RSPB Bird Reports
ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
APRIL 2006
Relatively few Great Northern Divers were reported, the largest flock being of up to 15 off Papay after 21st. More unusually, two Black-throated Divers were off Deerness on 3rd while two White-billed Divers, a very rare visitor, were off North Ronaldsay on 20th, at least one remaining until 26th. Slavonian Grebe numbers declined but one on Papay’s St.Tredwell Loch was in an unusual locality. A heavy passage of Fulmars (2000 per hr) and Gannets (500/hr) took place off the Brough of Birsay on 16th while the first Manx Shearwaters of the year were seen off North Ronaldsay with one-two on three dates after 21st.
Reports of up to 20 Whooper Swans were quite widespread until mid-month with as many as 40 in Deerness. Greylag Geese declined in numbers after mid-month and there were a lot of reports of Pink-footed Geese with as many as 1400 in Harray on 17th and numerous reports of up to 250. The last report of Greenland White-fronted Geese was of 82 at The Loons, Birsay on 10th. A Brent Goose was on North Ronaldsay on 12th and three Barnacle Geese there on 26th. That island also hosted an American Wigeon from 24th while another American duck was a Green-winged Teal at Loch of Banks on 28th. As usual, the Harray Loch Scaup flock remained at a high level during the month, 260 being counted on 27th. Long-tailed Duck flocks are often a conspicuous feature of April and 350 were counted in Ore Bay, Hoy on 19th, Kirkwall’s Peedie sea also holding up to 120. The drake Smew that has wintered on the Skaill Loch was last reported on 5th.
One-two Buzzards frequented the Firth/Rendall area while two were in Orphir on 15th and one in Birsay on 21st. What was presumably the same Rough-legged Buzzard reported earlier in the year was again seen in the Harray hills on 11th. Up to three Sparrowhawks (maximum on 21st) occurred on North Ronaldsay while single Merlins were noted there on many dates and on Papay on 19th.
The largest Golden Plover flock numbered 1000 in Firth on 24th and there were several other reports of up to 500 as birds of the northern race, atrifrons, passed through the islands. Three Grey Plovers were on Papay on 13th but this species is most unusual inland making the sighting of one at Brodgar on 26th worthy of note. North Ronaldsay reported the only Sanderling flocks with up to 53 there, that island also holding the most Purple Sandpipers with 90 on 27th although up to 24 remained at Marwick and on Stronsay on 29th. A conspicuous passage of Black-tailed Godwits occurred from 23rd with up to 38 at Brodgar, 30 in South Ronaldsay, 12 on Westray and up to eight at five other sites, all probably en route to breeding areas in Iceland. An astonishing record of 1600 Bar-tailed Godwits passing over Deerness on 16th was, by far, an Orkney record count. North Ronaldsay reported the first Whimbrel on 13th then, after 18th, up to four were reported from 11 localities. The only Woodcocks were singles in Rendall on 1st and 28th and the only Jack Snipe, one in Harray on 19th and two in Evie on 28th. A Greenshank passed over Rendall on 23rd while the largest Turnstone concentrations were up to 169 on North Ronaldsay (peaks on 7th and 30th), 60 remaining on Stronsay on 29th.
Early Arctic Skuas were seen on the Birsay hills on 15th and at Herston on 16th with no more until 23rd and still very few by the month’s end. Bonxies arrive earlier and were regular, for example on North Ronaldsay, after 4th. North Ronaldsay’s Mediterranean Gull was seen on 15th/16th and another briefly in Harray on 27th, attracted to slurry spreading operations! Single Little Gulls were on North Ronaldsay on 24th and in Holm on 25th while the only Iceland Gulls were singles in Evie all month and at the Peedie Sea on 6th. A Glaucous Gull remained in Birsay Bay all month while others were seen on North Ronaldsay on 11th and at Evie on 18th. Sandwich Terns are always the first of that family to arrive and were widespread by the month’s end. Common Terns are usually next with small numbers appearing after 21st. Arctic Terns are the last to arrive, the first being two in Finstown Bay on 27th and 96 appearing on North Ronaldsay on 30th.
