RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
APRIL 2008

An exciting month with migration really getting under way and a number of very exciting species recorded.

Spring concentrations of Great Northern Divers included 112 in Clestrain Sound on 20th and 120 in The String/Wide Firth on 22nd.  Much rarer were the single White-billed Divers seen off North Ronaldsay on 15th and 17th and off Rerwick Head, also on 15th.  Early Manx Shearwaters were noted off North Ronaldsay with two on 25th and one on 29th.  Three White Storks provided a wonderful sight as they landed near Westness, North Ronaldsay on 26th and stayed until the next day. 

The largest flock of Whooper Swans was of just 18 at Campston in Toab on 9th; two days earlier a flock of 10 had been seen heading out to sea from the Bay of Skaill at the start of their journey back to Iceland.  Also with Iceland in their sights would be the flocks of Pink-footed Geese seen over Shapinsay on 16th (51), in Harray on 19th (250) and at The Loons on 26th (72).  The Greenland White-fronted Goose flock at The Loons declined from 48 on 8th to just five on 20th and 26th while one remained on North Ronaldsay until 8th.  A European White-fronted Goose was at Hundland, Birsay on 28th accompanied by a Tundra Bean Goose.  The wintering Snow Goose moved to the Tormiston area of Stenness during the first week of the month.  Three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen (on North Ronaldsay until 15th, on South Ronaldsay on 27th and in Orphir on 29th) while Canada Geese were noted in Deerness (five on 10th) and on North Ronaldsay to 28th.  The South Walls Barnacle Geese became rather mobile with flocks of 350 and 110 flying between north and west over the Lyness area on 15th, perhaps prior to emigration back to Greenland; nine were also in Deerness on 10th. 

The Green-winged Teal was seen again at the Mill Dam, Shapinsay on 9th and 30th while one found at the Hundland Loch, Birsay on 21st remained until at least 28th.  A drake Garganey was seen at one of this species’ favourite sites, the Graemeshall Loch on 19th.  The gathering of Scaup on the Harray Loch peaked at 255 on 11th.  Long-tailed Ducks often form large concentrations at this time of year and 300 were at Lyness on 21st and 191 on Echna Loch, Burray on 27th.  15 Common Scoters were off Halley,Deerness on 21st while a drake Surf Scoter was relocated off Rerwick Head on 15th/16th with two there on 20th.  The largest concentration of Eiders was 250 at the Quanterness Skerry on 18th while an immature King Eider was off North Ronaldsay on 3rd, 17th and 22nd.  Spring concentrations of Red-breasted Mergansers sometimes occur in the vicinity of the Brig o’ Waithe and this year’s peak was 115 on 19th.  The only Goosander was a female at Herston on 25th and the only Ruddy Duck, a male at Shapinsay’s Mill Dam on 14th and 29th. 

The Rendall Rough-legged Buzzard was still present until at least 24th while other rare raptors included a White-tailed Eagle in the Orphir Hills on 27th and a Goshawk in Rendall on 23rd and 29th with what may have been the same bird on Hoy on 24th.  A Marsh Harrier was seen on the Mainland during the last week of the month with another on Papay on 30th.  No fewer than six Sparrowhawks were on North Ronaldsay on 25th as passage birds tried to find their way back to Scandinavian breeding grounds.

A Crane remained in Outertown, Stromness from 10th until at least 23rd with another in Evie on 16th , two flying south over Firth on 24th and one in Deerness on 27th.  The rarest wader of the month was undoubtedly the Avocet that called in briefly to Papay on 25th.  Flocks of Northern Golden Plovers were widespread, the largest being 1400 at Mull Head, Deerness on 11th and 1500 at Rerwick Head on 16th.  230 Purple Sandpipers were counted on North Ronaldsay on 28th.  Two Ruffs were at Loch of Banks on 20th followed by one at Mill Dam of Rango on 26th and another on North Ronaldsay on 28th.  Late Jack Snipe were flushed from the Stenness Hills on 15th, South Walls on 23rd and the Birsay Moors on 25th.  Four Woodcock were on North Ronaldsay on 1st but only singles thereafter until two on 24th; another was on South Walls on 24th and birds were noted on seven dates in Rendall.  A light passage of Black-tailed Godwits took place with 12 at Graemeshall on 24th and nine on North Ronaldsay on 27th being the largest parties. Whimbrel passage began on 16th with a peak on 21st when 20 were on Westray, the next largest group being 13 on North Ronaldsay on 27th.  A single Greenshank flew over Wee Fea, Hoy on 30th. 

