NORTH RONALDSAY - 26th - 28th November

Mainly windy (largely from the east until it moved into the NW on the 28th) and rainy with limited coverage; birds seen over the few days included 6 Herons, the Pink-footed Goose, 8 Pintail, a female Scaup on Brides on the 28th, 2 Hen Harriers, single Merlin and Peregrine, a Woodcock on the 26th, 7 Meadow Pipits, 10+ Robins, c70 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Fieldfare, the Mistle Thrush still on the 27th, 40+ Twite and 30+ Snow Buntings.

Scaup

Goldeneye

19th October

Same same with the weather, cloudless with the merest hint of a breeze meant that the nets were again pretty quiet with 20 new birds caught; there was a big flock of 170 Fieldfares floating around through the morning, a Northern Bullfinch was heard trumpeting, a Little Auk flew along the shore and a Great-spotted Woodpecker came out to the lighthouse.

                The coast was very pleasant in the tropical conditions at lunchtime with the female Surf Scoter still hanging out with the Goldeneye off Fuglejønna, a big female Goshawk unsuccessfully chasing Teal in Verevågen (actually the first one I’ve seen for a while but judging by the new piles of Short-eared Owl feathers which keep appearing there has been at least one around), 2 more Little Auks, a Jack Snipe and a Slavonian Grebe in Sevika while in Lebeltet there were 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker and presumably the same Three-toed Woodpecker.

                The total of 32 Goldeneye for the whole area was an increase with 20 in Vågsvollvika noteworthy where there was also a female Scaup, a decent flock of 27 Twite, a Wheatear and a single remaining Brent Goose.  

 

Little Auks

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

Scaup

and Tufted Duck

Jackdaw looking at me funny

House Sparrow puffed up in the morning sunshine

The Gyrfalcon's favoured method of hunting seems to be going after birds flying over the sea - this time a Razorbill

 

1st October

Bright and sunny but the cold, strong, force 7 NW wind prevented much being seen; a Hen Harrier flew south well out at sea where a few more Guillemots and Gannets were the only response to the strong winds.   There was little else of note with a Yellow Wagtail at the lighthouse while a little influx of 60 Wigeon on Vågsvollvåien were joined by 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

                A little drive round in the late afternoon produced 4 Slavonian Grebes in Nordhasselvika  and a few different things at Kviljoodden to yesterday including another Slavonian Grebe, a juvenile Black Guillemot and a summer plumaged Great-northern Diver.

 

 

 

No pictures from today so here are some ducks I caught on Fair Isle!

Scaup

Goldeneye

Tufted Duck