RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
DECEMBER 2006

Up to Eleven Black-throated Divers were in Waulkmill Bay on 24th and 28th while a single bird accompanied 30 Great Northern Divers in Wide Firth on 28th when 32 Great Northerns were also off Rerwick. The Stenness Loch was an unusual location for a Red-throated Diver on 16th as was the southern end of the Harray Loch for a Little Grebe on 26th. Two large concentrations of Shags involved 600 at the Clestrain Skerries, Orphir on 6th and in Widewall Bay next day. 11 Herons were in Woodwick Bay on 30th.

The largest Whooper Swan flock reported was 27 at the Sabiston Loch on 24th. The Greylag Goose census on 16th/17th produced yet another record total of 55,521 with 24, 836 of these in the West Mainland and 10,825 in the East Mainland. 424 Pink-footed Geese were found in the East Mainland with 178 on Shapinsay while 107 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at the Swannay Loch on 18th. More unusual geese included 52 Barnacle Geese in Sandwick (with 19 on Stronsay) and a single Pale-bellied Brent Goose also in Sandwick. Rarer still were the single Snow Geese that appeared in Sandwick and South Ronaldsay from 16th.

15 Shelducks had returned to Widewall Bay from their Continental moulting grounds by 26th when one was also at the Loch of Banks; eight were also at the Mill sand two days later. Other notable duck concentrations included 23 Shovelers at Loch of Banks on 26th, when eight Pintails were also present; 623 Pochard on the Boardhouse Loch on 18th and 270 Scaup on the Stenness Loch on 16th (with four in Hoy’s North Bay on 18th and one on the Peedie Sea on 20th being more unusual locations). 40 Velvet Scoters were in Wide Firth on 28th while the drake Surf Scoter reappeared off Rerwick for another winter on that date accompanied by nine Velvets and five Common Scoter. The largest Long-tailed Duck flocks were 150 in Wide Firth on 28th and 100 off the Broch of Gurness on 9th. The drake Ruddy Duck remained at the Quoyloo Brewery pool.

Two different Buzzards frequented Rendall/Firth during the month; another was in the northern part of South Ronaldsay on 17th and 20th. At least 24 Hen Harriers were counted going into the communal roost at Durkadale on 18th.

700 Coot were gathered on the Harray Loch off the Brodgar car park on 22nd while a Water Rail was described walking across the road at the Stromness Block Factory on 13th. No fewer than 60 Pheasants gathered at Durkadale on 6th. Big Golden Plover flocks included 1300 at the Boardhouse Loch on 18th and 1000 at Widewall on 5th but more unusual was the flock of 50 flying around the Stenness Hills on 31st. A single Grey Plover was on Birsay beach on 2nd. There were 800 Lapwings at the Stromness Holms on 6th and 1200 in Widewall Bay on 15th where there also 19 Knot on the same date. The largest Curlew gatherings were 600 at each of Bay of Ireland on 6th and the Sabiston Loch on 17th. Widewall Bay held 266 Redshanks on 15th and 45 Bar-tailed Godwits on 27th. Three Jack Snipe were at the Wasdale Loch on 18th while singles were reported from The Bush, Stenness on 10th, Ward Hill cliffs, South Ronaldsay on 21st, the Sabiston Loch on 24th and Keelylang on 27th. One-two Woodcocks were reported from four localities during the month.

The Stromness Ring-billed Gull was seen again on 9th, this time near the swimming baths. There were only two reports of Glaucous Gulls, at Newark Bay, Deerness on 10th and on North Ronaldsay on 14th. Iceland Gulls were more numerous with single immature birds at Finstown on 3rd, Bay of Ireland on 6th, North Ronaldsay on 7th/8th and 18th, the Peedie Sea on 17th (with two on 28th), the Skaill Loch on 26th and Stromness on 9th and 30th. As many as 50 Little Auks were located in the south-eastern part of Scapa Flow on 17th with two in Hoy Sound on 6th and two off Burwick on 16th.

The largest Rock Dove flock was 500 at Dale, Costa on Christmas Day. Short-eared Owls were reported from three West Mainland localities during the month but there was only one Long-eared Owl, at Herston on 11th and 15th. The largest Skylark flock was 45 at Herston on 25th although 30 had been counted at Durkadale on 6th. Up to three Rock Pipits were on Hammars Hill, Evie and one on Pullan, Stenness both localities being at least two kilometres from the shore. One-two Grey Wagtails were at Kirkwall, Tingwall and Heddle between 2nd and 10th while the only Pied Wagtails reported were all in the Stromness area with a single on several dates and two at Quholmslie on 26th.

Single Black Redstarts were at Dale, Costa on 5th and on North Ronaldsay on 18th. 60 Fieldfares were at North Bigging, Harray on 2nd while a further arrival seemed to occur on 17th when several small parties were in the West Mainland; 50 were also at Weethick on 27th. 30 Redwings were in Stenness on the same day, the only other record of note being of 30 at Hammars Hill on 6th. The mid-month thrush arrival also brought at least 50 Blackbirds to Dale on 15th. The only Waxwings reported were singles in Finstown on 5th and 26th. A single Carrion Crow was at Heddle on 13th while the regular roost gathering of Ravens on Hammars Hill numbered 75 on 28th. A Brambling was in Rendall at the end of the month and a Goldfinch was in Finstown on at least 11th, 21st and 26th. At least 100 Twite were at Brodgar on several dates while a peak of 380 was recorded at Dale on 24th and 150 at Weethick on 27th. Snow Buntings continued to be in short supply, peak counts being 38 on North Ronaldsay on 18th and 25 at the Brough of Birsay on 8th while Reed Buntings peaked at 50 at dale on 18th.

Our County Bird Recorder, Jim Williams, has asked me to remind you all that if you have any outstanding records for 2006 that have not already been submitted, could you send them to him at Fairholm, Finstown or by e-mail to jim@geniefea.freeserve.co.uk before 31st January.

Eric Meek

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