NORTH RONALDSAY - 23rd July

Warm and sunny with light winds swinging round into the SE; waders were again prominent with some impressive numbers now building up, especially around Hooking and in the recently cut fields in the centre of the island as counts comprised 350 Oystercatchers, 521 Golden Plover, 420 Lapwings, 13 Knot, 65 Sanderling, 64 Dunlin, a male Ruff at Hooking, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 271 Redshank and a Green Sandpiper on Cauldhame flash.   Other birds included 23 Shoveler, 370 Common Gulls, a Woodpigeon, the Shorelark relocated to Westness and 2 Common Crossbills.   Also of note was an Oblique Carpet caught overnight in the moth trap – the first record for the island.

Crossbill

Oblique Carpet