The day today

It was a cold and bright day today. We were off to Stromness earlier and the best spot was what I think was a buzzard at the Garson road junction. Every thing was going up in the air and looking around I saw it flying in a tightish curve but all to soon it was snatched from sight as we were washed away in the flow of traffic. It was nowhere to be seen on the return home. The afternoon stayed fine and I ventured to the bottom of the garden to scope up geese below the house. Managing a couple of photos nothing really came out well. The same thing happened when I tried to shoot Greenfinches that had just discovered my peanut feeder. Even in the bright sunlight there was to much movement for the exposure time. It’s a shame because they were looking in fine condition in the sunlight. Iam defo looking forwards to more visits as we go along. Sparrow numbers have shot up and the flock has been counting out at thirty five birds but I am sure there is a lot more to come as well. Starlings and Hoodies are the other visitors but I am yet to get a big landing of starlings. It is something I love to be amoungst, five hundred starlings taking off at once…excellent.

The sun was looking decidedly dogy tonight and the the forecast is for gales, rain then snow after that towards Sunday so this might be the last snow of winter..if it happens that is….shame.

Down to Barnhouse

I was off to Barnhouse today for a look. This is the second time I have been down there in a couple of days. First off there were 30 Curlew with 70 or so Oystercatchers and a few hundred Widgeon all roosting on the Stenness shore before I set off to the hide. The south end of Harray Loch had a well dispersed flock of Widgeon spread across it with a large portion of birds looking paired up. There were considerably less Tufted duck than I would have thought but there again I couldn’t see most of the lea ward shore on the loch. 30 or more Curlew roosted up on the southern spit with as many Widgeon milling about. Some were settled down dut most were idly grazing and listless.
The fields of the far bank held four flocks of Greylag all about 150 strong. There was a flock of Oystercatchers 350 strong. They proved to be very flighty and took till the third count to get them. Redshank were very vocal from around the lochside and every so often a pair of males would shoot across the loch surface in a large jinking loop trying to out fly and out call each other. You can imagine my amazement to see a Curlew display across the waters surface for all the world like a giant Redshank. It was a stunning sight turning and twisting. It never called and as soon as it was done it gained a bit of altitude in a Curlew like manner and moved away over the fields.
Looking to the loch and the south end was hosting part of the mute Swan flock with about sixty birds. Interspersed with them were the usual pairs of Goldeneye. A couple of days ago there were several pairs of Red Breasted Mergansers floating about and several Teal but none were to be seen today. I had a peer about for divers but none were to be seen. That was about that. There has been more wintry showers since I came home. I managed 3 photos of House Sparrows in the last stab of sunlight. There were seventeen sparrows in the flock feeding off some unsalted rice….Its a garden record!!

Evening all.

House Sparrows in the evening sun.

Putting the old garden list to bed.

I suppose a new house demands a new garden list and this should really be the order of the day. The last house was on the heather line and we were particularly fortunate to enjoy Mooreland species as well as a healthy raptor population. Looking back on it although I continually bemoaned the lack of garden birds we were fortunate to accrue a fairly interesting and enjoyable garden list over the last eight months. Some of the highlights have been Siskins, Goldcrests and a Cuckoo. The long staying Redpolls were lifers for me. The Wrens the Dunnocks and those three Blackbirds that hung around despite cats, dogs and hens were the only constant garden birds from start to finish. My first Red grouse and having them calling triggered by the cockerel crowing really hit the spot. There were Woodcock on four occasions and for seemingly the whole summer Snipe drummed over head unendingly. There was the day in day out thieving antics of the Hooded crows whilst over head ravens would call and tumble. Waders would be feeding in the fields when it was wet and soft enough. Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Curlew from time to time fed right up to the front door. There were a couple of surprises from Herrons lifting off in a panic from the duck ponds that left the heart in the mouth. Raptors were where it was at tho and truth be told it was a bit of a raptor fest. Hen harriers abounded along with Short Eared Owls. Both species would pass low over the house whilst quartering the valley. Peregrine also hunted the hills and fields although not appearing as regularly as the previous pair they did put on some fantastic displays and close views for us though. Sparrow hawks and Kestrels did well this year and were well represented as regular visitors. Even Merlin’s showed well with six or seven sightings. The couple of outstanding memories that are burned in deep must be standing watching a Merlin coming in across the paddock at docken top height and snatching a Stonechat and disappearing off with it with it so effortlessly. All right in front of me..thrilling!!. The number one has to be a female harrier teaching its freshly fledged youngsters to hunt with a half dead rabbit. They were lifting it into the air and dropping it, squabbling and making loads of noise enjoying the game while she quartered the valley keeping a weary eye on them. Once again it was all in front of me whilst all I had to do was just still in a little cover. Topstuff. I am one lucky mofo!. I will miss the place.


