Wednesday, 4 July 2018

NORTH RONALDSAY - 26th June - 1st July


A settled spell with generally light winds, often from the east and sometimes bringing the inevitable fog, it was, as expected quiet for migrants but the odd thing turned up here and there.   One Red-necked Phalarope remained on Gretchen on the 26th while promising numbers of Arctic Tern chicks were ringed in the year’s biggest colony at Sangar.   My first 5 Swifts of the year were over The Links on the 27th (after a woeful spring for this species) along with 2 Whimbrel, a Heron, a Sandwich Tern and c50 Sand Martins (we ringed four at the colony) while the single Red-necked Phalarope was still on Gretchen and a Rock Pipit was at Trolla – the first one since 14th May.

                Two more Swifts were over Brides on the 28th while waders continued to trickle back through including 130 Golden Plover, 38 Knot, 50+ Redshank (with a growing flock at Hooking), 120 Oystercatchers and 30 Bar-tailed Godwits.   Up to three Collared Doves lingered around Holland along with several Chiffchaffs but there were no signs of any breeding attempts.



Black-headed Gull fledglings






Eiders

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