May 28, 2010
Happy valley cuckoo.
Here are a couple of fuzzy shots of the cuckoo thats hanging out in the Happy valley, Biggswell, Russadale area at the moment. It has been showing realy well and providing plenty of entertainment as it avoids atacks from all the local birds. There are several calling cuckoos at the moment scattered across the mainland but with a bit of paticence and a pair of bins this is one thats resonably easy to see.
Tripping up Trump
I recieved this email today. Please read it and if you feel like joining in and saving some homes then have a wee click!!
Hi,
Have a look at this:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/the-bunker
Thousands have spoken out against US billionaire Donald Trump's plans to demolish family homes to build his massive golf course. But Trump hasn't given up yet. He's still pushing Aberdeenshire Council to force local families from their homes. We need to up the pressure again.
Tripping Up Trump have bought a piece of land slap bang in the middle of where Trump wants to build. We've found a legal way for thousands of us to sign up as co-owners of the land. That means as well as speaking up on behalf of the local people threatened by Trump, we can stand alongside them as fellow owners of land he wants to get his hands on.
A plot of land owned by thousands of us makes it a much trickier legal job for Trump. But it also sends a powerful message to the council. They'll know that if they do Trump's bidding, they're not just trampling on local residents, they're taking on thousands of us across Scotland and beyond.
It is simple and quick to sign-up to have your name added as a co-owner of the land. And it doesn't cost anything. Just click here:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/the-bunker
It looks like you may have to copy and paste this link, sorry for the extra effort folks but i cant get the links to work!!!
Hi,
Have a look at this:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/the-bunker
Thousands have spoken out against US billionaire Donald Trump's plans to demolish family homes to build his massive golf course. But Trump hasn't given up yet. He's still pushing Aberdeenshire Council to force local families from their homes. We need to up the pressure again.
Tripping Up Trump have bought a piece of land slap bang in the middle of where Trump wants to build. We've found a legal way for thousands of us to sign up as co-owners of the land. That means as well as speaking up on behalf of the local people threatened by Trump, we can stand alongside them as fellow owners of land he wants to get his hands on.
A plot of land owned by thousands of us makes it a much trickier legal job for Trump. But it also sends a powerful message to the council. They'll know that if they do Trump's bidding, they're not just trampling on local residents, they're taking on thousands of us across Scotland and beyond.
It is simple and quick to sign-up to have your name added as a co-owner of the land. And it doesn't cost anything. Just click here:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/the-bunker
It looks like you may have to copy and paste this link, sorry for the extra effort folks but i cant get the links to work!!!
May 26, 2010
TEN THOUSAND HITS ! ! !
That is now ten thousand hits on the blog to date. I never thought my feeble musings would be of that much interest. Its all very gratifying and i would like to thank you all for looking in.I hope you all continue to find it enjoyable and interesting. My regards to you all...Daf
May 24, 2010
May 20, 2010
May 15, 2010
Sea Eagle.
The big news of the day must surely be thet there has been a Sea eagle seen several times over the last couple of days. Its been seen along the rendall hills north of Finstown. The report on Orkbird this morning was that there were two seen together along the ridge this morning. It has to be worth a look if your out that way. I know i will if i can get the bike up and running !!!
Orkney has a past history of ocupation by sea eagles and with the winter population of grey geese not to mention the summer population then it all ways raises faint hopes that they may once again expand their range and start to occupy the isles.......oooh one day...one day
Orkney has a past history of ocupation by sea eagles and with the winter population of grey geese not to mention the summer population then it all ways raises faint hopes that they may once again expand their range and start to occupy the isles.......oooh one day...one day
May 14, 2010
May 11, 2010
Siskins a garden first!
Siskin’s in the garden this morning were a nice surprise. These are a new garden first for us here. We had three females and one male. They only lasted for a few minutes until they were driven off by a starling and the falling sleet. I shall be keeping a good look out this morning seeing I am indoors and snowed off gardening and enjoying a lazy day….i am a very laxed boss!!!
snow
Here we go theres a good peppering of snow on the hills. Last night the ground and roads were frozen.....seasonal or what!! Come to the sunny north isles!!!
May 10, 2010
Goslings
I saw my first Greylag goslings being led to the safety of the sea today. Is this a sign that summer is ending....god i hope not its snowing again!!!
May 9, 2010
Dotterel, its a lifer!!