My garden list
• Black Headed Gull
• Chafinch
• Collared Dove
• Common Gull
• Cuckoo
• Curlew
• Dunnock
• Fieldfare
• Goldcrest
• Greater Blackbacked Gull
• Greenfinch
• Hen Harrier
• Heron
• Hooded Crow
• Kestrel
• Lapwing
• Lesser Blackbacked Gull
• Mallard
• Meadow Pipit
• Merlin
• Oyster Catcher
• Peregrine
• Pied Wagtail
• Raven
• Red Grouse
• Redpoll
• Redwing
• Reed Bunting
• Short Eared Owl
• Siskin
• Snipe
• Song Thrush
• Sparrow Hawk
• Starling
• Stonechat
• Swallow
• Twite
• Wood Pigeon
• Woodcock
• Wren

A gap in the rain.

It’s been an endless day of drizzle and rain but during one of the dry spells late in the afternoon the call of outdoors lured me out. I only ventured just down the road to a track that leads to a watery hole in a grass field. It is from here I have been hearing the Widgeon whistling at nights. Looking out over the ground before me pasture land is divided in fields and forms a gentle bowl. At the lowest places of which the wet ground gathers the bounteous rains to eventually empty them selves in to Harray loch. The largest of the pools lies on the lands of Brecken. And as the name suggests was named for the brecks that used to lie here. I should explain brecks are areas of heathery wet ground. It was once habitat like that down here and I spent many a happy hour shooting rabbits and wandering across it. It is all improved grazing now and only a few wet pools that drain it now remain. Before me now lies the largest pool. It has a healthy amount of birds on it tho. I am approaching down hill over a bed of tractor flattened gorse bushes so I am watching my feet more than the birds ahead. There are loads of rabbits about with a black one taking my attention. A while later I caught sight of something grey and white moving along a fence line and here was a rabbit with a white collar. This was quite common here when I was young. As kids your rabbits would get out and come back days later all scratched up and gagging for some lettuce. You would see the local population jean pool livened up wit patches of brown white and ginger! Looks like its still going on….i ken the purists hate this kinda crap but it makes me smile anyway….easier for Hen Harriers to catch perhaps. Five hares across the fields and two close by and the digression from the pool was complete. The wee pool its self held 105 Widgeon several Greylag a few mallard and two Shell duck. The Shell duck looked like a pair sitting on the shore and taking to the water as I approached . Settling as my approach became noticed i waited for a while for things to settle. Before me the air is alive into the distance with skeins of geese and ducks. Birds arriving draw my attention back to the pool. Five or six Widgeon settle down and disperse quietly leaving a Shell duck in the open. It is immediately challenged by a show of force. The new lad backs off to rise up a bit and is set upon again a couple of times. The drake returns across the pool to its partner or significantly guarded other to re enforce their pair bond. It all drama down here between the rains..lol Along the shore there are two mature Greater Black backed gulls fifty five lapwing, no more than a dozen Curlew though. There were a couple of ducks I couldn’t make out. I will have to be back at first light one morning soon and have a scope about. Spits of rain and an approaching grey curtain moving in across the loch make it time to go luckily its only a hundred meters from the house as I am wearing a fleece made from recycled sponges. So it’s a quick march back through the gorse stalks. It’s a nice introduction to the patch about me and strange to see how some of the ground has changed. I look forward to re learning the parish

Moved in.

