6th-7th January
The 6th saw the return of two obs staff members
and an increase in coverage of the island.
Fieldfare numbers remained high with 15 birds in various locations,
the bulk of them being in the fields the surround South Ness. Numbers of
Redwings also stayed very similar as they were prior to the new year.
Wildfowl numbers have been fairly typical for this time
of year, the pair of Mute Swans have been joined by up to 3 Whooper Swans.
Unsurprisingly wintering Greylag numbers are well into
the hundreds, the 6th saw 421 counted and the 7th saw 367
dotted around in small flocks.
The Duck side of things proved to be slightly more
exciting, 15 Pintail, 11 Tufted Ducks, 31 Mallard, 132 Wigeon, 7 Goldeneye, 71
Teal and 6 Gadwall were joined by the overwintering Green-winged Teal that is
still spending its time on Gretchen.
Wader numbers have been low, 27 Bar-tailed Godwits being
the highlight, Purple Sandpipers posted a respectful 198, the bulk of which have
been feeding on washed up piles of tangles at Westness.
A few wintering Robins have set up around the island, 3
of which are around Holland House.
It seems as though the large numbers of Snow Buntings
have all but moved on with only one bird being seen over the two-day period.
The ringtail Hen Harrier is still terrorising the islands
ducks and waders as it cruises around.
Finally, Gull numbers have been unexpectedly low all
barring Common Gulls, with numbers over 100 on both dates, but low numbers of
large Gulls have meant there have been very little in the way of white-wingers
to sift through, just a lone adult Glaucous Gull at Bewan on the 6th.
With windier conditions on the way we’re hoping for a few
more year ticks!
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| A Fieldfare being unusually obliging |
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| Adult Glaucous Gull with other Gulls |
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| Ringtail Hen Harrier at sunrise All photos George Gay |
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