The first Arctic Skuas returned to Papay and Shapinsay on 18th the latter locality holding 40 by 29th but no other locality seeing more than three.  An immature Mediterranean Gull was at Newark Bay, Deerness on 8th.  Single Iceland Gulls were reported from six localities up to 21st with two at Evie Sands on 20th.  The usual Glaucous Gull remained in Stromness Harbour until at least 24th while two were at Carness on 11th and singles on North Ronaldsay and Westray.  Although Sandwich Terns became established early in the month, the first Common Terns weren’t seen until 21st (three in Orphir), the first Arctic Tern being noted on the same date, at Dingieshowe.

A light passage of Wood Pigeons was noted from several sites where they are not breeders, with up to 13 on North Ronaldsay and nine at Hestily, South Ronaldsay with two-three elsewhere.  A single Stock Dove was on Stronsay on 26th. Very few Long-eared Owls have been seen recently so that one on North Ronaldsay on 16th and two there on 25th were welcome.  One of the real surprises of the month was the spectacular Bee-eater that arrived at Voy, Sandwick on 28th, only the 20th individual of this species to have been seen in the islands.  A Wryneck was on North Ronaldsay on 23rd.  A very early Swallow was in Harray on 3rd then another on North Ronaldsay on 10th before they became widespread from 21st.  Sand Martins also began to appear from 21st with a peak of six at Graemeshall on 24th.  The only House Martins reported were one in Harray on 26th and another on North Ronaldsay on 28th. 

A Tree Pipit was on North Ronaldsay on 25th and a Grey Wagtail on the same island on 3rd.  White Wagtails appeared on North Ronaldsay from 17th with others in Birsay, Harray and Burray 21st-28th.  Small numbers of Robins occurred during the easterly winds of the latter part of the month, North Ronaldsay recording a peak of 15 on 24th.  A BlackRedstart was at Mull Head, Deerness on 10th with others at St.Margaret’s Hope on 20th and the Old Man of Hoy on 24th when four were on North Ronaldsay.  Two migrant Stonechats were on North Ronaldsay on 1st with a late bird on 24th; next day that island recorded an early Whinchat.  Small numbers of Wheatears were noted early in the month then became more widespread from about 10th.  Passage later in the month saw a maximum of 198 on North Ronaldsay on 25th and 45 on Papay on 28th.  Single Mistle Thrushes were seen in South Ronaldsay on 18th and 26th and in Holm on 22nd.  An arrival of Fieldfares occurred from 24th, when 140 were on North Ronaldsay, and they were accompanied by small numbers of Redwings and Song Thrushes.  A Ring Ouzel was in South Ronaldsay on 19th with two there on 28th while others were seen on Stronsay, Outertown (Stromness) and Rendall 24th-30th.

A Grasshopper Warbler was found on North Ronaldsay on 22nd with another on Hoy on 29th.  A Lesser Whitethroat sang at Hestily, South Ronaldsay on 24th/25thwhile one-two Blackcaps were on North Ronaldsay from 23rd.  Small numbers of Chiffchaffs were widespread, North Ronaldsay reporting a peak of 15 on 24th and Hestily five on 25th.  Willow Warblers were noted from 20th with peaks of seven on North Ronaldsay on 24th and five at Hestily on 25th.  Surprise visitors were three Great Tits: on North Ronaldsay from 17th-22nd with another from 27th-29th and one on Stronsay on 20th.  A Great Grey Shrike was a good find at Cara, South Ronaldsay o 25th/26th while an early Red-backed Shrike was at Backatown, Firth on 26th.  A Carrion Crow was at Widewall on 12th while another, paired with a Hooded Crow, was at Ore Farm, Hoy from 14th.

There was a good scatter of Bramblings, especially during the easterly winds later in the month; North Ronaldsay saw a maximum of 13 on 25th, Herston had up to nine and Hestily up to six with one-three elsewhere.  There were six records of one-three Goldfinches, five from the Mainland and one from Hoy.  Siskins were widespread but mainly in small numbers; however, ten were in Rendall on 18th and, on 30th, a total of 30 flew south past Wee Fea, Hoy.  Common Redpolls were noted on North Ronaldsay on 3rd and 29th (two) while an unidentified redpoll was at Widewall on 12th.  April is usually the Hawfinch month and this April was no exception: one was on Stronsay on 19th, one-two in Kirkwall from 20th-24th, one in Deerness also on 24th and another at Pierowall, Westray on 28th.  Two Crossbills were in Holm on 2nd and three at Herston on 13th.  A single Lapland Bunting was on North Ronaldsay on 1st and that island also recorded up to 28 Snow Buntings during the month the only other report being of one at Dale, Costa on 23rd.  The largest Reed Bunting flock was 40, also at Dale, on 6th.

Eric Meek

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