The relocation to the new house has gone reasonably smoothly. All that’s left to do is move a few last knockings now. It’s a strange thing to be waking up and not having to feed the cats and hens or feed and walk the dog. I must admit it’s the dog (roy) I miss the most. On a sadder note tho Spike the snake died the day after we moved out. He had been struggling to eat for a long while, loosing condition and being quite lethargic. For the last while it had been a continuing struggle to get him to feed. He was almost twice the age garter snakes are supposed to live to so he had a pretty good innings, it is sad to see him go all the same.
We have a peanut feeder up in the corner of the garden trying to illicit some interest and today seems to be the first time its been approached. I noticed Starlings feeding on it this morning these were accompanied by a small flock of House Sparrows that managed to nip quickly in to the gaps left by the Starlings. Staying out of reach of the starlings sharp and aggressive bills they managed to all feed in a rotation. Greenfinches appear now and again moving through the neighbours shrubs. I think they will find the feeder soon enough tho.
Below the house there is a mile of so of grazed fields that runs down to the side of Harray Loch. These are grazed by the inevitable flocks of Greylag geese. Every so often the winds die down and the air if filled with their raucous chatter. They are not the only birds voices to drift up the slopes towards us though, The cries and calls of Lapwing and Curlew carry from the fields as they feed. There are winter wet pools down there as well. These hold Mallard and Widgeon whose quacks and whistles can be heard coming out of the darkness as they roost. Yesterday a pass by an RAF fast jet some way off put up a flock of Curlew from somewhere out the back and I had a count of 93 pass over the house. I wish the weather was a bit better, for this last while the predominant weather direction has been the west. This has carried endless wet weather over us. It seems like there has been drizzle and mist unending. No work is getting done as the ground is sodden. No birding is getting done and little else is getting unpacked from boxes cos of this damn computer. I think I might get out with the bins tho, I need to stretch the legs a bit and have a spy aboot.

Laters folks…

raptor report

This is a wee summary of last years raptor report. It is taken from the abridged report that is sent out to all members of the RSPB’s local group. So what we have here is the bare bones of that report that I have paired away to fit the format of the blog.

All this quality information is freely available on a regular basis to members of the local members group and is yet another excellent reason to join up with the Royal society. Give them a ring on 01856 850176 or drop by the office on North end road opposite the cop shop and you will be most welcome…..you ken it makes sense!!

Orkney is in the enviable position of having fairly good numbers of raptors occurring to hunt across all of the habitats available. There are no shooting estates on the islands and consequently there is less pressure in the form of illegal persecution. Local farmers have taken advantage of the Hen harrier scheme that pays them to let rough grazing grow rank and their grazing efforts be steered towards creating a suitable habitat for Voles. The Orkney Vole is a major part of the diet for Hen Harriers here in Orkney. Most of the other raptors also benefit from this bounty and these fields will be well patrolled by quartering Short Eared Owls and Kestrels. Peregrines And Merlin’s along with Sparrow Hawks that will also hunt this ground looking for wee birds like Linnet and Twite that are naturally attracted to such ground to feed.
A wet start to the breeding season followed by a very dry spell may not have helped things along and the lack of cliff breeding birds may also have been a factor for some of the Peregrine failures this year, but I am only speculating here…



MARSH HARRIER

A single bird showed interest in an east mainland site in the spring but there was no breeding attempt. There was no sign of breeding at the other two sites where nesting has taken place in recent years.



HEN HARRIER

Across Orkney as a whole there were 62 occupied sites at which 51 were found. 39 of these failed, three pre-laying,15 during incubation and 5 at the chick stage while the stage was unknown of the other 16. The remaining 23 nests successfully reared 64 chicks to at or near fledging. Of the 64 chicks(at or near fledging) whose sex was known, 31 were males and 33 were females.



SPARROWHAWK

2008 was a good year for Orkneys breeding Sparrowhawks. 12 sites were known to be occupied, 3 of which had not been recorded before. Nests were found at 10 of these sites and eight of them successfully reared young. The two unsuccessful nests both failed during incubation.
The occupancy rate was far higher than usual this year. Generally we have about 3 or 4 sites that are successful in any one year.



BUZZARD

For the first time in many years there was no proved breeding on Hoy. Birds were seen at known breeding sites but no nests were found and no evidence of any young being reared. On the mainland site first used in 05 a bird was heard calling and acting as though on territory on may16th but no signs were found thereafter.



KESTREL

As usual data for this species was far from complete. There were seven defiantly occupied sites, all in the west mainland and nests were found at 5 of these. Of these one was a moor land ground nest, one was in a working quarry. One was on an old building, one was on a small in land crag and one was in an old Hoodies nest in a tree. One failed during incubation and the outcome of another was unknown. The other three reared 12 chicks in broods of 3, 4,and 5.
Birds were seen in at least 7 other areas during the breeding season but no evidence of breeding was obtained.



MERLIN

All known breeding sites were checked and 18 were found to be occupied. Nests were found at 16 of these sites but a poor season resulted in only 7 rearing young. 19 chicks were reared to or near fledging. There were two re-lays one successful and one failed. Of the 19 chicks reared 13 were females and 6 were males. The west mainland had 7 sites two of which were successful producing 5 chicks. The east mainland had one successful site producing one chick. Rousay had 2 sites with no successes. Hoy had 8 sites, 4 of which were successful producing 7 chicks.



