2nd - 3rd April

The continuing calm seas over the last couple of days have produced peak counts of 21 Red-throated Divers, 18 Great-northern Divers and 440 Black Guillemots while the first littoralis Rock Pipit of the year was noted on the 2nd. The 3rd saw a bit more variety of the land with a minimum of 9 Rooks milling around the island, a Collared Dove, 9 Pied Wagtails and an influx of Twite with c70 seen around the Obs - some of which were ringed birds from elsewhere in Orkney. Also noted on the 3rd was a small passage of Kittiwakes and Gannets moving between us and Sanday while Snipe have just started to add to the spring atmosphere by enthusiastically drumming overhead and giving their distinctive 'creaky gate' calls.

This Curlew was certainly a surprise catch in the mist-nets at Holland House!