NORTH RONALDSAY - 22nd July

Another drizzly start and a quick look at Bewan first thing just produced 4 Knot and 30 Dunlin.   I opened the nets for a spell mid-morning but it was very quiet but the Saker Falcon flew north over the Kirkyard to land on a telegraph pole near Veracott, so I drove over and walked right underneath it without it even being bothered.

Saker

NORTH RONALDSAY - 21st July

A grey and drizzly start but it soon brightened up through the rest of the day; a walk up the west coast was pretty unremarkable with a few Arctic Skuas chasing Tysties around their colonies and still plenty of Arctic Tern chicks on Torness while a Fulmar I grabbed had originally been ringed in 1994.   I caught a female Siskin at the Obs when I got back.   The days dubious highlight came in the afternoon when we went up to the lighthouse to get good views of a huge female Saker Falcon around the Lighthouse – it was an obvious escape complete with jesses, rings and a satellite receiver on its back!

Escaped Saker

Moulting drake Eiders

Black Guillemot with a Sculpin