylark MippitsLlinnets milling about.Tthe land and sky are alive with movement. Every where on the island is dotted with Blackbirds and Wheatears.
By the time we get to Start point its brightening up. The shore has 100 or more Sanderling and two more Gray Plover. When the tide falls enough to get across in my boots the island is hooching with Snipe and Eric puts up two Jack Snipe.We get Goldcrest Merlin Kestrel Brambing Songthrush Blackbirds and flocks of small birds. It’s a fantastic place but find out about the tide times locally.
We head back from there and get warblers in gardens Barred and Yellow Browed a lifer for me. We were watching Chiffchaff and Goldcrest in a garden when Eric shouts listen Pec Sand looks up and points. THERE. And it passes close over us and drops down on the nearby North loch shore. Lifer 3. We look for it and get a Spotted Redshank. Brilliant bird we get one or two a year and we got one to day! There were loads of birds on the water with my first Whoopers of the year. 30 plus Pintail some Golden Eye and a ring tailed Harrier to liven it all up. We headed here and there on the way back to the ferry.
Good end to a good day
Sorry its not so brief as I intended but to tell the truth I have hardly scratched the surface. A big thank you to Eric and Allan for the expert guidance and id skills….cheers

Guillemot
Razorbill
Shag
Cormorant
Herring gull
LBB Gull
BH Gull
Sandwich Tern
Fulmar
Gannet
Eider
Turnstone
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Heron
Dunlin
Knot
Black tail Godwit
Curlew
Merlin
Henharrier
Starling Sparrow blackbird
Reed bunting
Green finch
Robin
Goldcrest
Blackcap
Yellow browed warbler
Barred warbler
Chiffchaff
Brambling
Chaffinch
Lesser white throat
Twite
Linnet
Mippits
Skylark
Wheatear
Golden plover
Hooded crow
Raven
Pectoral Sand piper
Spotted Redshank
There are bound to be loads more. I just can’t remember at the mo.
Top day though.

[Wendy Morris]

Fantastic selection, Dafi...love your avatar btw.

[Mabel]

Wonderful selection indeed, Dafi. I still need to see Bramblings, Eiders and a few others. Well done mate!

[Barrie Hamill]

Dafi,

Looks as if you had a great day. Did you manage to catch up with the Surf Scoter I PM'd you about yesterday? Also had a Ring Ouzel on Burray on Friday.

Barrie

[dafi]

Hi Barrie im afraid i have never been out today just had a lazy one around the house. I might get out a look across the eastside the morns morn[if i can get up] i havent had a definate Ringed Ouzle yet!

[dolphinbride]

Dafi, what an incredible day out, and three lifers to boot!!!


Kristina

[gordon hamlett]

Here's Eric Meek's September report for Orkney

Gordon



ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS

SEPTEMBER 2007


Up to four Great Northern Divers appeared at a number of sites as
wintering birds began to arrive but the only Black-throated Divers
were one in Water Sound on 23rd and singles off North Ronaldsay on
26th and 28th. The first Slavonian Grebe was seen in the Bay of
Firth on 15th, a further six being reported by the end of the month.

The unprecedented passage of Great Shearwaters continued with up to
73 per day off North Ronaldsay (peak on 11th and last noted on 20th)
and singles off Egilsay on 11th and Birsay on 13th. Sooty
Shearwaters are much less unusual but numbers were exceptionally high
with a peak of 489 off North Ronaldsay on 4th and three other day
counts of c.200; elsewhere, highest counts were 108 off Birsay on
14th and up to 50 off Start Point, Sanday on 19th and 28th/29th while
birds were also seen in much less likely situations for example off
Egilsay, off Shapinsay and between South Ronaldsay and Flotta. Manx
Shearwaters were, typically, less numerous, maxima being 32 off North
Ronaldsay on 4th and 19 off Birsay on 14th. A single Balearic
Shearwater passed North Ronaldsay on 13th. Up to 43 Storm Petrels
were seen per day during the North Ronaldsay sea-watches (peak on
4th) while four were noted off the west side of South Ronaldsay on
6th and two off Egilsay on 11th. The only Leach’s Petrel was one off
North Ronaldsay on 18th.

