NORTH RONALDSAY - 7th July

Still bright and sunny with a moderate SW wind; a Marsh Harrier flew south over Gretchen and out to sea first thing (I only saw it as it was over the sea, halfway to Sanday) before a walk round the Hooking census route produced 67 Redshank, a fledgling Shoveler on the loch, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits and a further increase to at least 185 fledgling Black-headed Gulls dotted around.   There wasn’t much else through the day although a brief look at Bewan late afternoon produced a fine male Ruff and the Common Tern again.

Ruff

Black-headed Gull fledglings practising