NORTH RONALDSAY - 23rd April

Hazy sunshine throughout but the blazing strong SE wind blasting across the island made things difficult in the field; so far we’re not up there with our near-neighbours to the north but we battled away in the wind to produce 2 Sparrowhawks, single Woodpigeon and Collared Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 38+ Sand Martins, 6 Swallows, 2 Dunnocks, 8 Robins, 37 Wheatears, single Song Thrush and Redwing, 2 Blackcaps, 13 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and a Brambling.   Also lingering were the drake Goldeneye on Brides and a Snow Bunting at the pier.

Drake Shovelers harassing a female

Willow Warbler

Blackbird struggling to see where she's going with so much nesting material

Another colour ringed Shag