RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
DECEMBER 2003

A high count of 491 Mute Swans was made on the Harray Loch on 15th, presumably indicative of a good food supply there at the moment. The largest gathering of Whooper Swans was 90 at Vasa Loch, Shapinsay on 15th ; two Bewick's Swans, presumably the same birds as seen on the Mainland in November, were also present. A Bean Goose was a rare visitor to North Ronaldsay on Boxing Day while one-two White-fronted Geese remained on the island. Three Shelduck had returned from their moulting grounds in northern Germany to Sanday by 18th. Wigeon counts were high on 15th when 4832 were on the Harray Loch and 2435 on Boardhouse; 24 Shoveler on Harray on the same date was also a notable count. Most of our breeding Pintail disappear during the winter so that ten on Sanday on 19th were unusual. By far the rarest dabbling duck recorded, however, was the Green-winged Teal from North America, seen at Birsay Bay on 11th. Amongst diving ducks, Pochard were conspicuous with counts of 638 on Boardhouse and 606 on Harray on 15th while the Stenness Loch Scaup flock numbered 152 on 20th when a Velvet Scoter was also present. A single Ruddy Duck was on the Bosquoy Loch on 15th.

Single Buzzards were seen in the Rendall-Firth area on several dates while two were seen together over Orphir on 21st. A Water Rail was seen in Rendall on five dates and, on several occasions, was seen to eat peanuts! Wader surveys on Sanday on 18th/19th revealed high totals of Dunlin (1093), Bar-tailed Godwit (407) and Sanderling (328) while 250 of the last species were also on North Ronaldsay on 24th. Other waders of note included 14 Knot at Scapa on 17th, four Ruff in Birsay on 12th, single Jack Snipe in Birsay on 3rd and Rendall on 31st, a Woodcock in Rendall on three dates (with the remains of another near Yesnaby on 26th) and a Greenshank in Stenness on 20th.

150 Woodpigeons were at Woodwick, Evie on 20th. The only Long-eared Owls reported were those in Rendall where a maximum of five was reported on 9th while three Short-eared Owls circled high over the Swannay Loch on 29th. 37 Skylarks were in stubble at Brodgar on 23rd. The great majority of our Pied Wagtails head south for the winter but a few always remain - singles were at Scapa on 17th, in Stromness on 22nd and 23rd and in Firth, also on 23rd. 140 Fieldfares and 40 Redwings were near Durkadale, Birsay on 6th but numbers of both these migrants dwindled thereafter. A single Blackcap lingered in Rendall from 2nd to 6th while two Chiffchaffs were seen at the same site on 2nd, with singles there on 6th and 22nd and others on North Ronaldsay on 24th and in Finstown on 29th.

Flocks of up to 100 Bramblings were recorded were recorded in the Firth and Rendall area during the month while the largest Twite flocks were 200 in Finstown on 27th and 120 in Birsay on 12th. A single Bullfinch was in Stromness on 7th. A flock of 120 Snow Buntings was found on Sanday on 20th, 40 having been at the Brig o' Waithe on 17th. Yellowhammers are scarce visitors these days so that one in Rendall on several dates throughout the month was of note. The largest Reed Bunting flock was of 80 at Durkadale on 3rd.

E.R.Meek

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