Scaup
Thursday, 28 November 2019
26th - 28th November
Mainly
windy (largely from the east until it moved into the NW on the 28th) and rainy with limited coverage; birds seen over the few days included 6
Herons, the Pink-footed Goose, 8 Pintail, a female Scaup on Brides on the 28th, 2
Hen Harriers, single Merlin and Peregrine, a Woodcock on the 26th, 7
Meadow Pipits, 10+ Robins, c70 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Fieldfare, the Mistle
Thrush still on the 27th, 40+ Twite and 30+ Snow Buntings.
Monday, 25 November 2019
23rd - 25th November
A
decent day on the 23rd with lightish winds, remaining dry; a whole-island
Goose count produced 644 Greylags and a single Pink-footed Goose, 2 Hen
Harriers, a Woodcock, a Black-tailed Godwit on Gretchen (the second of the
month), a little influx of 40 Redwings and 4 Song Thrush, 2 Siskins and still
75 Twite by The Obs. After a wet and
windy 24th when a Mistle Thrush was the only bird of note a better
25th produced a few bits including 8 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver again in Nouster, 7
Great-northern Divers, the Pink-footed Goose, 24 Shoveler, 19 Long-tailed Duck,
5 Goldeneye, 2 Hen Harriers, a Grey Plover, a 2cy Glaucous Gull at Bewan (a quiet autumn for white-wingers so
far), a notable influx of 21 Fieldfare, 75 Redwing and a Mistle Thrush and 50
Snow Buntings.
Teal
Sunday, 24 November 2019
DNA results are in! (PART TWO)
These are more interesting (if you like that sort of thing!). It proved to be an unprecedented autumn for 'Eastern Lesser Whitethroats' with an estimated 17 individuals recorded between 23rd September and 18th October. A total of eight birds were caught in this period, all of which were analysed, the results of which appear below;
NUMBER 1 - 25th September
This, confiding, dumpy looking bird was thought to be maybe not a Siberian Lesser Whitethroat (the commonest race of 'Eastern Lesser Whitethroat' but its shape was altered by it missing half its tail, with the crucial T5 missing, clouding in the field and hand ID. It was confirmed by mtDNA as S. c. blythi or Siberian Lesser Whitethroat.
NUMBER 2 - 26th September
This bird was caught at dusk so the pictures were a bit ropey but it was confirmed as a S. c. blythi
NUMBER 3 - 28th September
Also confirmed as S. c. blythi
NUMBER 4 - 3rd October
Another fine S. c. blythi
NUMBER 5 - 4th October
Also a S. c. blythi but the only one with a big white wedge on T5 and very bright, white T6
NUMBER 6 - also 4th October
Another S. c. blythi
NUMBER 7 - 17th October
This one was a bit of a surprise, when caught I thought it was 'just' another S. c. blythi but photos do suggest a bluer head, slightly less browny back and longer winged (wing length was slightly longer than the other blythi trapped). Photos though, can be misleading, often accentuating the dark mask and especially in strong light, changing the mantle tones so, despite my thoughts in the hand at the time, this bird came back as a late, nominate S. c. curruca.
NUMBER 8 - 18th October
Similar to the previous bird in that when I caught it I was leaning towards it being Eastern (I was perhaps swayed by the date) but in photos, with the blue head, grey/blue mantle it looks an obvious S. c. curruca which is exactly what it came back as - it wasn't that obvious in the hand with your naked eye though!
DNA results are in! (PART ONE)
In recent years the face of bird identification for many species / races has been helped and accentuated by mtDNA analysis of feathers / faecal samples obtained through various methods; this year on North Ronaldsay produced a whole cast of birds caught and ringed where feathers were sent off for kind analysis by Martin Collinson and Thom Shannon at the University of Aberdeen. The majority of results are now in and although most of them confirmed what we thought in the field / hand at the time it was great to get confirmation with a couple of slightly unexpected results at the end.
SAVI'S WARBLER - 11th May 2019
This surprise, cracking first for Orkney was confirmed as Savi's (even though there wasn't really any need to!)
COLLARED FLYCATCHER - 12th May 2019
This female was confirmed as a Collared Flycatcher
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER - 17th May 2019
This cracking male Eastern Subalpine Warbler was confirmed as Eastern after being caught in the bar having flown in through an open door!
WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER - 24th August 2019
This one we needed help with! It was caught at Upper Linney in heavy wing and tail moult (presumably not freshly arrived) so the in hand / field ID features were not clear at all, although Western was our best guess!
Friday, 22 November 2019
20th - 22nd November
Not
much to report from the 20th but the 21st was a better
day, a brisk easterly wind but at least it remained dry and fairly bright; the
undoubted highlight of the day was a fantastic pod of c10 Orca hunting very close in, off the foghorn
late in the day, they quickly moved further out being seen just off Seal Skerry
at dusk – its been a poor year for sightings so it was great to get a quality
encounter. Other birds included the Green-winged Teal still, 11 Pintail, 4 Common Scoter (always a good island
bird) past the Lighthouse, 2 Hen Harriers, a Merlin, 2 Jack Snipe, a Woodcock,
4 Siskins south and the big flock of Twite at The Obs still. Wet and windy through most of the 22nd so sightings were again at a premium but a single Waxwing was at The Obs.
Wednesday, 20 November 2019
19th November
A
wonderful calm day, almost still at times, remaining dry; more high Diver /
Seaduck counts were posted sat on the calm seas including 27 Red-throated
Divers, 39 Great-northern Divers, 37 Long-tailed Ducks and 27 Red-breasted
Mergansers while other birds included 9 Herons, the Green-winged Teal still, 2 Merlin, a very
distinctive pale, male Arctic
Peregrine type
along the west coast, a Little
Auk on the
sea off The Links, 20 Meadow Pipits, 90 Twite and 11 Snow Buntings.
Arctic-type Peregrine Dante Shepherd
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
18th November
A
quiet day, dry with a moderate NW wind; birds seen included the Green-winged
Teal, 9 Pintail, 9 Gadwall, 2 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 46 Dunlin, 14 Meadow Pipits,
a nominate looking Chiffchaff at Ancum Willows (only the third non Siberian
this month), a further increase to 112 Twite and 8 Snow Buntings.
Red-throated Diver
Monday, 18 November 2019
17th November
Damp
and drizzly through the morning but it brightened up by lunchtime and with
light winds it wasn’t too bad at all; birds seen through the day included 24
Red-throated Divers and 36 Great-northern Divers (both highest counts of the
autumn so far), the Green-winged
Teal, single Hen Harrier and Merlin, a Woodcock, 28 Bar-tailed
Godwits, a Little Auk off the Lighthouse, a Siberian Chiffchaff still
at The Obs, a Siskin, 84 Twite and 56 Snow Buntings.
Snow Bunting
Sunday, 17 November 2019
16th November
A
lovely calm day, almost still at times with a nice array of late autumn birds
across the island; the calm seas allowed for some good counts including 20
Red-throated Divers, 3
Black-throated Divers (one in Nouster and two off Torness), 19
Great-northern Divers and 26 Long-tailed Duck while other bits comprised 12
Herons, the Green-winged
Teal, a Hen Harrier, 3 Merlin, 2 Grey Plover, a single Knot (first
one since 25th October), single Jack Snipe and Woodcock, 12 Meadow
Pipits, 29 Robins still, 18 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, 42 Redwing, 5 Siberian Chiffchaffs – two at the Obs, two at
Holland and one at Sandback, single Greenfinch (last one on 30th October), Siskin and Goldfinch
(last one on 14th October), 80 Twite, a Common Redpoll, 39 Snow
Buntings and 3 Reed Buntings.
Siberian Chiffchaff
Friday, 15 November 2019
14th - 15th November
A
brisk, cold northerly wind on the 14th brought a couple of nasty
hail showers but it was a better, calmer day on the 15th, staying
dry and bright; not too much to mention on the 14th but a group of 3 Short-eared Owls at Peckhole was a bit of a
surprise seeing as the last one was on 30th October. Some signs that the year is not quite over
yet on the 15th included a Sparrowhawk (last one on 20th October), 2
Woodcock, a new Siberian
Chiffchaff in
Holland, a flock of 25 Siskins in off from the south, 29 Snow Buntings –
including 18 out to the south and a Lapland Bunting at Kirbest (last one also on 20th October). Other totals from the couple of days
comprised the 10 Pink-footed Geese still, 2 Hen Harriers, single Merlin and
Peregrine, 2 Grey Plover, 21 Meadow Pipits, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 30
Redwing and 95 Twite – seemingly still birds coming in.
