NORTH RONALDSAY - 24th April

Another similar day with hazy sunshine, although it clouded over during the afternoon with the blasting SE or ESE wind making it a battle out in the field; there was a good spread of new arrivals though to make the battle worthwhile, especially on the sheltered west coast, new for the year was a male Whinchat at Lenswick and a Lesser Whitethroat by the Obs.

                Other totals comprised 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, a Merlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, a Collared Dove, a Long-eared Owl on the coast by the airstrip, 57 Sand Martins, 11 Swallows, a White Wagtail, 2 Dunnocks, 24 Robins, 69 Wheatears, a little influx of Thrushes with 5 Fieldfares, 12 Song Thrush and a Redwing, 26 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcap, a Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 7 Brambling and a Snow Bunting. 

Whinchat

Merlin

Brambling

Lesser Whitethroat