RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
August 2006

Undoubtedly the outstanding event of August was the spectacular passage of seabirds that took place off North Ronaldsay at the month’s close. Two Cory’s Shearwaters on 28th were the first hint of things to come. Then, on 30th/31st, a further two Cory’s Shearwaters, 48 Great Shearwaters, 129 Sooty Shearwaters, 37 Manx Shearwaters and a single Mediterranean Shearwater as well as 65 Storm Petrels and a Leach’s Petrel all passed the island as they tried to make their way back into the Atlantic having been forced into the North Sea by stormy weather. Storm Petrels had been prominent on North Ronaldsay earlier in the month too when tape-luring resulted in catches of 131 on 11th and 278 on 24th , 13 Leach’s Petrels also being trapped during the month.

Post-breeding gatherings of Greylag Geese were conspicuous, the largest being 400 at Widewall, South Ronaldsay on 31st but with 234 at Shapinsay’s Mill Dam on 7th and 120 roosting in Eynhallow sound on 25th.

There were few raptor records of note, the best being a Marsh Harrier which stayed in South Ronaldsay until at least 25th. A Buzzard was an unusual visitor to North Ronaldsay on 27th while that island also attracted four Peregrines on 26th.

The only Corncrake report was of one seen on Papay on 24th. Golden Plover numbers often increase during August, the largest gathering being 914 on North Ronaldsay on 13th but with other counts of over 400 on Papay and 257 in Deerness. 13 Purple Sandpipers had returned to Papay by 2nd while the largest Knot gathering was of 54 on North Ronaldsay on 9th/10th. The same locality recorded a peak of 137 Sanderlings on 27th, 80 of the latter species having been seen in Deerness on 1st. North Ronaldsay also provided the month’s only record of Ruff with one on 12th/13th while single Curlew Sandpipers were seen there on five dates. Rarest of all, however, was a White-rumped Sandpiper that appeared there on 1st. The biggest Black-tailed Godwit flock was 20 at Rosemire, Sandwick on 2nd, one – three being seen in three other localities. Small numbers of Whimbrel passed during the month with a peak of 12 over North Ronaldsay on 2nd. Greenshanks were in short supply with eight singles reported and two in Birsay on 2nd. Green Sandpipers were found on North Ronaldsay on 4th and 11th/12th with another in Tankerness on 17th while the month’s only Common Sandpiper was on North Ronaldsay on 21st. Turnstone numbers reached a peak of 313 on the latter island on 30th, a gathering of 150 having been seen at Burwick on 17th. A Red-necked Phalarope was seen briefly at the Brig o’ Brodgar on the evening of 31st.

A Long-tailed Skua was off North Ronaldsay on 12th while two over Swannay on 29th were obviously associated with the major seabird movements of that time. A Pomarine Skua was off Shapinsay on 20th. An adult Little Tern with an accompanying Juvenile off No.2 Barrier on 17th possibly originated from the South Isles breeding site.

Two Cuckoos were on North Ronaldsay on 17th with another (injured) bird on Sanday the same day and another on Hoy on 21st. The only Swift was one on North Ronaldsay on 18th and the only Sand Martin, one in Harray the following day. A Grey Wagtail was in Evie on 18th while a White Wagtail was identified on North Ronaldsay on 29th but decidedly scarcer was the Yellow Wagtail at Finstown School on 30th. Breaths of easterly wind brought a few scarce migrants to North Ronaldsay including a Bluethroat on 16th, Black Redstarts on 17th and 20th and a Wryneck on 26th. A Common Redstart was reported from Stromness on 23rd, two Whinchats having been seen on North Ronaldsay on 21st. Wheatear passage at the latter locality peaked at 23 on 27th.

Two Sedge Warblers were still in Stenness on 11th with late birds on North Ronaldsay 21st-24th.Up to seven Garden Warblers occurred on North Ronaldsay with a peak on 25th, the only other being at Herston on 20th. Barred Warblers were also recorded there on 16th, 21st and 22nd, Wood Warblers on 20th (2) and 21st, Chiffchaff on 3rd and up to 13 Willow Warblers (peak on 26th); other Willow Warbler records involved one-two at Costa, Shapinsay, St.Margaret’s Hope and Herston between 19th-24th. A Pied Flycatcher appeared on North Ronaldsay on 20th while Spotted Flycatchers were seen there on 12th and in Kirkwall the previous day.

Up to 63 Ravens were reported in the Rendall/Evie area during the month and a Carrion Crow was at Warebeth, Stromness on 31st. 110 Linnets at Dale, Costa on 19th was the largest flock of that species while a Common Redpoll was on Papay on 2nd and single Lesser Redpolls on North Ronaldsay on 2nd and 11th.

Eric Meek

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