Purple Sandpipers
Thursday, 14 November 2019
13th November
A
lovely winter’s day, calm, dry and bright but the light northerly breeze was
pretty cold; a Coue’s Arctic Redpoll was seen at Sangar in the afternoon but couldn’t be
relocated by the Obs staff while other totals included 10 Pink-footed Geese,
the Green-winged Teal,
2 Hen Harriers, single Merlin and Peregrine, 2 Woodcock, 8 Skylark, 7 Meadow
Pipits, 34 Robins (a notable increase but probably just birds feeding out in
the open in the fine conditions), 12 Fieldfare, 75 Redwing, the Mistle Thrush
again, 3 Siberian
Chiffchaffs still,
75 Twite, 3 Common Redpoll and 48 Snow Buntings.
Twite
Tuesday, 12 November 2019
10th - 12th November
A
mixed few days, nice and calm on the 10th, horrible blazing easterly
and driving rain on the 11th and then a cold northerly on the 12th;birds included the Green-winged
Teal still
on Gretchen throughout, 6 Goldeneye, up to 2 Hen Harriers and 4 Merlin, a Long-eared Owl at Holland at dusk on the
10th (very poor autumn so far), an influx of 22 Meadow Pipits on the
10th, 15 Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush new on the 11th, still
2 Siberian Chiffchaffs (Funny Park and Garso), up
to 60 Twite still and a confusing, huge, pale Common Redpoll trapped at Holland
on the 10th – almost an Arctic!
Almost-an-Arctic Redpoll
Sunday, 10 November 2019
8th November
Another
lovely day, very calm with sunny spells but pretty chilly as befits the time of
year; most species enjoyed a slight increase in numbers due both to slight coverage
improvement and some new birds coming though; totals included 2 Merlin, a Grey
Plover, 6 Skylark, 2
Waxwings –
one at the Obs first thing and another single south down the island at
lunchtime, 25 Robins, 23 Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, 98 Redwing, a Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs still, a Brambling, 3
Siskin, 68 Twite, a good 53 Snow Buntings and 5 Reed Buntings.
Thursday, 7 November 2019
7th November
A
very different day with a very cold, brisk NNE wind cutting right through you
and some nasty little hail / rain showers early in the morning; the Siberian Rubythroat was
seen briefly at Antabreck again early in the morning but unfortunately couldn’t
be relocated afterwards for a visiting birder on the lunchtime plane and wasn’t
seen again. Other birds through the day
included 10 Pink-footed Geese, single Merlin and Peregrine, a Grey Plover, a
Jack Snipe, 11 Robins, 6 Song Thrush, 50 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, a single
remaining Siberian
Chiffchaff, 60 Twite and 2 Snow Buntings.
Twite (and a Sparrow!)
6th November
A
lovely day, almost flat calm with varying cloud cover, great to be out in the
field; the undoubted highlight of the day (and autumn) was a wonderful female SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT found
in the garden at Purtabreck by Pete Donnelly as he had a cup-of-tea and gazed
out of the window, it had disappeared by the time everyone else rocked up but
within the hour it had been re-found next door at Antabreck and showed well to
everyone – the [some might say overdue] first for the island! Other birds through the day included the
adult Black-throated
Diver in
Nouster again, the drake Green-winged
Teal still,
a Hen Harrier, a huge female Peregrine, single Grey Plover and Woodcock, a bit
of a late influx of 17+ Meadow Pipits, 18 Robins, 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs – one at Ancum Willows and
a new one in Funny Park, 2 Brambling, 74 Twite, a Common Redpoll and 8 Snow
Buntings.
Siberian Rubythroat Simon Davies
Wednesday, 6 November 2019
5th November
Not
a bad day with moderate and decreasing NNE winds, remaining dry; most of yesterday’s
Blackbirds and other Thrushes had departed overnight leaving a quieter day in
the field but birds seen did include 4 Hen Harriers, 4 Grey Plover, 4 Woodcock,
6 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipits, 21 Robins, 38 Fieldfare, 13 Song Thrush, 167
Redwing, a Blackcap, 4 Siberian
Chiffchaffs still
(including a new bird at Howar), 3 Brambling, a Common Redpoll and 26 Snow
Buntings.