PEREGRINE

It was a poor year for birds breeding on the isles. At both sites on Westray nothing was found. On Eday birds were present early in the season at one of the two sites but did not nest. On Stronsay three old kills were found at one of the two sites but there was no sign of nesting. On Rousay a pair reared four chicks at the site that has been regularly used in recent years. On Shapinsay though there was no sign of occupation at the known site. All the west mainland sites were checked and only two sites were occupied. Of these one fledged two chicks whilst the other failed. In the East Mainland all sites were checked but only one was occupied and it reared at least one chick. The usual site on South Ronaldsay was found to have a brood of three chicks a week old but fledging success is unknown. Hoy is the most difficult to cover because of the remoteness of some of the sites and the height of some of the nesting cliffs. One site fledged at lest one chick while another is believed to have failed. Territorial birds were seen at least three possibly four sites but the outcome of any nesting attempts was unknown.



SHORT EARED OWL

There were 33 apparently occupied sites located. In the west mainland birds were seen in 22 likely breeding localities but nests of young were only found at four of these. In the East Mainland there were birds in six likely sites but no nests or chicks were located. Birds were present in at least two areas of Burray/South Ronaldsay but no nests or chicks were found. On Flotta, an island with out voles, a fledged chick was seen. A hunting bird was seen on South Walls, another vole free zone. Finally on Rousay birds were seen in two areas, including one where a food pass was observed.



RAVEN

Chris Booth once again covered all the known Mainland sites. At least 50 pairs attempted to nest of which 33 were successful rearing 97 young. 29 of the pairs used sea cliff sites and 21 used inland sites that comprised quarries ,trees, buildings, a steep bank side and an inland crag.



Acknowledgements

Thanks go to the following folks for all there hard work. With out them this report would not be possible

Eric Meek, Chris Booth, Martin Bruengger, Mike Cockram, Lorna Dow, Kieth Fairclough, Ailne Gerber, Paul Higson, Paul Hollinrake, Andy Knight, Alan Leitch, Brian Ribbands, Lee Shields, Jim Williams, Andrew Upton, Stuart Williams.

Ready to roll

Its been a long day of cleaning and packing and the move is about done, I fell in the hill yesterday and sprained my ankle so its been a slow day of hobbling about, tomorrow should see us away tho. Mind you we are only moving about five miles away so its not like it’s a huge trek. Snow may come at the weekend so its best to get on now. There were two dozen Twite over the new house and round about it to day. I thought that was encouraging. There were also greenfinches and house sparrows providing lots of movement in the regosa. The sparrows were defiantly pairing up and showing off. Over the last couple of days there have been reports of ravens starting to pay attention to there nests. The birds in the valley here have been flying very close and there has been interaction with interlopers and some very showy aerobatics. The first skylark singing was reported by Celia Glenn down the Hope way today. I heard a curlew bubble tonight as it lifted off. In Happy valley yesterday one of the bushes had buds about to burst and through out the woods snowdrops are blooming. The celandine is also starting to grow leaf and the first flowers are evident. I love this time of year. The grip of darkness is starting to loosen and life is beginning to awaken….it feels good to be part of a new beginning

Moving on

Well thats about it for this place and life here on the hill will soon be behind us. I supose i will have to start a new garden list. It might not be as exciting as this one but there again this garden has only six wee birds in all the time. A bit of hustle and bustle around the feeders will be a plesant change(with a bit of luck} I was over at the new house in Harray yesterday to sweep chimneys and saw a snipe fly over the roof so i thought im having that anyway! So thats the first on the list not that i am a compulsive listing birder...far from it to tell the truth. Its back to the last knockings and cleaning for me.....Going to miss the dog tho...One final thought....There is a nice caravan here that will be let out over the summer so if anyone wants an inexpensive holliday birding base send us an email and all this could be under your feet.....adios for now.