13 Grey Herons gathered at the Finstown Ouse on 15th. The first
returning Whooper Swans were four on Sanday on 17th followed by 21 on
North Ronaldsay on 25th and one at the Loch of Skaill on 29th. Pink-
footed Goose passage began with eight on North Ronaldsay on 16th
while 165 arrived at the Bea Loch, Sanday on 19th with up to 90 per
day being noted at several localities thereafter. Migrant Greylag
Geese usually arrive later but are difficult to separate from our
local breeders; a gathering of 1200 at the Swannay Loch on 29th
probably included birds of both origins. A single Brent Goose was
seen on North Ronaldsay from 22nd while two Barnacle Geese were there
on 30th.

Two Shelducks at Burwick on 6th and two on North Ronaldsay on 19th/
20th were unseasonal. Wigeon began to arrive in large numbers with
660 at the Loch of Brockan, Rendall on 8th and 1400 at Sanday’s Bea
Loch on 19th. The highest Gadwall count was of 20 at Graemeshall
Loch on 8th and that for Pintail, eight on North Ronaldsay on 30th.
Two Scaup on the latter island on 17th were early arrivals; also
there was a Common Scoter on 15th/16th. Two Velvet Scoters
frequented Echnaloch Bay all month but the first Long-tailed Ducks
were not seen until 11th when three were off Egilsay, others being
seen on the Peedie Sea and Echnaloch Bay before the end of the
month. Echnaloch Bay also attracted a flock of up to 30 moulting
drake Red-breasted Mergansers while two Goosanders were seen at the
Brig o’ Waithe on 9th and the two drake Ruddy Ducks remained at the
Quoyloo Brewery Pool.

Single Buzzards seen at Binscarth, Rendall and Deerness between 25th
and 28th were the only birds of prey of note. Up to three young
Corncrakes were reported from Clifton, Westray mid-month, the only
other being a migrant on North Ronaldsay on 29th. A Crane flying
over Herston on 15th must have been a fine sight.

Golden Plover flocks built up during the month but the only count
received was of up to 870 on North Ronaldsay. American Golden
Plovers, a very scarce vagrant, were seen in Deerness on 11th and
Holm on 26th. Sanday is the favourite haunt of Grey Plovers and 56
were at Cata Sand on 26th, no more than three being seen at three
other sites. Sanderling flocks peaked at 150 at Scuthvie, Sanday on
26th and 142 on North Ronaldsay on 4th. The only Purple Sandpipers
reported were on North Ronaldsay where numbers peaked at 32 on 27th.
A Curlew Sandpiper on Burray on 12th was the only one reported. Up to
seven Ruff gathered near Burwick during the month (peak on 29th) with
one-two at three other sites. Much rarer, however, was the Buff-
breasted Sandpiper found at Burness, Sanday on 30th. Two Jack Snipe
appeared on cue on North Ronaldsay on 27th. Black-tailed Godwits, en
route from Iceland, were conspicuous with up to 30 at the Bea Loch,
Sanday, 25 at Loch of Lythe, South Ronaldsay, 24 at Costa , 15 on
North Ronaldsay and up to seven at several other sites. By far the
largest concentration of Bar-tailed Godwits was on Sanday with 500 at
Cata Sand on 20th. The only Whimbrels were singles on North
Ronaldsay on 2nd, 5th and 24th and the only Green Sandpiper, one in
Rendall on 15th. A Wood Sandpiper on Egilsay on 3rd was much scarcer
as was a Grey Phalarope off North Ronaldsay on 4th.

Bonxies lingered until the end of the month while Arctic Skuas were
noted off North Ronaldsay until 25th. One-two Pomarine Skuas were
seen off North Ronaldsay, Egilsay and Birsay on six dates while three
Long-tailed Skuas were off Egilsay on 11th with singles off North
Ronaldsay on 9th and 13th.

