18th March

With the easterlies getting even stronger the extra coverage was welcomed and plenty of birds found today, mainly along on the sheltered west side of the Island. The highlight was the first Long-eared Owl of the year at West Beach, while other species recorded for the first time in 2013 were singles of Woodpigeon, Dunnock and White Wagtail-the latter the earliest North Ronaldsay record by 5 days! Thrushes continued to dominate with 129 Blackbirds, 8 Fieldfares, 7 Song Thrushes, 9 Redwings and 8 Mistle Thrushes counted. A Robin, Chaffinch and Snow Bunting were also seen and 8 Woodcock were flushed from various resting places. A Bean Goose was also new, the European White-fronted Goose seen again and Gadwall numbers up to 9. A decent gathering of large Gulls feeding in the swell near the Beacon included a juvenile Glaucous Gull, with 193 Herring Gulls and 148 Great-blacked Gulls also there. Finally the Stock Dove remains at the south end.

Its been nice to see an early spring arrival of Blackbirds on the Island, with the majority of them being adult males-just like this one.