Senness loch frozen

Harray loch frozen over

Snow time...day 5

Another day of cold goes by. Yet again the winds predicted have not appeared. This is something of a blessing. After no snow to speak of last night it began to fall shortly after first light. It continued on and off all through the morning to clear in the afternoon. Large showers still continued but it was more a matter of luck if you were hit or not. With a couple of inches falling on top of the lying snow and there being no thaw what so ever there is six inches of powder just waiting to be blown about by the next big wind…never mind we will worry about that if it happens.
Birds are scarce on the ground at the moment, two redpolls that are frequenting the valley were here this morning but little else. Snipe were at the springs down the field. I headed off to the Stones of Stenness on foot this afternoon. Both the Harray Loch and the Stenness Loch are frozen over and miles of dark water are now white with the fallen snow. It’s a surreal sight where once was water now has the illusion of land. Between the two lochs the flow of water maintains a free channel. This was my objective and sure enough scanning over the water it is inundated with birds. The far edge of the icy channel has hundreds and hundreds of Widgeon and Tufted ducks More swim round in large rafts. Closer to and numerous saw bills move about in the hoards of Goldeneye. There are a couple of hundred its an impressive sight. Less impressive is the way they all take to the air as a family group that have just arrived start to chuck stones and shite in to the water and ice. I suppose every one is entitled to their fun, I just wish they had had it some place else. I take a load of snaps though before heading back to the hill. On the Harray side managed to see the black Swan. Not that difficult to spot today strangely enough. Things must be getting tough for the birds now. Along the roads Snipe are starting to feed on the wet verges. These are dangerous times and collisions are all to common in these conditions. The now all to familiar half mile trudge back through the snow did throw up a couple of nice birds. First off I watched two Ravens harassing a gull. As they approached they put up a Peregrine from our neighbours garden that rose above me to head off along the hillside……Its still freezing up here.

Last night at the stones.

Last night we went down to the standing stones at Brodgar to try out my mate’s video camera and to see if we could manage any atmospheric shots. In our favour was the full moon and total snow cover. The stone circle was absolutely stunning in the freezing night air. There was enough cloud for atmosphere but not enough to swamp us out with darkness. On the minus side I have been reduced to my old Nikon 5600 PnS. The 5100 fell from my hands the other day and the lens smashed right off..oops butter fingers!! Add to that the loss of a pair of binoculars and the tripod for the scope biting the dust you can see its been a poor start to the month. I tell all this in a feeble attempt to excuse these poor and shaky shots. They might give some impression of the night but I think they are a bit lacking… any way have a look at a couple and see what you think.

Snow Time

The month has started off with not a lot happening up here. Watching the snows fall all over the south and east of England for the last week I was beginning to wonder if it would ever snow for us. As England froze and the snows grew ever deeper the northern isles carried on as usual with calm and mild weather. By Friday snow 24 or to give it its right name BBC news 24 were forecasting substantial snows for us. Sure enough Friday morning brought an unrelenting drizzle of sleet that hit the ground and disappeared. By the time the sun dropped the sleet began to lie and we were away. The wind from the north dropped away yet still managed to fill in a hundred yards of track, luckily the wife’s car was left down at the road so we had some transport available or it would have been slim pickings by now. From Saturday morning it has been the most fantastic weather, flat calm with light snow showers from time to time. It has stayed well below 0 with -10 and -12 reported on the Orkney forum. On the ground we have 4 to 6 inches of powdery snow and fortunately the north gales that were predicted by the met office never materialised.
Birding has been a bit sparse but has made up for its self in quality. Whilst passing the time snapping photos and generally buggering around in the garden on Sunday I heard grouse calling from the hill somewhere behind the house. Running in and grabbing the scope I soon have two Grouse in view. They are feeding around the foot of a large clump of gorse across the valley. It’s a long way but as I watch yet more come into view. With in a couple of minutes there are six feeding away on the exposed heather around the base of the gorse. This is the most I have ever seen together and I am snapping away grabbing pictures in a panic. I shouldn’t have worried as they were around for the rest of the afternoon.
Monday afternoon I decided to head for the top of the hills in order to get a panorama shot of the surrounding country. My mind is soon changed after tramping through the heather in the back field. Out here the snow is coming up to the knees and as I draw breath and look to the hill tops I think …bugger that…I head for Russadale quarry for a look. Although the bird count is to stay at three Wrens and two Ravens the quarry its self proves to be a stunning backdrop. It’s a wet old hole in the winter time but the water draining through the rocks has frozen into a fantastic display of icicles some of the bigger ones are eight feet long and as thick as my arm. The spectacle is the most impressive icicles I have ever seen(but I have lead a sheltered life). The SD card gets a bit of a hammering before I head back to the house. I am almost at the back fence when from the wet burn side a Jack Snipe takes to the air appearing from just below my feet flying low and level to rise slightly and drop into the valley. Later I see Erik Meek has reported putting one up on the quarry path a couple of hours before mine so I would guess it’s the same one.. The Snipe action was not over yet. In the field below the house there are three wet patches bare of snow. Here water flows out the ground and the local snipe have been hanging out taking advantage of the rare bare ground to feed. A scan across it with the scope reveal four birds feeding, Needless to say a snap was taken!!
Today I returned to the quarry for some more pictures of icicles. Sitting on the bench I manage to see the two remaining Redpolls and film them flitting about. What was to happen next I still find hard to believe. I am standing taking photos and talking to the dog(like you do) when from a ledge above me a bird takes off spooked. It rises strait up and over the lip to disappear from view. I am excited though cos it was a Woodcock. Anyway I carry on taking photos of the ice, standing close in to the face. Next thing I hear is the whoosh of wind through a birds wings and the Woodcock returns gliding down to settle just around a corner out of sight,. I ken fine the dog will put it up so I decide to try and film it flying off. With a none to subtle approach I manage to find it hiding beneath the rock face and catch its flight as it takes off. That’s it for me I head off home more than a little chuffed…The temperature is below 0 again tonight and there looks like no end to the snow……good stuff im loving it.

