NORTH RONALDSAY - 30th June

Overcast with spitting, light rain through most of the day and an hour’s seawatch first thing was very quiet with a single Manx Shearwater the highlight along with 177 Guillemots many of which were carrying fish (presumably going to Westray or Papa Westray).   Birds then along the Brides census route included 112 Golden Plover, 83 Lapwings (starting to form big post-breeding flocks now), the Black-throated Diver again in Nouster, a Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 9 Sanderling while a Bonxie killed a Greylag on the sea off Brides.

                There were then only 2 Red-necked Phalaropes on Gretchen late afternoon with a Bar-tailed Godwit, a handful of Dunlin and a decent flock of Arctic Terns including many 1^st summers.

Arctic Skua chick

Oystercatcher chick

Snipe

TCE and HIE darvic ringed Shags