NORTH RONALDSAY - 13th February

Morning rain moved through by 10:00 leaving a decent day with a moderate southerly breeze; during a walk round the south end and later a drive round the lochs a few things posted their highest counts so far this year with 905 Greylag Geese, 310 Wigeon, 190 Teal and 37 Bar-tailed Godwits of note.   Other birds included 3 Shelducks, the drake Green-winged Teal on Gretchen, 4 Gadwall, 9 Pintail, 6 Shoveler, a Hen Harrier, a Knot, 18 Skylark, 4 Chaffinches, a single Common Redpoll with 32 Twite and 85 Snow Buntings.   Two Harbour Porpoise in Nouster Bay were the first of the year.

The Gretchen Shelduck seeing off an extra drake