NORTH RONALDSAY - 15th July

After a late night Storm Petrel ringing, I didn’t really get out until mid-morning but unfortunately this coincided with the persistent rain which lasted the rest of the day but birds around the middle census route included the first Green Sandpiper of the autumn over Gretchen (and only the second of the year) where there were 2 Red-necked Phalaropes (the first time they’ve been seen away from Gretchen this year – there were still three on Gretchen) and some good numbers of waders in the cut fields with 235 Oystercatchers, 600+ Golden Plover, 65 Curlew, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits and 120 Lapwings.

Yesterday's surprise Robin

Common Gull

Colour ringed Sanderling - one from Sanday and one not (probably from Greenland)