9th November

Came across on the evening flight to Kirkwall last night in order to twitch the Steller’s Eider on either Westray or Papa Westray; we got the early ferry across to Westray but as we got there, we were told it had just been re-found over on Papa Westray, luckily there was a boat going across in perfect time for us.   We arrived and stomped off up the west coast but missed the bird by half an hour so we followed the coast right round and past North Hill with no luck although we did see a 3cy Glaucous Gull, an adult male Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, a slightly unseasonal flock of c50 Siskins seen flying out across the sea and plenty of Great-northern Divers.   It was a stiff easterly wind so when we got around to the east side it was pretty exposed so we turned back to search again the sheltered west coast and finally, after a few hours we found the cracking first-winter drake STELLER’S EIDER close in to the shore almost as far south as St. Bonniface’s Chapel – much relief all round!   It then showed really well for a couple of hours, feeding close inshore and occasionally hauling out on the rocks for a preen.   A Water Rail was also running around on the rocks!

Steller's Eider

Glaucous Gull