17th-21st April

A few days of fine weather with very little wind have seen conditions better suited to mid-July than the end of April, although the start of the week was more blustery, but it's meant birding conditions have been pleasant even in moments of low productivity and the staff are now sporting a good set on sun-tans, not something we say very often in April in the Northern Isles, although some of these tans are accompanied by chilblaines, just to remind us its not summer yet. 

A quiet start saw very little seen on 17th however a Dunnock at Garso, two Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest around the obs. The highlight of the day was a female Goosander on the loch at Hooking in the early afternoon. The following day was a similar story with little change in the conditions, the Goosander remained while the Barnacle Goose and White-fronted Goose from the previous week re-surfaced in the fields below Peckhole. A Whimbrel flew North over Holland in the afternoon and an evening nets session produced a very smart male Sparrowhawk, one of a few seen over the past few days and a Long-eared Owl was seen after nets were shut and the moth traps were being set-up. The moth traps contained 63 moths between three sites, Ancum, Holland and the obs, all 63 of them were Hebrew Characters. 

The 19th started with a bit of low cloud and this seemed to produce birds, although nothing too alarming it was a five year tick day so there very little in the way complaints. At least two Tree Sparrows were around the observatory first thing and were followed by a pair of Garganey on Hooking with the Goosander and White-fronted Goose. The first Arctic Tern was seen off Torness, while the first Arctic Skua flew North over Kirbest. A very smart summer plumaged White-billed Diver flew South past Dennishead in the afternoon to complete a good day of birding. On a more frustrating note, a brief encounter with a 'short tailed and rather front heavy lark' that was most likely a Woodlark vanished into cow field after landing on the track leading up to Howar, seemingly the one that got away on what was otherwise a great day. We also said goodbye to Maddy for a few weeks as she returns to complete exams at university but she'll be back in under four weeks. 

The 20th was a bit of a dud in comparison to the day before, perhaps a combination of tired legs and no break in the calm and clear conditions meant the only things of note were a Short-eared Owl in off the sea at the North end, the Goosander and White-fronted Goose remained on Hooking and a Willow Warbler was at Brides.

Another day, but potentially the last of unbroken sunshine followed on 21st, it was unsurprisingly quiet again with a couple of Willow Warblers around the island, a second Goosander was seen flying West over North Gravity while the initial bird remained on Hooking. Fish and chip deliveries uncovered a slightly late Stonechat near Claypows and a very smart looking Mealy Redpoll at Bewan. 

A break in the nice weather is forecast over the weekend, we're hoping it may shake things up a bit and provide a bit of extra variety on the avian front. 

                                    Garganey - GG

                                   Sparrowhawk - GG

                                   Willow Warbler - GG