It's been a period of fairly settled weather with the winds coming from all around the compass but without any great strength behind them. While it's made the birding pleasant it's also put a halt on migrants finding landfall on the island.
The 12th held much the same as previous days with two Willow Warblers and a Blackcap present, while the first Short-eared Owl of 2026 was flushed from long grass at Westness. A 2CY Iceland Gull initially on Sjaever was the highlight for the following day, while a Brambling and a Chaffinch were at the School. The second Arctic Skua of the year was at Neven on 14th and our first Lesser Whitethroat was at Breckan the following day. The 16th was a better day once we'd finished the punding for the day. Three Woodpigeon were hiding behind T4 and an Acredula Willow Warbler was in the Funny Park and an early Common Whitethroat was in the Rosa along the obs track, the highlight of the day was a Marsh Harrier that appeared over the middle of the island before drifting south being escorted by Hooded Crows. A Common Sandpiper on the rocks by the Beacon was the next year list addition on 17th and a Redpoll was at Holland. Two House Martin followed on 18th while a Greenshank on 19th was quickly pushed to the bottom of the pile by two bull Orca that first surfaced in Linklet before heading round Bridesness and into the firth before vanishing towards Eday/Sanday. The 21st bought another Common Sandpiper, two male Stonechats and another Short-eared Owl. It took until 23rd for more notable news, two Long-eared Owls were in Holland in the late afternoon, eventually being trapped and ringed in the evening. A Grey Wagtail was at Sangar and another Stonechat was at Viggay. Two Barnacle Geese and a Dunnock were present on 24th and the 25th proved very quiet.
The weather over the weekend looks slightly more interesting, but with no real rain in the forecast we aren't setting our sights too high at the moment.
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| Iceland Gull - GG |
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| Whitethroat - GG |
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| Marsh Harrier - GG |
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| Common Sandpiper - GG |
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| Orca - CAF |
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