Single Little Gulls were at Evie Sands on 14th and North Ronaldsay on
28th while Sabine’s Gulls were seen during sea-watches off Birsay on
13th and off North Ronaldsay on 16th and 27th. Iceland Gulls were
reported from the Peedie Sea on 11th and North Ronaldsay on 22nd with
Glaucous Gulls at No.4 Barrier on 25th and North Ronaldsay on 26th
and 28th.

Little Terns are rarely seen away from their breeding site so a
juvenile off the Egilsay Pier on 4th was noteworthy. The last Common
Tern was reported off North Ronaldsay on 23rd while that island saw a
big influx of Arctic Terns also on 23rd when 120 appeared, two also
being noted at Honeysgeo, South Ronaldsay on 25th. A Little Auk,
photographed in Pierowall Harbour, Westray on 25th was very early.

On North Ronaldsay, a Turtle Dove was seen on 24th and 26th and a
migrant Wood Pigeon on 28th. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drew
attention to itself on a roadside verge in Sandwick on 30th.
Shorelarks are very scarce visitors these days so one at Start Point,
Sanday on 28th and 30th was of note. Much rarer still was the Tawny
Pipit found on North Ronaldsay on 27th, only the 3rd Orkney record if
accepted. Tree Pipits should be much commoner but are rarely found,
the only report being of one at Lingro, St.Ola on 26th. A few White
Wagtails continued to be found amongst Pied Wagtail flocks with two
in Stenness on 5th and two at each of Birsay and Bay of Skaill on
24th. Two Grey Wagtails frequented The Willows area of Kirkwall all
month while others were at Ireland on 28th and Burwick on 30th.
Single Citrine Wagtails, a rare migrant from Siberia, were seen on
North Ronaldsay on 28th and 30th.

After an excellent summer for Swallows, they became less conspicuous
as the month progressed, the roost in the Graemeshall reedbed peaking
at 2100 on 8th. A few House Martins lingered late into the month but
the only Sand Martins reported were four at Burray Cemetery on 12th.

The ‘fall’ of Continental passerine migrants from 27th brought two
Dunnocks, six Robins, three Bluethroats, a Redstart, a Whinchat, a
Stonechat, a Ring Ouzel, 48 Blackbirds, 10 Fieldfares, seven Song
Thrushes and 28 Redwings to North Ronaldsay. An influx of 20
Blackbirds to Egilsay on 15th was probably best explained in terms of
dispersing local birds and few migrants were reported away from North
Ronaldsay with only one-three Robins at three sites and 10
Fieldfares, 20 Song Thrushes and 50 Redwings in Rendall with one-two
Redwings at three other localities.

Seven Sedge Warblers were still at Graemeshall on 3rd and two on
12th. Warblers of various species were also involved in the fall at
the end of the month with North Ronaldsay recording a Grasshopper
Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, an Icterine Warbler, a Barred Warbler, up
to five Lesser Whitethroats (with others on Sanday, Burray and South
Ronaldsay); up to four Garden Warblers (with two on Sanday), two
Blackcaps, a Yellow-browed Warbler (with another three on Sanday and
one on South Ronaldsay), up to eight Chiffchaffs (with two on Sanday
and one on South Ronaldsay), up to three Willow Warblers (with four
on Sanday) and 41 Goldcrests (with 10 on Sanday, 10 on Burray and
seven in Rendall). One-two Pied Flycatchers were also on North
Ronaldsay from 27th and a Red-backed Shrike there from 10th-22nd.

Bramblings arrived in small numbers with four on North Ronaldsay on
27th and eight in Rendall and nine at Crantit on 28th. North
Ronaldsay also attracted a Chaffinch, three Greenfinches and a
Scarlet Rosefinch on 28th while the only Siskins were two in Rendall
on 13th and two at Herston on 30th. Up to three redpolls were on
North Ronaldsay from 18th with others at Brodgar and in Rendall on
15th and three at Start, Sanday on 19th – all those seen well
appeared to be Common Redpolls of either the Greenland or Iceland races.

