NORTH RONALDSAY - 11th May

Brisk easterly winds with spitting rain first thing and I only caught a Blackcap at Holland but there were at least 3 Sparrowhawks and a Goldfinch around the garden.   The big numbers of waders around the coast was the highlight in the northern census route as totals included the first Little Stint of the year on Trolla, 290 Turnstone, 80 Purple Sandpipers, 10 Sanderling, 30 Dunlin and 3 Whimbrel; other birds included 250+ Arctic Terns, 2 Great-northern Divers, 2 Mealy Redpolls, a single Willow Warbler and of course the Red-winged Blackbird still.

Little Stint

Purple Sandpiper

Turnstone

Purple Sandpipers

Dunlin

Kittiwake

Common Gull