Fieldfares

There have been about 150 Fieldfares in the fields below the house for the last few days. There were good numbers kicking about the fields in Orphir this afternoon when i went to photograph the Ark Royal. Its nice to see them about as there havent been a lot about this winter.

Back for a Glauc.

With the rain abating and the skies clearer yesterday looked a lot more photo friendly than the wet Sunday we had just tramped through. All in all it was the sort of day that just wants to drag you out in to it so you can indulge in a bit of birding. It would have been rude to have resisted!. After a late start and a couple of runs to move boxes to our new house(that’s right we are moving again) I thought I would shoot out to Marwick bay to see if I could manage some snaps of the Glaucous Gulls. Yesterday couldn’t have been more of a contrast with the light breezes and blue skies of the afternoon. There wasn’t a lot to see on the run out just masses of Greylag feeding across the fields. My favourite spot en route is the bird crop at Queena and this had no sign of any life as I passed.
The road down to Marwick is where the Tundra Bean goose has been hanging out, not that I was going to see it to day. It is one thing to sneak about with a car slowing to a stop and winding down the windows, it is another thing o a bike. You don’t get to do a lot of sneaking up on anything on a thousand cc rat bike with an open pipe. Certainly not a field of geese. Sure enough the geese that were there all took to the air from either side of the road rather in the manner of the parting of the red sea!
Fortunately my luck was more in with the Glaucs and a quick scan showed me one feeding on the seal seventy yards north of the burn outfall and sitting on the sea at the far corner of the bay. With the conditions a bit bright for my wee Nikon (I smashed my P5100 last week}I started to approach along the waters edge. Wearing neutral colours I made my first shots from the tang line thinking I would blend in with the colours. All went well as I took a few shots and moved forward continually closing the distance. Every so often the bird would rise to gracefully hover swing round and land to resume feeding. At one point it was off and replaced by a second. Feed and bath seems to be the pattern with these carrion feeders as they find a level between preening their feathers and gorging themselves on the rotting flesh of the unfortunate seal. In the end I was forty yards off and not disturbing the birds when they all took off along with the Widgeon close by on the sea and a horde of noisy Redshanks..bugger. Behind me the crash crash of footsteps coming down the storm shore. An old feller was standing there “ Aye aye mon is that a camera you have there” “what are you photographing” “Oh just those gulls that are disappearing over Marwick head”….mmm biting the tongue we have a wee chat then head in opposite directions. I cant be arsed to withdraw and repeat the whole approach so I call it a day and head of to fight the wife for time on the computer. Below are a few of the better snaps.

