RSPB Bird Reports
ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
JULY 2003
Small numbers of Manx Shearwaters were noted during the month with
a maximum of seven off North Ronaldsay on 31st. Storm Petrels were
attracted to tapes on North Ronaldsay with a peak of 51 on 28th; a single Leach's
Petrel was there on 2nd.
Our breeding Greylag Goose population continues to increase as reflected
by a count of 265 on moorland in Holm on 22nd. Away from their Hoy breeding
sites, Buzzards were reported from Rousay (a Fulmar-oiled bird on
2nd) and in Firth.
Post-breeding flocking amongst waders became conspicuous with up to 300 Oystercatchers in
flocks on North Ronaldsay and in Holm; Golden Plover reached a peak
of 633 on North Ronaldsay mid-month yet a pair still had large young near
Yesnaby on 29th. 12 Knot were recorded on North Ronaldsay on 24th
and 20 were in Stenness next day. North Ronaldsay also reported the peak
counts of Sanderling (127 on 22nd) and Dunlin (134 on 17th) while Purple
Sandpiper records came only from there (three on 6th and 11 on 26th)
as did the only Curlew Sandpiper (on 30th).
42 Bar-tailed Godwits were at St.Peter's pool on 23rd while, away
from breeding sites, Black-tailed Godwits were seen on North Ronaldsay
(three on 15th and 11 on 29th) and on Sanday (three on 24th). A light Whimbrel passage
took place during the month but no more than three per day were noted.
Two Greenshanks were on North Ronaldsay on 16th, a Wood Sandpiper in
Deerness on 21st while Green Sandpipers were reported from Rendall,
Holm (3) and Deerness between 21st and 27th. A Mediterranean Gull re-appeared
on North Ronaldsay on 29th, a Little Gull and a Black Tern having
been there mid-month.
The only Cuckoo reported was a juvenile at Herston on 20th, a record
suggesting that breeding may have occurred locally. The only Long-eared
Owl was an unseasonable bird in Rendall on 12th. Up to four Swifts were
reported from six different localities during the month whilst the month's
most spectacular find was a Bee-eater on Rousay from 7th to 11th.
Successful breeding of Sand Martins was reported from Orphir and
two other were seen in Holm on 22nd. Grey Wagtail records came
from four widely spread localities during the month.
A Marsh Warbler was in full, mimetic song in a Birsay garden on
1st while a pair of Whitethroats was proved to have bred successfully
in Rendall. The Rendall Garden Warbler did not, however, stay to
nest, last being seen on 1st. A Chiffchaff was in Herston on 19th.
A Carrion Crow was in Deerness on 27th but much more attractive
were the Rose-coloured Starlings that were reported from Deerness
on 7th and Stenness two days later. Single Redpolls, probably Lesser
Redpolls, were in Rendall on 11th and Evie on 29th. Finally, a small Crossbill irruption
was noticeable during the month with fourteen reports of singles and parties
of up to 10 scatterred throughout the islands.
Eric Meek
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