RSPB Bird Reports
ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
JANUARY 2004
25 Great Northern Divers were seen from the Houton-Lyness ro-ro
on 19th while there was a scatter of records of Red-throated Divers from
localities such as the Churchill Barriers. A Great Crested Grebe was
still in Echnaloch Bay on 18th when a Red-necked Grebe was at Waulkmill.
The two adult Bewick's Swans remained on Shapinsay all month where Whooper
Swans peaked at 98 on 14th. Other significant Whooper counts included
64 in the East Mainland on 18th, 29 Sabiston on 26th and up to 19 on North
Ronaldsay. Greylag Geese remained very numerous throughout the month
while there were 300 Pink-footed Geese in Tankerness on 18th. White-fronted
Geese peaked at 110 at The Loons on 18th while up to four were present
on North Ronaldsay, the latter island also attracting a single Bean
Goose on 19th. Away from South Walls the only Barnacle Geese recorded
were 18 on Papay all month and two at the Loons and one at Abune-the-Hill
on 29th while the only Brent Goose was a pale-bellied bird on the
Tankerness Loch on 11th. Shelduck began returning from their moult
migration in some numbers with up to 28 on Shapinsay and 23 at Mill Sand,
Tankerness.
Wigeon counts included 2390 on the Harray Loch, 2170 on Boardhouse
and up to 1340 on Shapinsay. The largest concentration of Teal was
of 230 on the Loch of Banks on 11th. Shoveler peaked at 29 on North
Ronaldsay on 19th and 22 on Shapinsay on 24th while the same two islands
noted peaks of seven and four Pintail respectively. The Loch of
Stenness Scaup flock numbered 265 on 25th when the wintering Velvet
Scoter was again noted there; other Velvet Scoters included five in Gairsay
Sound on 20th and three in Echnaloch Bay throughout. Goosanders appeared
on St. Mary's Ayre Loch mid-month and on Rousay's Peerie Water on 13th
with another on Papay on 25th.
Two Buzzards were on Hoy on 19th with others at Binscarth on 10th
and along the Germiston Road for several days mid-month. The Durkadale Hen
Harrier roost held at least a dozen birds on 15th.
Water Rails were reported from North Ronaldsay, Wasdale Loch and
Longhouse, St.Ola. Many Golden Plovers left the county during the
cold spell in late December but 475 were counted on North Ronaldsay on
16th with 380 at Swannay on the same date. The only Grey Plovers noted
were one-three on North Ronaldsay, Papay and in Birsay Bay and Knot were
even scarcer with only one-two on North Ronaldsay from 16th - 24th. Sanderling put
on a better show with North Ronaldsay recording a peak of 64 on 20th and
a party of four on Evie Sands on 18th. Purple Sandpiper flocks included
216 on Papay on 25th, 130 in Birsay Bay on 11th and 120 on North Ronaldsay
on 23rd. The only significant counts of Dunlin came from North Ronaldsay
with a maximum of 174 there on 24th and Papay where there were 155 on 25th; Bar-tailed
Godwits numbered 50 on Shapinsay and 42 on North Ronaldsay on 24th
and 22 at Scapa on 20th. More unusual waders included a Ruff at
The Loons on 18th, a Jack Snipe wintering in Swannay, two Woodcock at
Durkadale on 25th, a Black-tailed Godwit on Birsay Links on 11th
and a wintering Greenshank on the Loch of Stenness.
The Ring-billed Gull continued in its regular wintering haunt at
Stromness golf course throughout but was elusive while a Mediterranean
Gull was seen on North Ronaldsay on 14th. In a winter notable for its
dearth of 'white gulls' the only Glaucous Gulls seen were on North
Ronaldsay on 27th and Skaill, Sandwick on 11th and 18th and the only Iceland
Gull was on Papay on 25th. However, a report of an adult Ivory Gull off
Papay's Mull Head will, if confirmed, be the first Orkney record for some
60 years!
Long-eared Owl roosts were reported from Rendall (up to seven) and
St.Ola (up to six). Skylarks were tempted to overwinter by farmland
bird crops and associated stubble fields, up to 25 on Shapinsay and 22
on North Ronaldsay being the largest flocks. A Grey Wagtail wintered
in the Stenness Village-Tormiston area while Pied Wagtails were
reported only from Stromness where one-two were regularly seen. Small parties
of wintering thrushes were noted throughout the month but an apparent influx
on 27th brought 30 Fieldfares and 55 Redwings to Stenness.
A Chiffchaff was attempting to winter in Stromness up until at least
17th.
41 Ravens formed an impressive gathering on Skaill Links on 25th.
A large Brambling flock of up to 100 was reported from Heddle during
the month, the next largest party being 21 in Rendall on 8th. Dale (Costa)
again attracted the biggest Twite flock with 650 on 29th, other
large gatherings including 300 on Shapinsay on 31st and 130 in Stenness
on 13th. By far the largest Linnet flock was 175 near Stromness
on 15th while the biggest Greenfinch flock was of 60 in Finstown
on 18th. A single Common Redpoll was on North Ronaldsay on 15th/16th. Snow
Buntings were quite conspicuous with flocks of between 50 and 80 on
North Ronaldsay, Shapinsay and at The Loons and Brodgar during the month
while Reed Bunting concentrations included 150 at Dale on 29th and
58 near Stromness on 15th.
E.R.Meek
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