7th - 8th April

It's been an interesting couple of days, with strong southerlies on 7th slowly petering out on the afternoon of 8th allowing a nets session in the evening.

7th saw three species added to the year list, with a Whimbrel being seen alongside a Knot on Ancum, with another Knot present at Westness, and the first Great Skua of the year was in Gue Park. Elsewhere seven Swallow were present across the Island as well as two Sand Martin on the Links, and the Black Redstart was still present at West Beach. Three Siskin were seen between the obs and Holland, the Mediterranean Gull was seen again on Gretchen, as too was the Hawfinch in Holland, and a Long-eared Owl was in Ancum Willows. A Peregrine was also seen flying south over the obs.

8th was an even better day for year ticks, with four being added. A White-tailed Eagle did a tour of the south end of the island, first being seen over Howar before it drifted towards the obs along the dyke and out south. After news from Sanday of a Marsh Harrier being seen heading north, eyes were once again to the skies and the bird was picked up over Lenswick before it slowly drifted south down the island and disappeared over Hooking. The first Arctic Tern of the year was found at Lenswick, and two Iceland Gulls were seen between Brides and Haskie. An evening nets session produced not one, not two, but three Sparrowhawks trapped, one of which was a control ringed on the island almost one year ago to the day, a really interesting recovery. Also at the nets session a Long-eared Owl was seen at Holland.

The year list currently stands at 125.

Arctic Tern - MEH

Marsh Harrier - MEH

Peregrine with an unlucky Turnstone - MEH