Geoff Pain
Rural Member
Going to Orkney early June,is there anywhere I should definitely be visiting?
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Orkney (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Geoff Pain
- Start date
Jane Turner
Well-known member
I'd say North Ronaldsay!
If you want breeding birds then Hoy is very good, with Hen Harriers and lots of skuas (mind your head) and Red-throated Divers. North Ronaldsay (and perhaps the other eastern islands - Stronsay or Sanday) should be very good then, with a chance of all sorts of rarities and migrants. North Ron's a lovely island.
There is no "best time" to visit. It all depends on your interests but June is getting a bit late for migrants. North Ronaldsay and its Bird observatory are always worth a visit anyway. It is a thouroughly unspoilt little island with a good number of breeding waders and seabirds, as well as many seals and of course fantastic wild flowers.
You can see all the breeders on the Mainland but I would suggest a visit Rousay (moorland, maritime heath), Westray (cliffs, moorland, maritime heath, seashore) and Sanday (machair, wetalnds, shore) as well as Hoy and North Ronaldsay if you have time. If time is limited then go to Westray and try and get to Papay too....
You can see all the breeders on the Mainland but I would suggest a visit Rousay (moorland, maritime heath), Westray (cliffs, moorland, maritime heath, seashore) and Sanday (machair, wetalnds, shore) as well as Hoy and North Ronaldsay if you have time. If time is limited then go to Westray and try and get to Papay too....