Snow Buntings were first seen on North Ronaldsay on 5th and increased
to 66 by 27th; one-three were seen at a few other sites. Lapland
Buntings were reported only from North Ronaldsay where four on 7th
increased to 13 by 12th with up to four later in the month.


Eric Meek

[dafi]

High speed report today

Bosquoy
busy

Loch o Banks
Dead

Sabiston
Hoochin

Loons hide
Dead

Marwick Bay
Busy

Birsay Bay
Totaly Hoochin

Short and sharp...makes a change eh!

[dafi]

Juv Red Throated Diver in the Kirkwall Basin at the moment. Feeding about the boats it seems unpreturbed by human presence if you dont move whem it surfaces.
Showing well.

[dafi]

Pectoral Sandpiper at the muddy pool besids the Burray cemetery right now.
Cheers to Barrie Hamill for that one!!

[Barrie Hamill]

Pleased you saw it Daf.

Tim saw it late this afternoon, so hopefully there will be some drawings up soon on his excellent thread in the Wildlife Art bit.

Barrie

[timwootton]

What looked to be another day of general b*ggering about with the kids (School hols - oh aren't they great!) took a turn for the better. Having 'enjoyed' a trip to see Grannie in Kirkwall and done the shopping bit (all fine, actually, as I haven't ventured to 'the city' for over 2 weeks) was greeted by 'the magic flashing yellow box' as I logged onto our Forum. Barrie's been at it again!!!!
Nice bird, Pec Sand and only a five minute drive away (in fact this is Dafi's 2nd in almost as many days!!!).
After offloading a trailerful of bruck at the recycling centre, continued on to Burray Cemetery. The very first bird my bins alight on, on the nearest bank - Pectoral Sandpiper. 40 mins later and two sheets of drawings (see my art thread, if at all interested), was still suitably inspired to make a colour sketch back at the studio.
Here's how the bird looked to me - juvenile, tinges of russet to the cap and mantle.
Cheers Barrie - it stayed just long enough, it was away at 16:45 - headed due east.

[dafi]

Out and about the patch this weekend we have an OFC/RSPB EVENT.
All are wellcome novice to expert. So come along and enjoy the birds in likeminded company..

Sunday 21st
BIRDS OF FARM LAND AND SEASHORE
OFC/RSPB
Meeting at Dale, Costa to see the buntings, finches etc on the winter bird crop, looking at the water birds of Swannay and the Loch of Banks, and then visiting the Loons hide and the Birsay shore.
Info/bookings Dick Matson 752426.

[kas]

Have a good day out this weeekend Dafi. The weather forecast is good and I always find this time of year excellent for turning something unusual up.



On a sad not my friend was at the Royal Oak memorial and walked the same beach as he walked last year (not sure which beach though) and there were more birds washed up than last year. 53 birds mostly auks, with puffin being the most common.

Glad you bagged the pectorial sandpiper .

[dafi]

Most of the beaches here are covered by the beached bird survey and get recorded. There do seem to be a lot of dead auks about and more than a few puffins are croping up. I would supose its a food thing. I know there have been some big wrecks over on the Norwegian coast recently. Its been a poor state of affairs for the whole year realy.
Lets hope for better things with the advent of the winter birds!!

[dafi]

I know its kind of late[as i had forgoten] but to night in the community center room 3

Friday 19th Oct OFC
Wildlife in Florida.
Gail Churchill SNH Area Officer. Gives an illustrated talk on the animals and birds she encountered on two recent visits
TIME 7.30pm
MEET Kirkwall community centre
Members £1 non members £2

[dafi]

You still have a chance to get your name down for the morns capers. I hear there is a GND on Swannay loch. Very rare to have one on fresh water at this time of year.
So up and at em!! blow away the cobwebs this sunday. [last sunday these most of these sites were absolutley heaving with birds.]

Sunday 21st
BIRDS OF FARM LAND AND SEASHORE
OFC/RSPB
Meeting ate Dale, Costa to see the buntings, finches etc on the winter bird crop, looking at the water birds of Swannay and the Loch of Banks, and then visiting the Loons hide and the Birsay shore.
Info/bookings Dick Matson 752426.