Glaucous gull in the rain

A wet day at Marwick

It was a cool and wet morning that held little promise of drying up. Today was the monthly birding class with Tim Dean and we were due to meet up at the Bay of Skail at ten an hour hence. The rain was rattling off the house roof in a repetitive heavy then light sort of fashion. Each time it eased you could feel your hopes rise to be washed away by yet another increasing shower. Biting the bullet I fired up the bike and headed out in to the morning weather.
We all met up at the Bay of Skail car park. Surprisingly the rain had turned to a mild drizzle yet would not cease. Over the next ten minutes the class gathered and so did the clouds. The only folks that seemed unperturbed were the crowd of surfers that were changing into wet suits and waxing their boards before heading out in to the freezing cold breakers of the Atlantic….my respect to them and rather them than me. With an increasing patter of rain it was decided to take half the cars to the Marwick Head Kitchener memorial foot path and half the cars to the hide at the Loons. From here we could do a five mile semi circular walk taking in the fisherman’s huts and Marwick bay.
Arriving at the Loons hide you have a view over a large expanse of wetland with immediately in front of you a pool backed by reed beds. We soon settle down to spy out the ground but there was not a whole hell of a lot to see in the rain. There were Widgeon and Mallard on the rough ground at the side of the pool and a good few Teal on the banks. Away in the distance grazing in a field there are a puckle of Greylag geese. These we regard with interest as this is the main feeding area for the main flock of Greenland white fronted geese that frequent Orkney. They however seem to dislike being on the hillside here in easterly winds. Its disappointing but what you gona do. Some interest was generated by Lapwings passing over and a Heron rising and landing a couple of times in increasingly shorter distances from the hide. This gave the opportunity for some seriously good close up views from the scopes. You would think I would have goton some good photos but try as I might its just impossible in the hide as it is built on boggy ground so the slightest movement has the whole place rocking like a ship at sea. With little else to see we head off on foot via the roads to Marwick.
Over the past few weeks numbers of Lapwing and Curlew seem to have risen dramatically across the county and they were certainly an obvious presence in the fields today. The fields in this area of the west mainland are hooching with Greylag and today is no exception. Amongst all of these Greylags there is a single Bean goose and Tim’s well trained eye soon has it picked out for every one. This one is from the Russian population. It is smaller than the Greylags and I must admit if I had found it I would have put it down as a Pinkfoot. The bird is feeding in with a small flock of Greylag and thankfully shows little willingness to take to the air. We all get fine views through the scopes as the flock feeds along side a horde of Curlew and Lapwing. Other interest is provided by a flock of Golden Plover that descend in as one to land and feed in an elongated flock. They rise and land a couple of times giving fine views for the binoculars. Moving off our attention is caught by a single wee bird that lands on the verge twenty yards from us and promptly disappears. It is a Rock Pipit. This is a proper winter sighting. We are quarter of a mile from the sea and it is only at this time of year you will catch them off the shore. By spring and for the rest of the year they seldom move more than a few meters from the shore line.
Moving down to the shore of Marwick bay the sea is providing dramatic effects with sizable waves breaking in huge long tubes on the rocky division of the Choin. Away along the shore above where the burn runs into the sea is the bird we have come to see. Feeding on the carcass of a washed up seal is a magnificent Glaucous gull. One would be a note worthy event but there are three, one on the seal and two bathing in the outfall of the burn. They are all first year birds and little fazed by our presence. We move down the rocky storm front of the shore in the hope of getting out of the wind. Things improve with the wind and we have fine views but the rain is falling steadily so all glauced up we turn and head to the fisherman’s huts to have a well earned cup of coffee and a roll. The fisherman’s huts date back to an earlier age when the farmers of the parrish would also fish to supplement their meagre livings. The huts are rude shelters built into the cliff faces and would provided shelter and storage for their boats and gear away from the ravages of the Atlantic winter. It is often said as a description of the different topography between Shetland and Orkney that Shetlanders were fishermen that farmed and Orcadians were farmers that fished..its very true.
Lunch was enjoyed (in the rain) with a view out of this narrow bay. Before us the waves rolled in and crashed on the rocky outcrops. Shags deftly fished just beyond the crashing surf. They were about in large numbers and accompanied by rafts of Dunters(Eider ducks). In the air three Gannets circled taking the occasional dive for fish. These were all mature birds looking vividly white in the grey wet light. A herring gull with a fish was briefly mobbed by young Blackbacks. Another bird of interest was a Kittiwake that wheeled about looking for the chance of a meal. Whilst we watched another two joined it. All three were first year birds and it’s a chinch they didn’t originate from here. It is a bit far north for them at this time of year but you do see them from time to time, Tim was telling us that there are first year birds over in the Kirkwall marina at the moment as well. As we pack up to move off a flight of Purple Sandpipers cross the bay(more of an inlet really) to land just out of sight on the southern point.
We walk back the half mile to Marwick bay to have a passing look at the Glaucs once again. Earlier in the week there had been five together, a record for Orkney I think. This time we manage to see four in the bay. It is a thrilling sight, I have only ever seen single birds and this is a real treat. It’s a proper taste of the arctic. All the birds are first year birds and probably never seen humans until now. I pull my camera out of my pocket to find it sitting in water. The paper towel in my old camera bag is a soggy mess so I about give up on didgiscoping for the day(but I will return!) With that we head off to the cars at the Kitchener memorial foot path. Little else is to be seen in the steady drip of rain. It was a short and damp session today but well worth the effort. My new Opticron stay on cover has proved its worth despite my reservations and I have a new bird on my life list….worth getting damp for!!

Heron today

Bean goose

Fishermans huts at Marwick.

Sun set on the road home tonight.

