26th February

The coordinated Orkney goose count provided a good excuse for a drive around the island to have a gander at all the usual wildfowl spots. Greylag Geese numbered 1,267 birds, with the 67 European White-fronted Geese, 1 Greenland White-fronted Goose and 6 Tundra Bean Geese still among them. Other noteworthy counts of waterbirds included 288 Wigeons, 125 Teal, 14 Goldeneyes, 10 Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Northern Divers. At least 3 Iceland Gulls were seen, including the long-staying dark bird, and the usual Glaucous Gull was still near the observatory. Small numbers of Skylarks, totalling 21 birds, were logged during the day; a Meadow Pipit was near Hooking and the Icelandic-ringed Redwing was retrapped at Holland House.