NORTH RONALDSAY - 15th April

Same again, bright and very windy; birds seen around the Hooking census route and a bit round the Obs / Holland included the first 3 Garganey of the year (two drakes and a duck), probably 8 Sandwich Terns, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Pintail, 53 Tufted Ducks (a whole island count – the highest of the year so far), 372+ Black-headed Gulls around Hooking, a Collared Dove at Holland, 6 Robins, single Song Thrush and Redwing, a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and a Common Redpoll.   Later on, there were 5 Black-tailed Godwits and a dark looking intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull with four others at Westness and 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Redwing and a Fieldfare at Ancum Willows.

Garganey

Merlin

intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lapwing

Great Black-backed Gull

Oystercatcher

Sandwich Tern