The first RSPB walk of the season

I was out today for the first of this season’s guided walks with the RSPB. Last year I went as a volunteer and enjoyed it immensely, so much so that I have volunteered again this year and intend to try and fit one walk a week in to my own guiding schedule. It shouldn’t be too hard as I only intend to be guiding a couple of days a week. Hopefully guiding for a couple of days will not sour me to going birding which is what I think would happen if I was trying to make money out of it as a full time job…anyway watch this space and we will see what happens.
The first walk had a sparse attendance but I don’t think it was overly publicised and the islands like the cliffs seem a little short of visitors at the moment. It makes for a good group when the numbers are small though and if you add to that I am only assisting a warden so its not me that has to do the majority of the spiel its quite a relaxing day for me. Meeting up in the Marwick bay car park we were all greeted with a freshening wind blowing up from the south east. This was at our backs as we spied out the bay before us. We moved down the slope of the shore to gain some respite from the wind and the members of the group got to grips with using the scopes. One of the things I enjoy about helping folks see birds is seeing the enjoyment they get from the scopes extra range. After years of shaky 10x bins to see a steady image at 20x or 30x seldom fails to impress.
The Choin was well exposed but the tide was starting to rise. Before us Green headed Eiders, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Common, Blackheaded, Blackbacked and Herring gull soon fell to the scopes. Linnet, Wheatear, Rock Pipits and Pied wagtails were soon sorted out. In the fields behind us the sound of piping Oystercatchers and displaying Lapwings carried along on the blustery wind. Swallows have been returning strongly over the last week and we had our share today as they hunted insects over the tide line weed. Turnstones were down in the ware feeding. Their moult to summer plumage is almost complete with the gorgeous Rufus plumage showing well. Once this transformation is finished they will be off heading for Iceland Greenland and as far as the Canadian coast for this years breeding effort. Moving off along the bay towards the path for the high cliffs we stop to have a look over the wet ground behind the bay. Here the fields cover is growing well, Corncrakes will be back here imminently so fingers crossed. Here around a pool we get to see the common waders, Shellduck, displaying, Redshank and Lapwing and yet more Wheatear, Linnets and Wagtails. The Wagtails are checked for whites. The strong easterly winds these last couple of weeks seem to have brought quite an influx of European wagtails to British shores and we are getting our share!! A flock of Black Tailed Godwits in summer plumage are a colourful treat as we move off.
Walking along the track to the rise has little in the way of birds but the flora was set on making an appearance with Scurvy Grass and Spring Squill breaking out. We reminisced about playing soldiers with Ribwort Plantain. It was like Orkney conkers where you had to chop off the head turn about….simple days!! From the corner up to Choldertoo the view out to sea shows a couple of rafts of gulls with some gannets fishing around them. Inshore the first of the Bonxies are beginning to patrol the shore. Whilst Razorbills and kittywakes come and go from the face we shelter in the lea of Choldertoo and enjoy fine views of Fulmar and Razorbill sitting meters away on the opposite rock face. All to soon it’s onwards and upwards in the push for the top. The wind is howling as it is pushed up the slope behind us but at least it’s a three quarters tail wind so steadily we get there. Taking refuge in sheltered spots the highest faces of Marwick head are before us. What a difference it makes to get out of the wind. The air around us is alive with Fulmars and wheeling Kittywakes, Bonxies and Blackbacks The cliffs themselves were starkly empty. There were a good contingent of Razorbills and a covering of Kittywakes but barely a single Guillemot anywhere. But this is the way it go’s at this time of year. There have been thousands here a week back and when I was up the other day there was a good smattering but not today. The birds had moved off enmass to feed some where over the horizon and it might be days before they drift back. Its disappointing but its just the way of it. There was plenty of entertainment to be had though, Ravens came and went from their nest and Jackdaws squabbled and displayed. Rock Pipits flitted around. A pair of solitary Puffins roosted below the scree slope bringing a promise of more to come. Of all the gannets we saw there were only two immature birds the rest were adults and most of them seemed to be actively fishing with an occasional Skua showing an interest also bringing a promise of more to come.! The oddest bird we had up top was a single Siskin passing to the south. All to soon though it was time to head off back. The cliffs might have been light on bird numbers but it was nice and active which always makes for good entertainment.
We took the memorial path back to the road and along to the bay. As we were heading into a 65- 70 mph wind it was a wee bit bird less but we had good views across the pools on the way back.
So that was that the first one of the year by. The wind was mean in places but if your going outside here in the wind swept isles then you have to take it as you find it, if you do then you can find it as we did today…Pretty damn good.