RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
JANUARY 2003

Amongst an increase in Red-throated Diver records, one on the Stenness Loch on 11th was the most unusual. Single Black-throated Divers were seen near Thieves Holm on 14th and on 19th, off Waulkmill and Hobbister. By far the largest Slavonian Grebe count was of 18 in Echnaloch Bay on 19th when a single Red-necked Grebe was also present. Heronsremain common and widespread with six in Widewall Bay on 3rd and five at Tormiston on 29th being the largest gatherings. The Mute Swan count on the Harray Loch reached 672 on 6th. Whooper Swan gatherings were much smaller, by far the largest being 68 at Vasa Loch, Shapinsay. Up to 63 White-fronted Geese were at The Loons, Birsay the only others being two on North Ronaldsay. North Ronaldsay also held two Bean Geese mid-month when two Pink-footed Geese were by the Boardhouse Loch, perhaps the same two that were in Durkadale on 26th; ten Barnacle Geese were at the Birsay Loons on 19th. There were a number of Shelduck gatherings, the largest being 31 at The Ouse, Shapinsay on 4th. An enormous gathering of 930 Mallard was at Vasa Loch, Shapinsay on 4th although these numbers are swelled by birds released for shooting; 140 were on flooded stubbles in Stenness on 25th. Pintail remained scarce, eight on Shapinsay on 4th being the most noteworthy.

Counts of 715 Pochard and 672 Tufted Ducks were made on the Harray Loch on 6th. Single Common Scoters were seen off Herston and in the Bay of Firth on 19th while seven Velvet Scoters were in Echnaloch Bay, Burray on 7th. 190 Long-tailed Ducks in Echnaloch Bay on 19th was a good count. A drake Goosander on the Stenness Loch on 11th had moved to the Harray Loch by 19th.

The White-tailed (Sea) Eagle that was first found on Copinsay on 6th before wandering around Deerness, Holm and, eventually, Hoy made headline news as befits this superb raptor. The usual wintering Buzzard was in the Firth/Rendall area but a sighting of one on Shapinsay on 11th was more unusual. A Gyr Falcon was reported from Craiglands, Birsay on 10th but, unfortunately, did not remain.

Single Water Rails were on Copinsay on 7th and at Herston next day while one seen on several dates in Rendall was watched feeding on peanuts! There was a good count of 545 Coots on the Harray Loch on 6th. 68 Ringed Plovers at The Ouse, Shapinsay on 4th and 800 Golden Plovers on North Ronaldsay on 18th were the largest reported gathering for each species while the only Grey Plovers reported were one at Widewall Bay on 10th and four in Birsay Bay on 19th. 12 Knot on Grass Holm on 7th were in an unusual locality, 13 at South Ronaldsay's Oyce of Quindry being more normal. Away from the north isles, the only Sanderling were five at Scapa on 9th. 250 Dunlin in Widewall Bay on 17th was the largest gathering reported. A Jack Snipe is evidently overwintering in Stenness Village with sightings there on 9th and 30th. The only Woodcock were one-two on North Ronaldsay, Rendall, St.Ola and Orphir during the month. Bar-tailed Godwit flocks numbered 100 in Widewall Bay on 27th and 61 at Shapinsay's Ouse on 4th.

The long-staying Mediterranean Gull and Ring-billed Gull remained in Finstown and Stromness respectively while single adult Iceland Gulls were in Kirkwall on 7th and Stromness on 19th and single Glaucous Gulls in Deerness on 4th and on North Ronaldsay on 28th. Single Little Auks were wrecked during foul weather in Stromness on 15th and at Kirkwall's Peedie sea on 24th.

Although we see lots of Collared Doves on the Mainland, North Ronaldsay usually only sees them during migation times so one there on 20th was unusual. The largest Long-eared Owl gathering was of five on Eday on 17th but there were three in Holm and on North Ronaldsay and one-two in Rendall, Stromness and at Herston. A few Skylark flocks seem to have been tempted to overwinter by the provision of seed-rich stubbles but 20 flying south-west over Stromness on 31st may have decided that enough was enough! Meadow Pipits are very scarce in mid-winter so four over Finstown on 19th were of note. Inland records of Rock Pipits are always noteworthy but seem to becoming fewer in recent winters so that one on Burrien Hill, Firth was of interest. More Pied Wagtails than usual seem to be wintering with up to three in Stromness, two in Kirkwall and one in Finstown during the early part of the month; the only Grey Wagtail was one in Firth on 24th. There was a scatter of Waxwing records with five in Kirkwall on 17th and three in Herston on 21st being the largest parties; one-two were seen in four other localities.

A Black Redstart is attempting to winter on North Ronaldsay being seen on 18th and 30th. The large November thrush influxes have resulted in overwintering parties of Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings being rather more numerous than usual. A cock Blackcap is seeing out the winter in a Finstown garden while that other hardy warbler, the Chiffchaff , was seen in Herston (up to two on 3rd and 11th),on Eday on 17th and on Burray on 19th. The Firecrest found in Stromness in December was seen again on 3rd while another long-stayer, the Great Grey Shrike in the Firth/Rendall area was noted on several dates. Jackdaws appear to be a declining species in Orkney so that 24 at Melsetter on 23rd was a good count.

The largest Chaffinch flocks were 55 at Queenamidda and 40 at Netherhouse , up to five Bramblings being amongst those gatherings. Netherhouse also provided the peak Greenfinch count of 70. Twite flocks were more widespread with 300 in Deerness on 5th being the largest reported. 105 Linnets were at Crantit on 4th and 50 in Quoyloo on 19th. The only Redpoll reported was on Shapinsay on 21st and the only Bullfinch in Stromness on 6th. The Netherhouse crop also attracted buntings with a maximum of 42 Reed Buntings there and still three Yellowhammers present on 6th. Snow Buntings numbers remained low throughout the islands with 22 on Shapinsay on 18th being the largest flock.

A fun occasion for 20 participants in five teams on 19th was a Winter Bird Race. Choosing their own route, each team had to see how many species they could find between 1000 hrs and 1615 hrs on that date, all meeting up in the Merkister for refreshments afterwards, strict speed limits being imposed for safety and environmental reasons. The very respectable total of 101 species was amassed during the day. The winning team of Jim & Stuart Williams, Malcolm Russell and Pauline Wilson seeing no fewer than 89 of these. Very many thanks to Dick Matson for organising such an enjoyable day.

E.R.Meek

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