Common Redpoll
Monday, 4 November 2019
4th November
A
slight improvement again with lighter NNE winds, remaining dry and some obvious
new arrivals across the island; totals comprised 8 Herons, single Whooper Swan
and Pink-footed Goose, the Green-winged Teal still, at least 4 Hen
Harriers, 6 Woodcock, 7 Skylark, at least 4 Waxwings around the Obs including
one seen heading south out to sea, 10 Robins, 119 Blackbirds (an obvious
arrival in the south of the island, mainly comprising adult birds, 54
Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush, 210 Redwing, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Siberian
Chiffchaffs –
two at Scotsha and one in Ancum Willows, 3 Brambling, 2 Siskins and a Common
Redpoll.
Woodcock
Blackbird
3rd November
Still
moderately breezy with the wind again in the NE but infinitely better than
yesterday, remaining dry and birdable; the days birds included 2 Black-throated Divers in Nouster – an adult and a first-year (the
first ones since May), a single adult Whooper Swan, the Green-winged Teal still, 4 Hen Harriers, 2
Merlin, a Woodcock, a Black-tailed Godwit, 390+ Herring Gulls, 2 Waxwings
south over the airfield, 7 Robins, 80 Blackbird, 40 Fieldfare, 9 Song
Thrush, 147 Redwing, 6 Brambling and 2 Snow Buntings.
Waxwing
Sunday, 3 November 2019
2nd November
A
shocker of a day with a blazing easterly wind and almost constant, stinging rain
making any forays out into the field a bit of a mission but after the
disappointing rugby, a couple of brave souls headed out to count the new
arrivals; birds included 2 Whooper Swans, a Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, a huge
build-up of storm-driven Gulls including 730+ Herrings and 545+ Great
Black-backs, 2 Waxwings around the Obs, 14 Robins, 88
Blackbirds, an increased 285+ Fieldfares (highest count of the autumn), 20 Song
Thrush, 215 Redwing, a Blackcap, 4 Brambling and 7 Snow Buntings.
Waxwing
Saturday, 2 November 2019
1st November
Moderately
breezy throughout wind the wind finally working its way round into the east
with the odd spot of rain thrown in, maybe to give us a last few new birds over
the coming week; an almost certain Coue’s Arctic Redpoll was
briefly near the Obs with three Common Redpolls in the morning before flying
off towards Nouster. Other birds
included the Green-winged Teal, 3 Hen Harriers, a Merlin,
2 Peregrines, 2 Jack Snipe, 7 Woodcock, 21 Robins, the Ring Ouzel still at
Holland, 12 Fieldfare, 22 Song Thrush, 141 Redwing, the Mistle Thrush still
around Funny Park, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Siberian
Chiffchaffs –
two at the north end and one in Ancum Willows, a Brambling, 18 Linnets, 5
Siskin, 43 Twite and a Snow Bunting.
Friday, 1 November 2019
31st October
Calm
again first thing but the southerly wind steadily picked up through the day
becoming breezy by the evening and maybe moving into the east a little bit;
some increased coverage produced some increased numbers with hints of a few new
bits still on the move, perhaps indicating the autumn is not quite over
yet! Birds seen through the day
included 10 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great-northern Divers, a bit of movement
over the sea with a Sooty Shearwater, 4 Common Scoter, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, 5 Little Auks and 3 Puffins, 8 Herons, 312
Wigeon, 8 Pintail, 112 Teal, a massive influx of 104 Tufted Ducks – the second highest
island count, probably involving a roaming flock from Sanday rather than actual
migrants, 31 Long-tailed Ducks (highest count of the autumn), 3 Hen Harriers, 4
Merlin, 3 Woodcock, 28 Rock Pipits, 14 Robins, the Holland Ring Ouzel still, 8
Song Thrush, 145 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs (new birds, caught in
Holland), 3 Brambling, 66 Siskin and 7 Snow Buntings.
Siberian Chiffchaff
30th October
Another
nice and calm day, overcast and dry but with few new arrivals; totals comprised
6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Herons, single Whooper Swan and Pink-footed Goose, the
Green-winged Teal still, a Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Woodcock, 2
Short-eared Owls, 10 Robins, a Ring Ouzel still at Holland, 5 Song Thrush, 66
Redwing, 2 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 2 Brambling, 2
Greenfinches, 11 Siskin, 65 Twite, a Common Redpoll and a Snow Bunting.
Water Rails
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