11th - 23rd March

Spring is certainly on its way albeit in fits and starts. For the last few days of weather have been far more settled as opposed to the near constant gales that raged during the previous week. Not entirely conducive to birding or just being outside in general.

The first Black Redstart of the year was at Vincoin on 14th and was followed by a second bird two days later. A Stonechat at Nouster and a Woodcock at Senness rounded off the 14th with things taking a bit of an upturn. The 16th was a good birdy day aside from the Black Redstart, the first Chiffchaff of the year was at Westness along with the first Goldcrest of the year. The day also provided at Short-eared Owl at Peckhole. 

The 18th would see the appearance of two Otters an adult female accompanied by a kit at Brides that delighted the obs staff as they flushed ducks off the middle island and the first Song Thrushes of the year at the Old Kirk. The next day saw us gain our first Wheatear of the year as Westness continued to produce the good on an Avian front. 

We weren't finished there with a run of white-winged Gulls starting on 20th with a lone Glaucous Gull at Scottigar, this was followed by two other birds and the original bird all around the North end while an Iceland Gull fed off Brides in the afternoon. Finally the 21st saw another Stonechat at Peckhole and the 23rd was populated by a little influx of Goldcrests into the island with birds at Holland and the Surgery.

                                   Black Redstart 

                                    Otter and a concerned Mallard