26th April - 3rd May

 Its been a week of sunnier and warmer weather, and although that may not be perfect for grounding migrants, a few have made landfall and the year list is ticking along nicely.

The 26th didn't really produce all that much, three Woodpigeon darting around the island got the day kicked off. Our first Arctic Terns of the year appeared at Lenswick at around lunchtime and were closely followed by a Ketsrel, a Short-eared Owl late in the day at Westness was the final act of the day.

A calm morning followed and nets were opened at dawn, this quickly produced a singing Grasshopper Warbler, although it only sang briefly it was very welcome year list addition at this early stage in the spring. It appeared a pulse of warblers had arrived overnight with Chiffchaff making up the bulk of arrivals, but a Lesser Whitethroat at Garso along with a Blackcap provided a bit of optimism. A very mobile Hawfinch was then found near the Broch before it bombed off towards Greenwall and then Howar. The oddest bird of the day went to a Barnacle x Greylag Goose hybrid that arrived out the haar that has surrounded the island by late morning. Other highlights for the day included a House Martin at the pier, a Siskin in Ancum Willows and a Greenfinch around the observatory.

The 28th saw another early start for the first breeding wader survey of the year. Three Brambling were at Breckan before later being seen at Lurand and a Common Sandpiper at Brides started off a decent day of birding. The first Sedge Warblers of the year were at Ancum and Hooking, a Whooper Swan was at Westness as was a House Martin. I think we've spent the previous three weeks talking up the chances of Avocets, a influx into Scotland raised hopes and one of Stronsay the previous day really got our hopes up, this hopefulness was rewarded just after lunch as two Avocet pitched into Ancum, they weren't there during the wader surveys and also weren't there when Craig passed Ancum an hour or so before, but on his way back they were! The first record since 2009 and we think the third island record overall! 

The penultimate day in April wasn't quite as dramatic, the Avocets having moved on overnight. The first Ring Ouzel of the year was at Cruesbreck, better late than never! Whitethroats were at Brigg and the Surgery. The first Knots of the year were at Brides, two Redpoll were at the Surgery and Ancum and a Kestrel flew south over the observatory.

The 30th was the pick of the bunch in terms of quality but perhaps lacked quantity. We often say windy and bright days on North Ronaldsay are amongst the worst for arrivals, birds tend to just keep going, especially in the spring. It turned out the 30th was a bit of an anomaly in that trend. The day started at a steady pace, seven Arctic Terns were around the Links as was a Knot. Just before lunch however a very smart male Subalpine Warbler was discovered skulking in Ancum Willows. It proved tricky to pin down to begin with as the bird made its way to the edge of the willows before being flushed by a van and dissappearing off towards Longar. It was eventually re-found some half an hour later before making its way into back into Ancum Willows and eventually into an open mist-net. In the field it appeared the bird was more likely a Western Subalpine but you can never be too careful, with DNA taken it was released around T3 but settled between the Lurand Flax and the back of T1. The day wasn't over there and three hours on from the Subalpine Warbler we were treated to a trip of three Dotterel at Sandar, two females and a male. They showed very well despite an initial flushing by a Merlin. 

The first day in May was quieter, a Grey Wagtail was behind Senness kicked the day off. A few Arctic Terns were dotted about, while Whitethroats were at the Rosefinch Dyke, the Surgery and Veracott. The first Little Terns of the year passed Stennabreck and a bumper flock of nine Woodpigeons were flushed from the road side at Ancum Willows. The day ended with a White-tailed Eagle skirting around the south-eastern corner of the island before turning back and heading to Sanday.

The 2nd and 3rd were a quieter days, the 2nd started with a Tree Sparrow on the Farmhouse feeders. The long-staying Barnacle Geese were on Gretchen, a female Brambling was in the camping field and the Subalpine Warbler re-appeared by T3 giving infrequent snippets of song. The 3rd was much the same as 2nd. Common Sandpipers were at Rue, the Obs and Scarfie Geo, a Kestrel was at Trolla, the three Dotterel re-appeared at Sandar but the bird of the day was a Wood Warbler in the garden at Cursitter. A final year list addition came from the BirdWeather PUC as it picked up a Common Scoter going over at 23:11. 

(Western) Subalpine Warbler - GG

Dotterel - GG

Avocets and Whooper Swan - GG

Wood Warbler - GG

                                                               Subalpine Warbler - GG