There was some light Wood Pigeon passage with up to six on North Ronaldsay early in the month (when two singles also occurred at Herston) followed by up to four after 27th when one was also on Stronsay. A few Collared Doves were also on the move with up to four on Papay and North Ronaldsay around 22nd-24th. Much scarcer was a single Stock Dove, on North Ronaldsay, also on 24th. The only Long-eared Owls were singles on North Ronaldsay from 3rd and on South Ronaldsay on 6th.
Swallows started to appear from 12th,when one was on North Ronaldsay, and were widespread after 23rd. The first Sand Martin was one at Herston on 15th and was followed by up to five at three other sites. The only House Martin was one on North Ronaldsay on 26th. A very marked passage of Meadow Pipits occurred during the last week of the month with 170 in Rendall and several reports of flocks of up to 100. Grey Wagtails were seen regularly on North Ronaldsay up to 14th with a peak of three on 11th; others were on Egilsay on 1st/2nd and in Evie on 5th. White Wagtails were only seen on North Ronaldsay with two-three on 3rd/4th and one-two 21st-28th.
A pair of nesting Dunnocks gave great pleasure to the ‘through-the-window’observers at Graemebank Road, Kirkwall, single migrants occurring on North Ronaldsay on 21st and 23rd. Up to three Black Redstarts remained on North Ronaldsay early in the month and another was found in Holm on 15th. Early Wheatears occurred on North Ronaldsay on 2nd and in Birsay on 4th but birds were not widespread until after 21st when a peak of 44 occurred at the former site. The remnants of the late March fall of larger thrushes were still to be seen on North Ronaldsay early in the month with up to 52 Blackbirds, 23 Fieldfares (21 also being seen on 25th), 22 Song Thrushes and 18 Redwings. 14 Redwings were also seen in Holm on 3rd and up to five on Papay until 26th with one still in Harray on 28th. Scarcer thrushes included single Ring Ouzels on North Ronaldsay on 2nd, St.Ola on 22nd and Papay on 23rd and single Mistle Thrushes in Orphir on 2nd and on North Ronaldsay on 4th.
A Blackcap arrived in Firth on 25th followed by three on North Ronaldsay next day, a Whitethroat being seen there on 27th. There were reports of one-two Chiffchaffs from seven sites after 15th. The first Willow Warbler was at Costa on 14th followed by one in Rendall on 16th followed by about ten more by the month’s end. A Great Tit in Rendall on 15th and it or another in Evie on 29th was a scarce find. Light passage of Jackdaws involved up to three on North Ronaldsay and at Herston during the first half of the month while good counts of resident birds of this declining species were made in South Ronaldsay with 50 at Windwick and 39 at Newark Bay. Similarly, up to three Rooks passed through both North Ronaldsay and Herston while North Ronaldsay also noted up to six Carrion Crows, others occurring at Heddle on 17th and Stronsay on 29th.
72 Chaffinches remained on North Ronaldsay from the March fall but few were seen thereafter. Up to three Bramblings were in Finstown most of the month but the only other involved one-seven at four sites after 21st. Three Goldfinches have taken up residence in Finstown and song has been heard so we are hoping for news that another species has been added to the list of Orkney breeding species before the spring is out; one-three were noted at six other sites. Ten Siskins were in Rendall on 19th and nine in Firth on 21st while up to five were noted in Finstown and one-three at three other sites. By far the largest Twite flock was 90 in Costa on 1st, birds dispersing to breeding areas thereafter. Common Redpolls were noted on North Ronaldsay on 19th and 21st and on Hoy on 20th while a Lesser Redpoll was in Costa on 27th. The late March arrival of Hawfinches continued into early April with birds being reported from North Ronaldsay, Stromness and Holm (two) up to 5th. Two Crossbills in Rendall on 8th were the only ones reported. Some Snow Bunting flocks remained during the first half of the month with up to 40 in Costa, 30 in Westray and 28 on North Ronaldsay , lingering birds being reported from Papay on 25th and North Ronaldsay on 28th. Records of two scarcer buntings came from North Ronaldsay with a Lapland Bunting there on 22nd/23rd and Yellowhammers on 6th/7th and 10th (two).Eric Meek
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