[dafi]

There is a Little Stint at Burray cemetery pool showing well at the moment. It comes and gos so is worth waiting about for.
Once again its down to Barrie fay Burray for a good spot and shout.
Nice one Barrie.

[Barrie Hamill]

Great picture Dafi. Glad it came back. You must have got quite close to it.

Just one of a number of good birds that I have been lucky enough to find in Burray in the last couple of weeks. The others have included:-

Surf Scoter
Pectoral Sandpiper
Grey Phalarope
Richards Pipit
Ring Ouzel
Lesser Whitethroat

Shows what can be done when you have a lot of time to spend birding.

Barrie

[dafi]

Good stuff Barrie.
When i got back from the Bu[no muddy holes down there to be seen]It had returned. I just crawled along the wall and set up in the shelter of the fence strainer. It was a shame about the breeze and light. I got three poor shots like this and the rest were realy crap. However thats all a bonus i was happy enough to see it.....Lifer..
Cheers Barrie.
Look out for siskins!!


Tim Dean was telling me there are six Scaup in with the large flock of Tuffted on the Pieedie sea at the moment. If your there look on the shore below the power station as there are all ways a few snipe hanging out....

[timwootton]

Great shout Barrie (haven't been able to go as I have been half-blinded by an eye infection!!!) - and a super photo Dafi - brilliant work!
There was a female scaup on Echna Loch on Sunday, too.

[dafi]

Saturday 27th
RSPB Feed the birds day RSPB/OFC
Practical advice on feeding your garden birds, making bird mixtures and finding out what species you can attract in conjunction with wellpark garden centre.
All day event.

[dafi]

CLASS ON BURRAY

This month’s class was a look across Burray and St Margaret’s Hope. Assembling at the Echna Bay car park we started off by scanning the waters of the bay. There’s a SW breeze blowing away and initially it looks quiet but binoculars and then telescopes soon start picking out the birds. Individually there are a few Guillemots and Razorbills moving about, continually diving. Eider band together in small numbers. Mergansers fish away and we try to catch them as they surface to get the best views. There are a few small flocks of Long Tailed duck about. To add to these exotic looking groups, good numbers of Slovenian Grebes are moving around. Like most everywhere in Orkney at the moment Widgeon abound, whistling away. Its unfortunate that we don’t see any Scoters at all so I suppose they are lurking somewhere out in the waters of Scapa Flow beyond. Great Northern was the only diver to be spotted [if I remember correctly].
Moving up the hill a little we look down on Echna Loch and with some kind permission we stand in the shelter of a garden out of the elements. We kinda have the sun behind us. Echna is well stocked with Tufted duck and good numbers of wintering Mallard. Pochard and Teal are soon spotted. There are four Little Grebe on this loch and three put in an appearance. Little footie arse is the local name and they are still called it from time to time. One single Coot puts in an appearance almost accompanied by a Moorhen. Goldeneye and Mergansers about finish the loch list. In the derelict building below we watch Sparrow, Wren and Robin moving around feeding. One finchy flock flys over us and prove to be Twite This is ok but we are really looking for Siskins. There have been loads of flocks arriving over the last few days and would be a nice colourful passage migrant to see.
Heading onwards we move to St Michael’s Kirkyard and the muddy pool beside it .We are on the exposed eastern side of Burray. Over the last couple of weeks this sight has yielded up Pectoral Sandpiper and Little Stint. . Moving through the graveyard to the far wall to gain a view over the pool we have Turnstones, Ringed plover, Curlew, Snipe, Teal and Lapwing. Yesterday there were Ruff here but not today. Heading over to the seaward side of the graveyard we have our lunch out of the wind in glorious sunshine. Along with sarnies and coffee we have a loan Artic Tern. Gannets diving, waders and Whoopers passing, Time after time from opposite sides of the bay in front of us great flocks of feeding and roosting birds are put up off the fields in dark swirling clouds as they react to some threat of predation. After lunch its one last look across the pool before we’re off to the treat of the day.
Moseying on to South Ronaldsay we take the Lythes road to Stews. This is an end of the line car park with a new access path to the cliffs. Heading down, the land falls away before us and the fields contain large flocks of Golden Plover. Also present in large numbers are flocks of Lapwing and Curlew. We move down the cliff top to Stews Head to a birds-eye view of the Grey seals. They are in the inaccessible bay below, having just hauled up this week to start to pup. Below us are ten females of a bull’s harem. One has just given birth; other cubs are dotted around, one suckling, many just stretched out on the rocks sleeping and putting on weight. It’s a magic sight to see. The seals are aware of us talking and moving around but are unbothered by our presence. Just casting an occasional glance in our direction. With our cuteness factors recharged we head back to the cars when a flock of small birds are called coming towards us off the sea. This time it’s fifteen or more Siskins. All shining brightly and glowing yellow in the afternoon sun. a magic sight. Looking so fresh after crossing the north sea, they pass over and disappear up the rise.
We head to the opposite side of the island to have a look below the Oback Burn. This is as close to estuarine mud as we get here and it’s a fine spot for waders. With the tide falling we soon pick out large flocks of golden plover and lapwing, hordes of gulls cover the skerries All the usual suspects are here including Godwit Knot and Ruff and everyone has good views of every thing. With the clocks going back darkness is fast approaching and everybody is pretty dialled in to seaducks, waders and shore birds we head over the other side of this bay to the little hamlet of Herston. In a fast circuit of the houses we find Twite, Linnet, Greenfinch, Siskin and Brambling. On the way back to the group parking we stop to watch a male Hen Harrier hunting in the last light of dusk. Excellent he looked as well. With the dark coming on fast we were treated to the sight of seventy five or so Whooper swans passing low over Widewall Bay silhouetting against the last light in the western sky. They disappear into the gloom and so do we. Nice day and no rain until I was safely indoors. What a bonus.

