RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
APRIL 2004

Two Black-throated Divers were unusual visitors to North Ronaldsay on 13th while lingering Slavonian Grebes delighted watchers by being in their full summer regalia in several localities. A few pairs of Gannets were found to have returned to their new colony on Westray’s Noup Cliffs by mid-month.

The largest Whooper Swan flock was 20 in South Ronaldsay on 5th while the last birds on both Shapinsay and North Ronaldsay were seen on 9th when the final party of nine was actually watched departing from Shapinsay en route to Iceland. 22 Pink-footed Geese were still on South Walls on 14th along with 340 of the wintering Barnacle Goose flock and their attendant Snow Goose. 14 Greenland White-fronted Geese were still at The Loons on 13th and one remained on North Ronaldsay until 11th. 450 Long-tailed Ducks formed an impressive gathering around the Lyness salmon cages on 25th while 85 were on the Shapinsay crossing on 20th. A single Common Scoter was off North Ronaldsay on three dates but more noteworthy was the Smew that was there from 25th – 28th. The only report of Ruddy Ducks came from Shapinsay’s Mill Dam where a maximum of five occurred on 25th.

A White-tailed Eagle was in Rendall on 11th and possibly the same bird cruised past three different observers during a co-ordinated Hen Harrier watch in Birsay on 26th. A female Marsh Harrier had returned to a breeding site on 14th while another was on North Ronaldsay on 26th. A Goshawk was a rare visitor to Rendall on 10th. Single Buzzards were at Herston on 10th and in the Stenness hills on several dates while a pair was watched displaying in Firth.

Sanday had the honour of recording the year’s first Corncrake on 23rd and another was on North Ronaldsay on 28th. Flocks of Northern Golden Plovers passed through the islands with maximum counts of 475 on North Ronaldsay and 700 on Shapinsay mid-month and several other reports of 50 – 200. The only Knot was one on North Ronaldsay on 10th, the same island recording peaks of 473 Sanderling on 18th and 313 Purple Sandpipers on 24th. A Ruff was reported from Papay on 26th. The only live Woodcock was one on North Ronaldsay on 11th but the remains of several more were found in the hills – Hen Harriers and Peregrines are obviously more adept at finding this species in spring than we are! Black-tailed Godwits had returned to three breeding sites by the month’s end while two were on North Ronaldsay on 27th. The latter island recorded its first Whimbrel on 22nd with up to seven per day from 24th; there were four reports from the Mainland 25th – 29th. Single Greenshanks were seen on North Ronaldsay on 24th and Westray on 26th.

Bonxies are early returnees to the islands and were widespread by mid-month. No Arctic Skuas, however, were seen until 18th when two passed North Ronaldsay. That island’s semi-resident Mediterranean Gull was seen on 4th when a Glaucous Gull was also present; another Glaucous was on Copinsay on 25th. Sandwich Terns had already been seen by the end of March and became more widespread during April. The first Common Tern was over Kirkwall on 20th and the first five Arctic Terns on North Ronaldsay on 24th. By 25th, 50 Commons and 50 Arctics were at Lyness and 88 Arctics were counted on North Ronaldsay.

A few migrant Wood Pigeons were on North Ronaldsay during the month and one was at Herston on 20th. North Ronaldsay also recorded a Stock Dove on 5th and up to three Collared Doves after 15th. The only Long-eared Owls were on North Ronaldsay on 4th and in St. Ola on 26th. The month was especially notable for its influx of Hoopoes; no fewer than four of these exotic migrants appeared – on North Ronaldsay on 22nd, on Sanday next day and in both Westray and Holm on 26th. Small numbers of Sand Martins arrived from 17th while the first Swallows were two on Shapinsay on 12th followed by widespread reports from 22nd. North Ronaldsay had the monopoly on interesting wagtails with a Grey Wagtail on 4th, up to four White Wagtails especially after 17th and a single Yellow Wagtail on 28th.

An small influx of Continental migrants brought nine Robins to North Ronaldsay on 2nd when four Mistle Thrushes and a Stonechat were also present. Next day there were 22 Goldcrests there (with six at Herston) and, on 4th, two Black Redstarts, 111 Fieldfares and four Chiffchaffs (with two at Herston). The first Wheatears had already been seen in late March and numbers increased during the month, especially after 11th; by far the largest count was of 94 on North Ronaldsay on 22nd when many were also seen in the East Mainland. An early Whinchat was on North Ronaldsay on 20th and a Ring Ouzel was there on 22nd another being seen in Birsay on 25th. Few Redwings were reported, North Ronaldsay recording a peak of 16 on 14th and the only other record being one on Papay on 17th.

An early Grasshopper Warbler was on North Ronaldsay on 22nd and up to three Blackcaps were there from 17th. The first Willow Warbler was in Finstown on 10th with more widespread reports after 16th. A Great Tit was a most unusual visitor to Hoxa on 17th while a Great Grey Shrike was an excellent find in Tankerness from 8th to 13th. Small numbers of migrant Rooks, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows were noted from both North Roanldsay and Herston during the month while a flock of 52 Jackdaws at Newark Bay, South Ronaldsay were doubtless local breeders.

The largest gathering of Bramblings was 20 in Finstown early in the month while single Goldfinches were at Herston 20th – 25th and in Finstown on 25th. A few Siskins were noted but five at Herston was the largest party; one – two Common Redpolls were noted on North Ronaldsay while a redpoll thought to be a Lesser Redpoll was in Finstown on 10th. The largest Linnet flocks were 174 on North Ronaldsay on 26th and 95 at Crantit on 11th while the only Crossbills were a party of three at Hoxa on 4th. Rivalling the Hoopoes in their exoticness were no fewer than five Hawfinches – in Evie on 1st, at Herston from 3rd, in Deerness from 5th, on Westray on 13th and in Kirkwall from 26th. A few Snow Buntings lingered on North Ronaldsay with two still being there on 26th while single Lapland Buntings were seen on 21st, 22nd and 25th. Finally, North Ronaldsay reported a Yellowhammer on 14th.

E.R.Meek

Back to RSPB Bird Reports Menu