Today whilst sniffing about the net I happened to check out the all about Orkney site and was pleased to find the blog now included in their new wildlife blogs section. This might account for all the extra hits the counter seems to have been accruing this week. Anyway I returned to the site to show the OH what’s been happening there and to have a look at another local bird blog , Literate herrings, this way…(an excellent blog and my first read of it) when I noticed that orkbird had a notification that there were four Dotterel out in Tankerness. They were in the ploughed field behind the old school just past the tip. This is a bird that I have never seen before so it was a case of jump up and shoot off. I am damn glad I did as well!! There were showers on the way and a good strong wind blowing from the north however I was not going to be put off. On arrival I parked in the yard of the old school house and a quick chat with the owner who was building a new shed soon saw mt tucked away in a corner of his yard out of the weather. It took a moment to find the birds but we were soon both enjoying views of this beautiful and elegant bird. It was a lifer for me and once again orkbird shows it’s worth. The photos struggled a bit in the conditions with distance and bluster I hope you enjoy them. The north wind is going to continue for the next few days so there is a possibility that these excellent birds may remain so if your out and about I would urge you to have a look at these rare visitors whilst they are about!!
May 7, 2010
May 4, 2010
RSPB bird records for april 2010
APRIL 2010
An interesting month with spring migration really getting under way. A Great Crested Grebe was in Widewall Bay on 27th. A strong Fulmar passage involved up to 5000 per hour past Marwick on 1st; a ‘blue’ bird was off Birsay on 16th.
Whooper Swans decided it was time to head back to Iceland; 36 were over the Harray Loch on 9th while seven sat on the sea at Marwick on that date building up their courage! 40 flew out to sea over Birsay on 12th. There was a big movement of Pink-footed Geese as they headed the same way; 2700 passed over North Ronaldsay between 20th-23rd, 600 were over Costa and 600 flew out to sea over Marwick on the latter date while there were many reports of up to 500. The Loons Greenland White-fronted Goose flock held just 32 birds on 4th although one was nearby at Twatt on 22nd and four on Egilsay on 27th; most unusually, 500 moved north over Durkadale in three flocks on 11th. Less common grey geese involved a Bean Goose on North Ronaldsay on 15th and 20th; two Eurasian White-fronted Geese there on 2nd; and two Snow Geese in Sandwick on 27th. Barnacle Geese were conspicuous after 20th with up to 53 on North Ronaldsay, 42 at the Skaill Loch, 24 at Costa, 22 on Burray and 19 at The Loons; 13 remained on Papay all month. During the same period, up to 24 Light-bellied Brent Geese were found at Marwick with six in Birsay Bay, three on Papay and one on North Ronaldsay; the latter island also reported two Dark-bellied Brent Geese on 9th and 27th.
Ever an early breeding species, a Mallard duck accompanied 14 ducklings at Scapa Distillery on 28th. The best Pintail count was 28 at Sanday’s Loch of Rummie on 7th while that for Gadwall was 36 at the Brodgar Pools on 17th. A spectacular drake Mandarin was at Mill Dam, Shapinsay on 17th while North Ronaldsay’s Ring-necked Duck remained there all month. 50 Scaup were on the Skaill Loch on 28th while the Peedie Sea provided an excellent count of 120 Long-tailed Ducks on 21st. A pair of Goosanders were on the Stenness Loch on 5th and one on the Loch of Brockan on 23rd. The Loch of Skaill Smew put in its final appearance of the winter on 11th.
Away from breeding areas, a Buzzard was in the Widewall area all month and, more unusually, one was on North Ronaldsay on 28th. Marsh Harriers put in their customary spring appearance with singles at Loch of Banks on 2nd, in Rendall on 4th and on Rousay and at The Loons on 27th. Goshawks have become more regular in recent years and one was in Rendall on a typical date of 13th.
The first Corncrake was back on Papay on 26th. By far the largest Golden Plover flock was 1300 on Burray but there were many reports of up to 400 as northern race birds prepared to move back to their breeding grounds. The only Knots reported were three singles on North Ronaldsay up to 13th and 19 on Papay on 29th. North Ronaldsay also produced the peak counts of Sanderling (82 on 16th) and Purple Sandpipers (104 on 28th). A single Black-tailed Godwit was at The Shunan from 11th then, from 20th, five flocks of up to 10 were noted. This month saw an especially strong passage of Whimbrels from 18th on, peaking on 27th when small parties were noted in many parts of South Ronaldsay and an amazing flock of 58 was at the Mill Dam of Rango. Three Common Sandpipers had returned to a breeding site at the Loch of Bosquoy by 25th. More unusual waders included Ruff (one at the Skaill Loch on 24th and two at Rango on 28th), Wood Sandpiper (one at The Shunan on 25th), Greenshank (one over Shapinsay on 11th, one at Burwick on 14th and one in Deerness on 29th) and Spotted Redshank (the wintering bird at The Shunan until at least 23rd).
A very early Arctic Skua was seen over Stenness on 11th, one off Marwick on 16th, one on Papay on 17th and two off Shapinsay on 18th then no more until 26th. Common Gulls were already sitting on eggs on Shapinsay by 23rd, an early date. The Stromness Iceland Gull lingered until at least 26th while others were seen in Holm Sound on 12th and at Rennibister on 17th. The only Glaucous Gull was one at Newark Bay, Deerness on 29th. Sandwich Terns became widespread but the first Arctic Tern, typically, was not seen until 25th (Loch of Tankerness) and the first Common Tern on 27th (Rango).
