NORTH RONALDSAY - 6th March

Brighter and drier than yesterday but we kept the cold, strong and cold north-easterly wind; I walked round the coast from the Obs to Brides but there was little change in the birds present with the Kumlien’s Gull resting on the loch, the Glaucous Gull feeding in the surf and the Black Redstart still at Howar.   Other birds included 3 Great-northern Divers, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 11 Pintail, 10 Gadwall and 4 Shoveler.

Snow Bunting

Kumlien's Gull

Wren

Rock Dove

NORTH RONALDSAY - 23rd March

A glorious, sunny day albeit with the very cold breeze remaining; the nets at Holland first thing just produced single Linnet and Reed Bunting before a walk round E census was unfortunately still quiet with just a Great-northern Diver, 4 Snow Buntings, 2 Robins, 3 Redwings, 5 Pied Wagtails and 5 Herons of note.

Drumming Snipe

Common Gulls are getting aggressive even though they haven't really started breeding yet

Nearly a Rock Dove

Pied Wagtail

Lapwing

NORTH RONALDSAY - 19th March

Back to cold, strong westerly winds but with only a handful of hail showers whipping through; the Obs census route was fairly quiet with just 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great-northern Diver, 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Rock Pipits and the 3 Woodpigeons still at Holland of note.   The Northern Harrier flew past Holland late afternoon.

Starling

Rock Dove

Gannet

Greylag Geese

NORTH RONALDSAY - 1st March

Another similar day – still sunny with a very cold, brisk northerly wind; I walked round the Bridesness section but the highlight was the first Woodcock of the ‘spring’ at the Obs.   Totals around B included 25 Long-tailed Ducks, 17 Shoveler and 5 Pintail while the 6 White-fronted Geese were near the mill (just in C section) and the few passerines included a smart male Pied Wagtail at Brides (my first of the ‘spring’), 5 Reed Buntings and a big flock of 60+ Skylarks near Kirbest.

Some nice, wild looking Rock Doves

Great Black-backed Gull

Fulmar

Lapwing