7th-25th February

 The last 13 days have mostly been dominated by wind, several days of 50+mph winds have made birding a bit of chore, however while the rest of the country was being battered by storm Eunice we had one of the best days of the winter and a pseudo-Spring day. 

As mentioned the birding hasn't been mindblowing but there have been highlights. Another Glaucous Gull was present on 10th at Bewan but we're still without an Iceland Gull despite them being on neighbouring islands. The 11th saw the first arrival of Linnets with 23 around the Lurand pallet garden and the flock has steadily grown to about 35 birds, another 12 around Cursitter on 14th means they're firmly back on the island already! A Grey Plover was on the coast between Scottigar and Bewan on 12th but predictably flushed and hasn't been seen since. The first Woodpigeon of the year burst out of the Sycamores at Holland on 16th. Finally a small flock Snow Buntings was at Bewan on 18th while two birds flew over the Farmhouse at Holland.

The flock of Fieldfare around Cauldhaim is still present and seems to have pulled in birds from elsewhere on the island and was up to 37 on 20th. At least 5 Robins have survived the winter too with singles at Westness, Ancum, Putrabreck, The Bothy and the Obs track. Wildfowl numbers also remain similar but a slight increase in Tufted Duck saw a count of 18 on 18th from Brides and Bewan combined. Away from avian highlights Otter tracks were spotted on the beach at Linklet on 17th but nobody’s seen the culprit yet! 

The first Iceland Gulls of the year finally fell on the 23rd and 24th with a sub-adult at Sjaever and a 1st Winter near Howar respectively. The 24th also gave us our first Rook at Garso and an early Lesser Black-backed Gull feeding on carrion near the school. A flock of 46 Twite were at Snettan on 25th but otherwise the signs of Spring seem to appearing on the occasions the wind speed drops below 40mph! 

                                                                          Iceland Gull

                                                         Lesser Black-backed Gull      

                                          

      

                                                                            Woodpigeon