The strange passage of Wood Pigeons through the north isles was again noted with five on Papay on 1st and up to three on North Ronaldsay between 1st-5th and again on North Ronaldsay on 27th/28th. Collared Doves were also noted there with up to three on four dates. A Cuckoo was calling in Rendall from 23rd and another was seen on North Ronaldsay on 27th. What was perhaps the rarest bird of the month was a Hoopoe, on Stronsay, from 6th-10th. A Long-eared Owl was on North Ronaldsay on 12th and a very early Swift over Stromness on 28th.
The first Swallow was noted in Stenness on 11th followed by a scatter of records up to 23rd after which birds became widespread. Sand Martins also first appeared on 11th when five were in Birsay, 18 having gathered there by 25th and others having been seen in four localities. An early House Martin was seen on North Ronaldsay on 7th but then no more until 25th after which birds were seen at five sites. The first White Wagtails were two in Birsay Bay on 25th then 26 were reported there on 30th, possibly an Orkney record count. Grey Wagtails were noted at their breeding site in Kirkwall and in other possible nesting areas at Wideford Burn on 4th and St. Margaret’s Hope on 9th.
Following the first Wheatears in late March, birds became more widespread during early April with, for example, six at Houton on 5th and up to 29 on North Ronaldsay from 9th – 12th; a strong passage was noted on the latter island on 27th when 175 were logged. Single Black Redstarts were seen on Rousay on 7th and North Ronaldsay on 10th while a Ring Ouzel was in Rendall on 10th and three on North Ronaldsay on 28th. Fieldfares were only seen on North Ronaldsay with one on 7th and up to three after 26th. Up to 40 Redwings were seen in Stenness and on North Ronaldsay mid-month while there were several records of singing birds in Rendall, Swannay and Costa. In amongst all this migratory activity, local Blackbirds got on with their business and a fledged brood was noted in Kirkwall as early as 15th.
The first Sedge Warbler was noted at Hestily, South Ronaldsay on 26th followed by others at The Loons and in Costa over the next couple of days. A Grasshopper Warbler was in song in Rendall on 30th. A Blackcap visited a Greeny garden on 7th and two were on North Ronaldsay on 10th. Two others occurred after 25th when one-two Lesser Whitethroats appeared in Evie, Deerness and on North Ronaldsay the latter locality also reporting an early Common Whitethroat. Chiffchaffs were noted in ten localities with up to four on North Ronaldsay and three in Rendall. The first Willow Warblers were two in song at Finstown on 10th, several more arriving on 11th/12th, a maximum seven being recorded on North Ronaldsay on 27th. A Pied Flycatcher was in Deerness on 28th.
A Great Grey Shrike was a good find by a visiting birding group at Whaness, Hoy on 12th. North Ronaldsay reported its usual light spring passage of corvids with a peak of nine Rooks on 9th and six Carrion Crows on 28th; a Rook was also on Papay on 8th.
Bramblings were noted in nine localities with as many as four in Finstown on 25th while one-two Goldfinches were reported from six sites. Similarly, small numbers Siskins passed through with one-two at six sites and up to five in Rendall. Up to three Common Redpolls were on North Ronaldsay on 25th/26th while two Lesser Redpolls were in Rendall on 27th and 30th. A possible Arctic Redpoll was seen in Costa on 21st/22nd. Up to three Crossbills were seen in Rendall with the maximum on 2nd when one was also in Holm; another was found dead on Burray on 19th. The late March arrival of Hawfinches continued into early April with singles reported from Lythes and St. Margaret’s Hope (South Ronaldsay), Stromness, Rendall and North Ronaldsay during 1st – 3rd. Two-three lingering Snow Buntings were noted in three West Mainland localities and on Papay during 15th-28th while single Lapland Buntings were seen on North Ronaldsay on 3rd and 10th.
Eric Meek
An interesting month with spring migration really getting under way. A Great Crested Grebe was in Widewall Bay on 27th. A strong Fulmar passage involved up to 5000 per hour past Marwick on 1st; a ‘blue’ bird was off Birsay on 16th.
