orkney birding (1 Viewer)

[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]

Twatt Kirk To Loch O Banks Hide

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]

Auskerry

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..

 

[Ian Bell]

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]

Muckle Skerry And Swona

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]

Corncrakes

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.

sucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucksucks

 

[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.