NORTH RONALDSAY - 28th February

The freezing cold weather really took hold with the ground and most of the lochs frozen over, sheets of ice across the sand in Nouster Bay, a bitterly cold force 6 easterly wind and frequent, heavy spells of snow sweeping across the island; the main feature of the day was the absence of birds across the island with all the Golden Plover, most of the Lapwings and Dunlin and a lot of ducks disappearing off the island overnight as the freezing conditions took hold.

                Birds that were present around the coast from the Obs to Brides included a Ruff on the beach opposite the gate at Brides feeding with Redshank and Turnstone (the first ever record on the island between December and March!) which had probably been pushed off some fields somewhere by the freezing weather and the long-staying second winter Glaucous Gull feeding with 200+ mixed Gulls in the surf.   Other counts of note comprised 43 Mallards on the sea, a Jack Snipe (my first of the year!) by T1 and single Shelduck and Goldeneye.

Glaucous Gull

Ruff

NORTH RONALDSAY - 27th February

The predicted freezing weather started to take hold through the day with light snow showers throughout and a bitingly cold easterly wind; an hour’s seawatch first thing just produced 3 Great-northern Divers, 5 Red-throated Divers and 216 Auk sp. while the drake Smew was again on Bewan along with 10 Goldeneye.   The Green-winged Teal was again on Gretchen.

Green-winged Teal

NORTH RONALDSAY - 26th February

Breezy and overcast first thing but by lunchtime the sun had come out and the wind had dropped away to nothing; a look around the Obs census route produced the Green-winged Teal still on Gretchen and 5 Great-northern Divers offshore before the nets at Holland in the evening produced a handful of Redwings and Blackbirds.

Cormorant

Snow Bunting

Greylag Goose

NORTH RONALDSAY - 25th February

A decent day as it was still dry and bright with a lighter SE wind; walked round the coast from the Obs to Brides in the afternoon where the highlights largely remained the same with the Kumlien’s Gull still around the loch and the Black Redstart at Howar.   Other birds included a Merlin seen heading out across the sea towards Sanday, a Peregrine over Brides before drifting over towards Hooking, 14 Long-tailed Ducks, 5 Pintail, 12 Gadwall and a drake Goldeneye.

Fulmars

Common Gull prey dropping

Eiders

Kumlien's Gull again

NORTH RONALDSAY - 23rd February

A very similar day as it was still dry and bright with a strong, cold southerly wind; had a look round the north end where there was a 2^nd winter Glaucous Gull out on Seal Skerry and an adult Iceland Gull which, unfortunately was freshly dead near the seawatch hide.   There was little else up there although a flock of 7 Skylarks came in low across the sea, 5 Great-northern Divers and 3 Red-throated Divers offshore and the single Whooper Swan on Ancum.

                A little look at Brides produced the usual ducks and the Kumlien’s Gull again, this time roosting on the loch.

Iceland Gull

NORTH RONALDSAY - 22nd February

Still dry and bright but with a pretty strong, cold, force 5 southerly wind; walked around the Hooking census route which started with a young female Peregrine sat in Loch Park and a female Merlin which shot past Holland.   Other birds included the drake Smew relocated to Hooking, 101 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, 11 Twite, 5 Snow Buntings and 10 Long-tailed Ducks offshore while the Hooking pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were super aggressive already!

Angry Great Black-backed Gulls

NORTH RONALDSAY - 21st February

An even better day with basically wall to wall sunshine and an even lighter SW breeze; there wasn’t too much to mention though with 27 Snow Buntings up the west coast, Water Rails at the Obs and Ancum Willows, the single Whooper Swan on Ancum, an increase to 56 Skylarks with many of them singing away in the sunshine and another slight increase in Thrushes with some decent flocks around Holland.

Purple Sandpipers

Snow Buntings

NORTH RONALDSAY - 20th February

Back to glorious conditions with plenty of sunshine and a light westerly breeze; walked from the Obs round to Brides from lunchtime but there wasn’t too much different to mention with the Kumlien’s Gull showing a bit better feeding in the surf with Common Gulls while ducks on Brides included 7 Pintail, 10 Gadwall, 38 Mallard, 110 Teal, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.   The Green-winged Teal was still on Gretchen.

                Opened the nets at Holland for the first time this year, flushing the first Woodcock of the year in the process, where I managed to catch an excellent 19 new birds (especially good for February!) as there were increased numbers of Thrushes around the garden including 60 Redwings, 25 Fieldfares and 20 Blackbirds.

Even better pictures of the Kumlien's Gull!

Snow Buntings