NORTH RONALDSAY - 8th April

Very similar conditions to yesterday, dry but with the brisk, chilly NE wind still sweeping across the island; my totals from round the Obs and a couple of sessions in the Brides census route either side of sheep punding included 135 Skylarks, 75 Meadow Pipits, 16 Pied Wagtails, 2 Dunnocks, 18 Robins, 2 Stonechats (females at the Obs and The Mill), 7 Wheatears, 3 Song Thrush, 10 Redwings, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrests, 57+ Linnets, 2 Common Redpolls and 3 Snow Buntings.   Other birds of note comprised a Heron in from the south, 9 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Ducks, a Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Merlin, a Grey Plover at Howar, 66 Sanderling, 13 Bar-tailed Godwits and a flock of 12 Curlew going north (my first properly migrating flock).

                Two cracking Hawfinches were trapped at Holland early evening.

Hawfinches

Goldcrest