[Barrie Hamill]

Dafi,

Great report as usual, particularly interesting to me of course as it some of it covers bits of my local patch. The last few days on Burray have been relatively quiet and I'm still out each day looking for brambling and siskin which everyone else seems to have seen.

On Friday I had a Ruff at the cemetery pool and flushed a Woodcock from near the gate. The Arctic Tern was flying around also.

With all the additional rain the pool is now a bit less enticing for waders and in the last couple of days I have seen fewer than before. The Teal like it however and yesterday there were 153! In the distance 31 Whooper were in a fields with Greylag Geese. The Arctic Tern was still around. As I was walking back to the car a trilling flock of 17 Snow Bunting flew over.

Barrie

[kas]

What a wonderful day you had. I have not seen Siskins yet myself, but like over with you, they are being seen here in far higher numbers than usual.
Did you take any photos or was it just a day to enjoy the birding for the pleasure it is.

One of the transmitting Whooper Swans I have been going on about is over your way. Merlin was last reported today between Sanday and Stronsay.

[dafi]

Hello Kas I have been going out on these group classes for a couple of years now and i find them realy rewarding. I think its eayser to maintain a bit of determination to carry on if your out with a group in the dead of winter than solo. Unfortunatly its not the best conditions for pictures but i snap as i go.

The pics here are Whooper coming from the north towards us. These were about a mile or more away so i was pleased they came out. The Seals are self explanitory and at least one pic is posted on Exbeebs.

You can check out post 162 on page 7 of this thread for the SP on the bird classes.

I will be paying a bit closser attention to the Whoopers now to see if i can find the one with the transmitter.

I hope the weather dont suck as bad as here but i suspect it the same.
Stay dry.
Daf

[kas]

Dafi, could you please send over the 2 Waxwings reported at Finstown today.
Many Thanks Kas.

Seriously, let us know if you get them again this year.

[dafi]

Yea shure will. I just found out a few minutes ago. You are on the ball tonight Kas! Had Garden warbler and Blackcap and about a million twite reedbunting and linnet out at Dale today. Magic it was!!

Your Wooper is on the sea off Eady at the mo!

