NORTH RONALDSAY - 7th November

After some light rain had moved through first thing it was a much calmer day than the forecast had predicted; a productive walk round the coast of the northern census route at high tide produced 370 Purple Sandpipers (an island record 808 were put down in log), 350 Turnstone, a Knot, 12 Dunlin, 2 Pintail, 7 Woodcock (on the beaches), 9 Snow Buntings and lots of Gulls while other birds included a Blackcap on the Beacon, a Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and a young male Peregrine.

                Managed to open some nets in the afternoon where I managed a Woodcock (13 were flushed out of the garden, 104 for the day), a smart ‘Northwestern’ Redpoll, another Blackcap, 2 Bramblings, some Thrushes and a re-trap Chiffchaff – amazingly originally ringed on 18^th May!   A new ringtail Hen Harrier flew over.

Common Redpoll

Woodcock

Purple Sandpipers

Blackcap

Rock Pipit