NORTH RONALDSAY - 12th April

Still nice and calm first thing but a brisk south-easterly sprang up out of nowhere after a few hours prematurely ending the ringing at Holland; the highlights though were catching another Long-eared Owl – this time a British control and three Fieldfares along with good numbers of the usual migrants.

                Totals from round Holland and the Obs plus a walk round the northern census route included 3 Sparrowhawks (a male at Holland and two males at the north end), 4 Woodpigeons, 130 Skylarks (including a flock of 115 by the Lighthouse), 7 Dunnocks, 30 Robins, 25 Wheatears – with a much improved 22 in the north, 30 Blackbirds (quite a few new migrants), 8 Fieldfares – the first ones since 28^th March, 3 Song Thrush, 46+ Redwing, 6 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, 2 Rooks, 3 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, a Siskin, a Common Redpoll and 2 Reed Buntings.

Long-eared Owl

Fieldfare