[dafi]

11 more Waxwings reported today at the botom of easdale loan in the pine treed garden.

[Sue Wright]

A great report Daf and gives a wonderful read. Superb shots of the Seal and Whooper as well.

Re the Wazwings - jammy beggar you!:C I'll think of you when we see them down yer|=\| Well, you never know though as 2005 was a good year and got us a nice flock.....on the windiest day possible! Ah well, here's hoping.

Sue.

[dafi]

Hi Sue
I would have been a jammy so and so but it wasnt me that saw them the two reports were sourced off orkbird.
I have a load of apples spiked up in the bushes out in the back garden though!!.

[Sue Wright]

Ah...sorry Daf, obviously misread your post, in which case jolly good luck then and let's hope you get your Bird!!!

Sue

[timwootton]

Superb stuff again Dafi - only 'decent bird' was a pom over the house on Monday (was actually in a meeting, so scant details taken) - but took the kids to Burwick for the grey seal calving (see pic). Wonder how much damage the weather the morn will do?!

[dafi]

Hi Tim
Hopfully the S/E shore will be in the leaward side of things. Im not even sure when the tide is at its highest the morn.But it looks like it might be fresh enough.
Your gona have to get those kids bins..lol

RSPB AGM THURSDAY NIGHT 7.30 St MAGNUS CENTER FOLLOWED BY JOINT MEETING WITH SOC AND TALK FROM DAVID CATT ON BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND 8.15

CANCLED DUE TO WEATHER.

[dafi]

Weather forcast from the Orcadian.....Thursday.

...Winds backing SW’ly overnight and increasing gale F8 and locally severe gale F9 around Fair Isle and the west of Orkney. Across the north of Shetland winds may be F6-7 for a time. A cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain. Around midday winds are expected to veer NW’ly and increase generally gale F8 to severe gale F9 and soon afterwards increase further to storm F10. Damaging gusts of 75-85 mph are likely in squally showers which will quickly turn wintry with hail, sleet and the risk of thunder. Over higher ground there may well be slight accumulations of wet snow. During the evening winds will steadily ease to a gusty NNW’ly F7 to gale F8. Some slushy deposits may well occur at lower levels during the evening.

Sea state – Very rough then extremely rough with a 5 metre W’ly swell becoming 6 to 7 metre N’ly.

Anyone for a nice long seawatch this afternoon?

[timwootton]

That's just where I'm going now Daf!

[Marmot]

Hoping you both are fine in Orkney and manage to get through the gale force winds without damage. As soon as I saw the weather forecast my thoughts went to the pair of you.

About 2-3 years ago we had some wind gusts of about 80+mph down here that came out of the blue and were not even forecast....I was past myself with them.....they well and truly put the wind up me [pardon the pun].

How do you cope with these sometimes extreme things that the weather throws at you...or does the pleasure of living in the location far outweigh these.

[dafi]

Hi there Marmot I guess we dont realy think about the wind to much. Its a regular ocurrence through out the winter. Most folks knew it was coming and had a tidy up yesterday. I must admit i went out with Kate in the car instead of the bike today though.....lol
The wind wasnt to bad. It would blow you off your feet but its not strong enough to roll you along the ground yet. The back garden has a good peppering of snowy hail now though. Suposed to get worse later. Sounds like a bad tide is heading for the folks in the S/E England tonight tho. I would rather be here than there i think.

Here are three snaps of the N'W corner of the mainland
First is Marwick head seen from Birsay
Next is The Broch of Birsay
and last is Skipi Geo coated white with spume from the wind driven sea.
No sea waching for me this afternoon! Mayby the morn.

[dafi]

NEW WEB SITE…….ORKBIRD.

There is a fantastic new web site posting local bird sightings that has just started up. I think this might just end up being the best web site in Orkney.
I haven’t been able to get a link to work so here is how to find it.[the long way]

Google up yahoo and select yahoo uk and Ireland.
Click on groups on the left hand side.
Enter orkbird and click again
And away you go.

If you’re at all interested in seeing what’s the local area then this is going to be a great local resource.

Let the good times roll.