31st January

The final day of the month was the coldest of the year so far with a brisk south-easterly wind blowing all day. A single Greenland White-fronted Goose was a new arrival accompanying 62 European White-fronted Geese in the middle of the Island, and a count of 1315 Greylag Geese was made. A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was near the Lighthouse and at least one 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was seen. Some wildfowl numbers increased with 9 Pintails and 23 Shovelers the most notable, while the 5 Whooper Swans remained and there were now 8 Mute Swans present. Singles of Peregrine and Merlin were around Twingness and 17 Twite were still in the Observatory crop.

Iceland Gull



30th January

A Black-throated Diver on the sea off Torness in the afternoon was an unexpected highlight today. Also off the more sheltered west coast were 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers and 242 Eiders, easily the highest count of the year so far. A drake Common Scoter also flew north past Torness and 4 Woodcocks flushed from the boulder scree suggested there had been a little cold weather movement. Other indicators were 4 Redwings newly arrived at the Observatory and a Song Thrush at West Beach. The 2 Glaucous Gulls remained in the Gretchen area all day and an immature Iceland Gull was seen briefly off the pier, while another was found recently dead along the west coast-the third individual known to have perished on the Island in recent weeks.

29th January

With a switch in the wind to a strengthening south-easterly there was a decent movement of Little Auks passing by the north end, with 114 counted moving west during an hour long sea-watch in the morning. 52 Kittiwakes also passed west and 3 Red-throated Divers flew east. There were now 2 immature Glaucous Gulls feeding on the seal carcass near Gretchen and 18 Snow Buntings were in the same area. 2 Woodcocks were flushed during the day and notable wildfowl included 5 Gadwalls, 3 Pintails and 15 Goldeneyes.

This Glaucous Gull has been closely guarding a seal at Gretchen for over a week, but today it allowed a second bird to join it and share the spoils.

27th and 28th January

The usual 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was seen in the south of the Island on both dates, but otherwise the only significant sighting on 27th was the first Water Rail of the year at Bridesness Loch. On 28th a 2nd winter Iceland Gull (also likely a lingering bird) was on the Links, 60 European White-fronted Geese counted near the School and the Scaup reappeared on Ancum. A juvenile male Hen Harrier was at least the fourth individual seen this week, and two Merlins and a Peregrine were around Twingness.

26th January

After yesterdays gales it wasn't surprising to find large numbers of birds feeding on the storm driven seaweed on the east coast of the Island. Bridesness in particular was a busy place, with hundreds of Gulls, Wildfowl and Waders making the most of the newly available food. 4 Iceland Gulls (3 adults and a 2nd winter) were seen and at least 2 immature Glaucous Gulls roamed the coastline. The 6 Tundra Bean Geese reappeared again, and at least 43 European White-fronted Geese were counted. A Pochard was on Ancum, and there were 26 Tufted Ducks and 12 Goldeneyes on various Lochs. 15 Rock Pipits were at Bridesness, a single Linnet in the north and Twite at the Observatory increased yet again to 48 birds.

Of the 22 Twite trapped today, 5 were colour ringed birds. Two colour combinations were noted-The first on left leg ORANGE over LIGHT BLUE and on right leg WHITE over BTO metal ring (as in the bird above), the second similar combination was on left leg LIGHT BLUE over ORANGE and on right leg WHITE over BTO metal ring. Any details as to the origins of these birds would be welcome.

 

24th and 25th January

Sightings on 24th were much the same as recent days with the 2nd winter Iceland Gull still near the lighthouse and the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull still at the south end. 2 Peregrines were seen together and a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again. In strong southerly winds on 25th there were many more Gulls at the north end with a mixed flock of c300 Herring Gulls and Great-black backed Gulls joined by a 1st winter Glaucous Gull there. Two Iceland Gulls were seen in Nouster Bay, a 2nd winter and an adult which at a distance appeared to show features of Kumlien's Gull, but disappeared towards Stromness Point before it could be confirmed. A Woodcock was near the Observatory and 40 Twite were still around.

This Wigeon was the highlight of a late night dazzling session, it was just the 10th to have been ringed on North Ronaldsay and the first since 2000. More routine fare trapped and ringed were plenty of Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers and singles of Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Snipe. 

22nd and 23rd January

There were few sightings on 22nd with 4 Pintail and the Scaup noted on Ancum, while the Twite flock at the Observatory had increased further to 32 birds. The 23rd saw a new addition to the year list in the shape of a Little Auk which flew past the Beacon. 12 Kittiwakes also passed there, and there were 9 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Northern Divers on the sea off the north end. The 5 Whooper Swans were still on Garso, along with 2 Pintail and a single Shelduck was on Gretchen. A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was still feeding on the seal carcass in the same area, while a 2nd winter Iceland Gull near the Lighthouse preferred to feed on a freshly deceased Shag! The Twite flock at the Observatory contained roughly 25 birds and 16 Snow Buntings were around Bewan.