RSPB Bird Reports
ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
MARCH 2003
Black-throated Divers were seen off North Ronaldsay on 16th and
27th (four) and off Shapinsay on 23rd; a single Red-necked Grebe was
in Echnaloch Bay on 16th. One of the birds of the month was the Bittern seen
on North Ronaldsay on 5th, only the fourth to be recorded in Orkney in
recent years.
Whooper Swan flocks were noted in Toab (up to 37), on the Skaill
Loch (49) and on Shapinsay's Mill Dam (up to 39). An enormous influx of Pink-footed
Geese occurred with up to 1300 in Tankerness, 615 in Deerness, 350
at Twatt, 180 in Harray and smaller numbers elsewhere. The Birsay flock
of Greenland White-fronted Geese numbered 80 on 31st while 2-3 of
this race were also seen on North Ronaldsay and the Tankerness Loch; single
European race birds were noted in Birsay on 27th and in Tankerness next
day while an unraced bird was on Shapinsay on 23rd. away from South Walls Barnacle
Geese are scarce so one-two in Firth and Sandwick 10th-22nd were of
note. Rarer geese included a Canada Goose in Firth on 10th, the
two Tundra Bean Geese on North Ronaldsay until 9th and 12 Brent
Geese on that island on 3rd.
The elusive Green-winged Teal was seen again in Birsay Bay on 18th while other interesting duck records included single Common Scoters in Echnaloch Bay on 16th and off Hoy on 17th and a Goosander on Shapinsay on 1st.
It was a good month for unusual raptors with a Red Kite on Sanday
on 1st and another over South Ronaldsay on 24th, the White-tailed Eagle seen
again on Hoy on 15th and a Golden Eagle on Hoy at the same time.
A Buzzard in Rendall throughout the month was joined by a second
bird on a couple of dates.
There was some indication of Golden Plover passage with a peak of
295 on North Ronaldsay on 19th, 320 on Shapinsay on 23rd and 200 over Rennibister
on 7th. The largest count of Purple Sandpipers was on Papa Westray
where 280 were in North Wick on 9th. Two Jack Snipe were at Yesnaby
on 7th with single birds there on 10th, on North Ronaldsay on 4th and 26th
and on Hoy on 17th. There were six records of single Woodcock spread throughout
the month while a count of 60 Bar-tailed Godwits in Widewall Bay
was the largest received. A very early Common Sandpiper was at Crantit
on 21st but the first date for a Bonxie, off No.3 Barrier on 11th,
was more usual.
The long-staying Ring-billed Gull was still in Stromness on 4th
while Finstown's Mediterranean Gull was still there on 23rd, another
being seen on North Ronaldsay on 5th. The only Glaucous Gull reported
was from North Ronaldsay on 3rd. 100 Kittiwakes passing through
Water Sound on 19th was an interesting record. The first Sandwich Tern was
reported from North Ronaldsay on 16th with others from Shapinsay and South
Ronaldsay by the end of the month.
Light Wood Pigeon passage was indicated by records of one-two on
North Ronaldsay after 16th. Up to seven Long-eared Owls roosted
at a site in Rendall during the month while elsewhere one-two occurred
on North Ronaldsay up to 15th and one was in Westray on 21st. Typically,
North Ronaldsay sees heavy passage of Skylarks during March and
a peak of 169 was noted there on 11th; 41 were at Brodgar on 5th. While
many Rock Pipits were setting up their coastal breeding territories,
others could still be found inland including one in the Stenness hills
on 1st. The only Grey Wagtail reported was on Hoy on 26th but Pied
Wagtails became very conspicuous during the course of the month, the
peak on North Ronaldsay being 49 on 28th; a single White Wagtail was
at Herston on 6th.
A Black Redstart was on North Ronaldsay on 1st. That island also
noted a significant Stonechat passage with as many as six being
present on 8th; three were also found on Sanday on 2nd and one on Westray
on 29th while birds began to set up their breeding territories on the Mainland.
The first Wheatear was seen on South Ronaldsay on 21st with one
on North Ronaldsay next day; five were on Hoy by 26th. Mistle Thrushes are
typically an early spring migrant and there four reports of single birds
from North Ronaldsay, Rendall and Hoy between 8th and 26th. The wintering Blackcap in
Finstown was seen again on 23rd while Chiffchaffs were reported
from Herston on 10th and North Ronaldsay on four dates 16th-23rd.
Light corvid passage was noted on North Ronaldsay with one-two Rooks on
four dates, up to seven Hooded Crows and up to five Ravens. Elsewhere,
one-two Carrion Crows were reported from five localities in South
Ronaldsay and Hoy. Corvid of the month, however, and vying with Bittern
for bird of the month, was undoubtedly the Magpie seen in Holm on
17th, only the 14th ever to be seen in Orkney!
35 Chaffinches in Rendall were joined by a Brambling on 10th;
four others were in Finstown on 23rd. Four Goldfinches were in Stromness
on 3rd while there was a good scatter of Siskins with up to 10 in
Finstown, eight in St.Ola and six in Rendall with smaller numbers elsewhere.
The largest Twite flock reported was 110 at Brodgar on 23rd while
a single Redpoll was in Burray during the early part of the month.
The second half of the month saw a small arrival of Crossbills with
up to four in three Hoy localities, up to three in Rendall and one on North
Ronaldsay. A Finstown garden hosted a female Hawfinch on 23rd, a
rather early date for this scarce migrant. Snow Buntings remained
scarce with up to 40 at Brodgar and 39 on North Ronaldsay being the largest
gatherings reported.
E.R.Meek
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