NORTH RONALDSAY - 13th May

Another great feeling day with a brisk SE wind and increasingly overcast conditions finally giving in to heavy rain late afternoon; the highlight round the Obs census route included a female Red-backed Shrike I caught in T5, yesterday’s Honey Buzzard which flew south down the west coast until it met the Raven pair who forced it out over the sea from where it carried on south and away, my first Wood Sandpiper of the year which flew south over the Obs, my first Cuckoo of the year flushed out of Holland and my first Garden Warbler of the year by T3.

                Other birds included a Sedge Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Collared Doves (including three heading south out to sea), 20 Wheatears, a Barnacle Goose flying round Holland, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and the Kumlien’s Gull hanging around The Lurn.   Also of note were the first 2 Red Admirals and 3 Silver Y’s of the year – all promising signs for a bit of drifty migration!

Red-backed Shrike

Ravens making sure the Honey Buzzard left!

Willow Warbler

Kumlien's Gull