1st January to 3rd March

March 03, 2026

1st January to 3rd March

With various staff back over the past few weeks it feels about the right time to get the blog up and running again. Everything ended quite abruptly back in November, a system of foggy weather rolled in and with folk going away for the winter and chartered launch coming to the island most of the jumped on departed ahead of schedule, leaving just Craig behind, he made his way off island a few days later. George and Maddy headed out to Kenya to do a spot of ringing at N’Gulia and early in the new year Alison headed over to New Zealand. Anyway, enough of our jet-setting!

It’s probably been one of the wettest winters on North Ronaldsay I’ve known and we missed half of it! The year was kicked off with the usual bits and bobs you’d expect here in winter, and that isn’t very much, however a 1st Winter Glaucous Gull was at Westness on 4th and the following day saw an overwintering Long-eared Owl emerge from Holland and four Little Auk pass the Lighthouse. A second Glaucous Gull of the year, an adult this time, was around the Lighthouse the following day and was seen again on 8th January. Five Woodcock appeared on 13th around the obs, there was no doubt more on the island but with very limited coverage that was better than none!

The first in a run of White-fronted Geese was behind the Post Office on 14th while the Jackdaw also present last year made a re-appearance near Vincoin. The final day in January added Little Gull, a nice 1st Winter in Nouster, Twite and two Barnacle Geese to the year list. Other highlights included a different White-fronted Goose at Cruesbreck and an adult Glaucous Gull.

The first day in February saw us add Pink-footed Goose, it was later ringed and confirmation of the Black Redstart that had been seen extremely briefly in the County Yard, I’ve never seen such an elusive Black Redstart!

The Woodcocks continued with the wind mostly a driving Easterly, great in May, not in Feb! A third Barnacle Goose was present on 5th as was a Song Thrush at Snettan and a Grey Plover at the Shooting Gallery. The island has played host to a large number of wintering Fieldfare this year with well over 150 spread around the island. Yet another White-front was present on 6th and 14 Snow Bunting were in East Loch Park. Perhaps the bird of the month went to a drake Pochard on Bewan, our first record in just over five years , on 7th. An early Mistle Thrush was at Snettan as the year-list continued to trickle along. The 12th saw us add our first Black-tailed Godwit of the year and three different White-fronted Geese were below the School. Valentine’s Day saw yet another good addition to the year list as Stock Dove was found on the Ancum Stubble, it sadly came to a sticky end, probably at the sharp end a Hen Harrier, as it was found dead two days later! An adult Iceland Gull was at Westness on 19th, a Jack Snipe was at the Foghorn on 21st and a Black-throated Diver was in Nouster on 23rd. The final days in February were marked by 12 Pink-footed Geese at Cavan and a sub-adult Mediterranean Gull that flew west past the Pier.

March has kicked off in style, the returning Long-billed Dowitcher has returned and is now on Ancum with c70 Bar-tailed Godwits and two Black-tailed Godwits. A total of four Stonechats were recorded on the final day in February and were still present the following day, while three new males were near Holland on 3rd. In other news one of colour-ringed Ringed Plovers that was re-sighted in the Isle of Scilly has been seen back on North Ronaldsay!