RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
JANUARY 2007

A Little Grebe on the St.Tredwell Loch, Papay on 4th was an unusual species in this locality. Another interesting grebe record was of a Red-necked Grebe off Hoxa Head on 7th.

There were 107 Whooper Swans on Shapinsay on 23rd and parties of 11-22 in four other localities. 20 Barnacle Geese were at Burwick on 3rd and a single Light-bellied Brent Goose on Papay on 21st. The Snow Goose remained on South Ronaldsay until 16th and what may have been the same bird was in St.Ola for a few days from 23rd; the West Mainland bird was seen at Boardhouse on 6th.

Shelducks began to return in force with up to 30 in Widewall Bay, 19 at the Shapinsay Ouse and one-two in four other localities. There was a good gathering of 400 Teal at Loch of Banks on 6th while the most Gadwall together were 13 on North Ronaldsay on 24th. North Ronaldsay recorded a maximum of 12 Pintail on 24th while nine were at Loch of Banks on 18th. Other interesting duck records involved three Velvet Scoters in Veantrow Bay, Shapinsay on 23rd and two drake Goosanders on the Bosquoy Loch on 18th.

The Durkadale roost attracted at least 21 Hen Harriers at dusk on 17th. Single Buzzards frequented the Binscarth, Tuskerbister and Hill of Midland areas of the southern west Mainland and two were together on Rousay on 31st.

A Water Rail was found dead on the Herston Road on 16th. 900 Golden Plover at Biggings, Toab on 18th was the biggest single flock of this species but a total of 3070 was recorded during survey work in a 10 km square in Birsay on 24th. Grey Plovers were noted only on Papay (three) and North Ronaldsay (two), the latter island also recording a peak of 84 Sanderling on 31st. The largest Purple Sandpiper gathering was of 419, on Papay on 4th, North Ronaldsay recording up to 119. Two Woodcock were in Russadale on 23rd with singles on North Ronaldsay on 7th and 19th but the only Jack Snipe was at St. Margaret’s Hope on 7th. 2070 Curlews were in the Birsay 10 km square on 24th with 695 in a similar sized area of Sandwick the same day. The largest Bar-tailed Godwit flocks were of 42 on North Ronaldsay on 24th and 31 at Oyce of Quindry, South Ronaldsay on 17th. 307 Turnstones were counted on Papay on 4th.

A very unseasonable Bonxie was at North Ronaldsay on 20th and 27th, that same island logging a Mediterranean Gull on 4th. A virtually albino Black-headed Gull was an unusual site at Loch of Clumly on 18th and at nearby Skaill on 22nd. The elusive Ring-billed Gull was seen only once, at its favourite locality of Stromness Golf Course, on 3rd. Common Gull flocks have been conspicuous lately and one of 1000 was counted at Dale, Costa on 14th while 1366 were in the Sandwick 10 km square on 21st. Iceland Gulls were very prominent during the month with at least three in Stromness Harbour, two in Kirkwall, two on Hoy and singles in Birsay, Harray, Sandwick and on Shapinsay; an adult bird at the Peedie Sea on 27th showed characteristics of the Canadian Arctic race known as Kumlien’s Gull. Glaucous Gulls were not so numerous but were recorded on North Ronaldsay on seven dates with a maximum of three there on 20th with others at Skaill and Yesnaby on 21st. The only Little Auk reported during the month was one off Fara on 25th

600 Rock Doves frequented the Dale, Costa bird crops on 9th while a single Stock Dove, a very rare visitor to Mainland Orkney, was there from 11th-13th. A Long-eared Owl was in the Durkadale Plantation on 19th and two Short-eared Owls at Brodgar on 8th. Rock Pipits were recorded away from the seashore on Hill Of Midland on 7th and the Skaill Loch on 21st. The only Grey Wagtail was one in Finstown on 8th while Pied Wagtails were reported only from KGS (two), Hatston, and the Stromness area (at least two).

A Black Redstart was on North Ronaldsay on 6th and 10th. Blackbirds peaked at 20 there on 16th and, together with reports of good numbers on Papay towards the end of the month, were suggestive of some movement at that time. Fieldfares remained scarce but 20 were on North Ronaldsay on 19th and 60 in Evie on 30th. 50 Redwings were at Loch of Banks on 14th and 40 in Evie on 390th while there were several other reports of up to 30. A Blackcap remained in a Kirkwall garden all month.

Waxwings continued to be in short supply with only three singles, in the Hope on 7th, Kirkwall on 17th and in Stromness from 26th-28th. A good count of Jackdaws was made at Orr Shun near Dounby – 60 on 24th. 20 Chaffinches were on the Redland Road, Firth on 13th. Large flocks of Linnets (until recent times only a summer visitor to Orkney) were noted in Tankerness (400) and at The Bu, Orphir (200) while large Twite flocks involved 220 near the Decca Station, 120 in Toab and 110 in Tankerness all on 2nd, 100 at Dale on 9th and 90 at Swannay on 7th. The only Snow Buntings reported were 15 at The Ouse, Shapinsay on 23rd and seven on North Ronaldsay on 25th while the largest Reed Bunting flock was of 60 at Dale on 11th.

Eric Meek

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