24th-25th February

There was nothing to report on 24th, but on a sunny 25th two species were added to the 2013 year list. A Pied Wagtail on Nouster Beach was 3 days earlier than last years first and a European White-fronted Goose was with 3 Pink-footed Geese and the Greylag Geese near Bridesness. The Velvet Scoter remains in the bay at Nouster but the biggest surprise of the day was a Stock Dove at Kirbest-presumably the same bird seen at the end of January. 38 Skylarks included 24 presumed new arrivals in the observatory crop fields and a Chaffinch was new at Holland gardens.

Stock Doves are less than annual on North Ronaldsay, with the bird present at the end of January the first winter record for the Isle. So it seems likely that today's is the same individual which has been keeping a low profile among the largely ignored, local Rock Doves for the past month.