NORTH RONALDSAY - 6th February

Another fine day with some good spells of sunshine and a lighish but cold SW wind; there seemed to be a few new birds across the island, predominantly represented by some notably increased wader counts, the highlight was a flock of 51 Black-tailed Godwits on Brides – an unseasonal date for such a big arrival, they probably haven’t come from that far away, also notable was a much improved count of 816 Golden Plover – nearly double recent counts.

                Other high tide totals from Westness, Ancum to Hooking and Brides included 4 Herons, a Shelduck, 170 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler. 335 Eider (highest count of the year so far), 5 Goldeneye, 95 Ringed Plover, 40 Sanderling, 185 Purple Sandpiper, 57 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 4 Ruff, 29 Bar-tailed Godwit, 68 Curlew, 121 Redshank, 6 Black-headed Gulls and 160 Common Gulls.   Across the land birds included single Hen Harrier and Merlin, 8 Skylarks (including several singing birds), a Meadow Pipit, 33 Rock Pipits, 16 Fieldfares, 38 Redwing, 980+ Starlings, the five Chaffinches and 83+ Snow Buntings.

Purple Sandpipers