Todays working companion

Black darter

It was a cold and fresh afternoon yesterday when I decided to have a wee spin about. Looking at the tide times I could see that the tide was falling over Stromness way so that seemed a place to have a look. Heading in that direction I stop to have a look around the brig of Waith This is a bridge spanning the entrance to the Loch of Stenness. The Stenness loch is one of the largest saline lagoons in Britan and holds a fantastic varietie of flora and fauna adapted for life in the brackish conditions. Every day the tide flows under this narrow stone built bridge. Channelled through the narrow gap the force of water builds up to a torrent that resembles a river in spate. Within the flow are concentrated the fish that come to feed and taking advantage of it are as always a host of opportunistic seals. They move effortlessly in the raging torrent always on the look out for a meal. They are a fascinating sight to watch that is if your not fishing for sea trout ,if you are they are little more than a royal pain in the arse!! On the sea ward side the channel widens out and in one part of the shore there is one our few areas of muddy flats. This is called the dead sands. Of course they are anything but dead!. Parking up it is all to obvious the tide has a lot more to fall before the skerries and favourite feeding places are revealed. On the sea ward side things are a little better. T he falling tide is more pronounced here. Unfortunately their is little to be seen bird wise. Along the ware strewn rocky shore small numbers of curlew are picking away in the bladder wrack. Their numbers are augmented by A few Redshank and Widgeon but little else. Taking advantage of the field still being in stubble all be it very muddy stubble I cross to the place where the Hydro wires cross the channel. This gives a view across to the Dead Sands. The falling tide has revealed the small flat expanse but unfortunately there is little to be seen. Redshanks forage al over the place but there is little sign of anything else. Usually there is a host of wading birds but I suppose I should be here on the rising rather than falling tide. Mallard and Widgeon are the most prolific of the sea ducks. Out on the water there are Red breasted Mergansers, Long tailed ducks, and all the usual Scarfies. A little disappointed I head back to the bike and the brig. Looking over to the Stenness side it’s a similar story. There are Tufted duck ,Widgeon, Long tailed ducks and a few Scarfies. Very disappointing. At this time of year I would expect to see a good few Snipe along the shore and maybe a few Scaup from the large flocks that hang out here. All is not lost though and I concentrate my photographic efforts on a pair of young seals that are basking in the 2deg warmth of the day. Its pleasing that they don’t take to the water but indulge me with a bit of portraiture. The light is failing now. Its about 2.45 and if I want to visit another sight then I must be off. I head for the beach at Warbeth. This is a beach at the back of Stromness. It’s a wild and exposed beach with the ferocious currents of the Hoy sound ripping past and the majestic hills of Hoy behind it providing an impressive backdrop. Here the tide is substantially lower but little sand is showing amongst the rocks. The shore line is waist deep in the thick stalks of Tangles. Although now a days it is left for the sea to return and wash away this kelp used to be keenly collected and provided islanders with some much needed seasonal income. The tangles were collected and dried for sale to the cosmetics and fertiliser industry. They were also used in products as diverse as ice cream to the production of iodine In an industry that spanned right around the Scottish coast. By now time has moved on and as it approaches 3 o’clock the light is really taking a dive. Looking over the the exposed beach the few far off patches of sand are hosting birds. A look through the scope reveals a good flock of Ringed Plover feeding alongside some Dunlin. Making my way across the tangles and the slippy rocks underneath it takes a few minutes to get in range enough to look for a photo opportunity. Slowly approaching the flocks rise up and circle to land not far from where they alighted. Whilst I am assessing my chances of approaching closer a rush of low flying birds arrive and settle not thirty yards from me. Their whistling calls and scaly feather patterns give them away as a flock of Purple Sandpipers. They are unbothered by my presence and get stuck in to their feeding routine moving constantly and probing the rocks for tasty and nutritious morsels. After a moment they are so close that it is hard to get them in the scope for long enough to get a snap with out them wandering out of the depth of field!! Most of the shots I take suck tho. I am looking towards the light and there is a very light background of sea and spume. My P5100 might be a fine camera but It dose not like these conditions and struggles to get a decent exposure on its auto setting. Turning through a hundred degrees to look down the beach is another story there are still Ringed plovers feeding along with a few Dunlin. These fall more readily to the camera in the failing light. Fun as it is my knees are wet and my hands frozen so i decide to head off home. This can be a fantastic beach with Godwits, little, Grey Plover having been seen recently. Today it’s a quiet place, not that I mind the real joy is just being out amongst it.

Stenness loch frozen up