RSPB Bird Reports

ORKNEY BIRD RECORDS
NOVEMBER 2004

The largest gatherings of Red-throated Divers were of 21 in Widewall Bay and 13 in Water Sound but two found freshly dead at Scapa on 10th suggested that food was still hard to come by in the Flow. A single Black-throated Diver was at Widewall on 13th and there was a Red-necked Grebe at Sandoyne on 17th but most unusual was a Great Crested Grebe on the Harray Loch at Brodgar on 2nd. 18 Slavonian Grebes on the Swannay Loch on 18th was the largest reported concentration of that species. As many as 500 Shags congregated in Widewall Bay from 25th while the largest Grey Heron flock was of 14 at Graemeshall Loch on 7th.

Whooper Swans were most noticeable on Shapinsay where there were140 in two flocks on 25th; other parties of 33-39 were noted Swannay, Holm and Deerness. The annual Greylag Goose census gave a total of 42697, about one thousand down on last year but nevertheless a phenomenal number of birds. The greatest concentrations were in the West Mainland (20550), the East Mainland (7325) and Shapinsay (3400). 571 Pink-footed Geese were counted in the East Mainland, evidence of a growing tendency to overwinter in this species. The only Greenland White-fronted Goose flock reported was that of up to 86 that winters in the northern part of the West Mainland. The South Walls Barnacle Goose flock numbered 1792 while there were also 80 on Stronsay, up to 30 in the Hundland/Swannay area and 23 in South Ronaldsay.

The only Shelduck were two in Water Sound on 1st and one-two in Widewall Bay after 20th but some big counts of Wigeon included 3100 in Widewall Bay on 15th and 1555 on the Boardhouse Loch on 23rd. Notable counts of other duck species included 330 Teal at The Loons, Birsay on 23rd, 230 Mallard by the Swannay Loch on 18th, up to 19 Gadwall on North Ronaldsay, 19 Shoveler on Liddel Loch, South Ronaldsay on 16th , 512 Pochard on the Boardhouse Loch on 23rd, 430 Eiders in the Bring Deeps on 1st, and up to seven Velvet Scoters in Echnaloch Bay; up to four Pintail utilised the bird crop at Dale, Costa during the month.

Two Water Rails were calling at Gyre, Orphir on 13th. At least 14, and perhaps as many as 19, Hen Harriers were using the Durkadale roost site on 29th.Two Buzzards were at Wasdale, Firth on 20th while another was reported from Rousay.

The largest Golden Plover flock was 1800 in Tankerness on 6th although another of 100 was at Widewall on 1st. 200 Knot on North Ronaldsay on 5th was a good count as was that of 240 Dunlin in Widewall Bay on 15th. Snipe were conspicuous with 60 on the shore on the west side of Scapa Bay on 1st, up to 48 on North Ronaldsay and many other reports of up to 30. Seven Woodcock were on North Ronaldsay on 3rd, one-two remaining until 25th; two were at Herston on 9th while singles were reported from five other localities. Widewall Bay held impressive gatherings of 68 Bar-tailed Godwits and 1175 Curlews on 13th while an extremely late Whimbrel was seen and heard over Burray on 24th.

The only unusual gulls were single Iceland Gulls on North Ronaldsay on 12th and 27th. Single Little Auks were seen from Herston on 4th and North Ronaldsay on 10th with four being found dead on Scapa Beach on on 10th; an unseasonal Puffin was also found dead there on 26th.

Single Long-eared Owls were noted on North Ronaldsay on 1st, Herston on 15th and Crantit on 29th. A flock of 600 Rock Doves at Dale, Costa on 23rd was the largest reported while 63 Skylarks were counted at Farewell, South Ronaldsay on 22nd. A very late Swallow was on North Ronaldsay on 2nd. A Grey Wagtail was present for much of the month in the vicinity of The Willows, Kirkwall but much more unusual was the Dipper that was briefly present there mid-month. The Waxwing irruption tailed off, the largest reported gatherings being of 13 on Rousay up to 20th and seven at Herston during the first week; elsewhere, one-two were reported from five sites.

A small influx of Robins brought 11 to North Ronaldsay on 6th; also there were two late Wheatears on 2nd and single Black Redstarts on five dates up to 24th. On the same island Blackbird numbers peaked at 60 on 1st and Fieldfares at 80 on 3rd; 200 Fieldfares were in Swannay on 1st. The largest gathering of Redwings was of 100 at Kirbister, Birsay on 18th; birds observed closely in St.Ola on 13th and Papay on 14th were of the Icelandic race, coburni.

An extremely late Common Whitethroat was on Egilsay on 1st, more usual being the reports of one-five Blackcaps six localities up to 10th and of one-three Chiffchaffs at seven sites up to 23rd; several of the latter showed characteristics of the Siberian race, tristis. A Yellow-browed Warbler was found on North Ronaldsay on 3rd while the Herston Pallas’s Warbler stayed until the first and the Western Bonelli’s Warbler at the same locality remained until 15th.

A tribe of six Long-tailed Tits were present at Herston from 6th-15th and then six (the same birds?) were at Weyland Bay, Kirkwall on 24th. A flock of 800 Rooks was at Crantit on 20th when some 500 were also present in Rendall. The largest reported House Sparrow flock was of 70 in Swannay on 19th.

Bramblings were scarce with no more than nine anywhere. A Goldfinch was at Cara, South Ronaldsay on 7th and a Hawfinch was a rare visitor to North Ronaldsay on 3rd. An impressive 600 Twite gathered at Dale, Costa with a peak on 23rd when 250 were also in Toab. Mealy Redpolls were in Swannay on 6th and Costa on 29th while an unidentified Redpoll was at Windwick, South Ronaldsay on 7th. However, amongst the finches, it was the Northern Bullfinches that again caught the eye – and ear! Up to 12 were in Costa, up to 10 in Finstown and on Rousay, up to eight on North Ronaldsay and six at each of Kirkwall, Herston and Melsetter with many more reports of one-four. Research continues into the origins of these birds many of which, as explained last month, are giving a call not heard here before.

The only Lapland Buntings were two on North Ronaldsay on 2nd but Snow Buntings were very conspicuous with up to 260 on North Ronaldsay, 200 on Shapinsay, 170 at the Stones of Stenness, 150 in St.Ola, 130 at Cara, 100 in Orphir as well as many smaller parties.

Eric Meek

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