Whooper Swans decided it was time to head back to Iceland; 36 were over the Harray Loch on 9th while seven sat on the sea at Marwick on that date building up their courage! 40 flew out to sea over Birsay on 12th. There was a big movement of Pink-footed Geese as they headed the same way; 2700 passed over North Ronaldsay between 20th-23rd, 600 were over Costa and 600 flew out to sea over Marwick on the latter date while there were many reports of up to 500. The Loons Greenland White-fronted Goose flock held just 32 birds on 4th although one was nearby at Twatt on 22nd and four on Egilsay on 27th; most unusually, 500 moved north over Durkadale in three flocks on 11th. Less common grey geese involved a Bean Goose on North Ronaldsay on 15th and 20th; two Eurasian White-fronted Geese there on 2nd; and two Snow Geese in Sandwick on 27th. Barnacle Geese were conspicuous after 20th with up to 53 on North Ronaldsay, 42 at the Skaill Loch, 24 at Costa, 22 on Burray and 19 at The Loons; 13 remained on Papay all month. During the same period, up to 24 Light-bellied Brent Geese were found at Marwick with six in Birsay Bay, three on Papay and one on North Ronaldsay; the latter island also reported two Dark-bellied Brent Geese on 9th and 27th.
Ever an early breeding species, a Mallard duck accompanied 14 ducklings at Scapa Distillery on 28th. The best Pintail count was 28 at Sanday’s Loch of Rummie on 7th while that for Gadwall was 36 at the Brodgar Pools on 17th. A spectacular drake Mandarin was at Mill Dam, Shapinsay on 17th while North Ronaldsay’s Ring-necked Duck remained there all month. 50 Scaup were on the Skaill Loch on 28th while the Peedie Sea provided an excellent count of 120 Long-tailed Ducks on 21st. A pair of Goosanders were on the Stenness Loch on 5th and one on the Loch of Brockan on 23rd. The Loch of Skaill Smew put in its final appearance of the winter on 11th.
Away from breeding areas, a Buzzard was in the Widewall area all month and, more unusually, one was on North Ronaldsay on 28th. Marsh Harriers put in their customary spring appearance with singles at Loch of Banks on 2nd, in Rendall on 4th and on Rousay and at The Loons on 27th. Goshawks have become more regular in recent years and one was in Rendall on a typical date of 13th.
The first Corncrake was back on Papay on 26th. By far the largest Golden Plover flock was 1300 on Burray but there were many reports of up to 400 as northern race birds prepared to move back to their breeding grounds. The only Knots reported were three singles on North Ronaldsay up to 13th and 19 on Papay on 29th. North Ronaldsay also produced the peak counts of Sanderling (82 on 16th) and Purple Sandpipers (104 on 28th). A single Black-tailed Godwit was at The Shunan from 11th then, from 20th, five flocks of up to 10 were noted. This month saw an especially strong passage of Whimbrels from 18th on, peaking on 27th when small parties were noted in many parts of South Ronaldsay and an amazing flock of 58 was at the Mill Dam of Rango. Three Common Sandpipers had returned to a breeding site at the Loch of Bosquoy by 25th. More unusual waders included Ruff (one at the Skaill Loch on 24th and two at Rango on 28th), Wood Sandpiper (one at The Shunan on 25th), Greenshank (one over Shapinsay on 11th, one at Burwick on 14th and one in Deerness on 29th) and Spotted Redshank (the wintering bird at The Shunan until at least 23rd).
A very early Arctic Skua was seen over Stenness on 11th, one off Marwick on 16th, one on Papay on 17th and two off Shapinsay on 18th then no more until 26th. Common Gulls were already sitting on eggs on Shapinsay by 23rd, an early date. The Stromness Iceland Gull lingered until at least 26th while others were seen in Holm Sound on 12th and at Rennibister on 17th. The only Glaucous Gull was one at Newark Bay, Deerness on 29th. Sandwich Terns became widespread but the first Arctic Tern, typically, was not seen until 25th (Loch of Tankerness) and the first Common Tern on 27th (Rango).
The strange passage of Wood Pigeons through the north isles was again noted with five on Papay on 1st and up to three on North Ronaldsay between 1st-5th and again on North Ronaldsay on 27th/28th. Collared Doves were also noted there with up to three on four dates. A Cuckoo was calling in Rendall from 23rd and another was seen on North Ronaldsay on 27th. What was perhaps the rarest bird of the month was a Hoopoe, on Stronsay, from 6th-10th. A Long-eared Owl was on North Ronaldsay on 12th and a very early Swift over Stromness on 28th.
The first Swallow was noted in Stenness on 11th followed by a scatter of records up to 23rd after which birds became widespread. Sand Martins also first appeared on 11th when five were in Birsay, 18 having gathered there by 25th and others having been seen in four localities. An early House Martin was seen on North Ronaldsay on 7th but then no more until 25th after which birds were seen at five sites. The first White Wagtails were two in Birsay Bay on 25th then 26 were reported there on 30th, possibly an Orkney record count. Grey Wagtails were noted at their breeding site in Kirkwall and in other possible nesting areas at Wideford Burn on 4th and St. Margaret’s Hope on 9th.
Following the first Wheatears in late March, birds became more widespread during early April with, for example, six at Houton on 5th and up to 29 on North Ronaldsay from 9th – 12th; a strong passage was noted on the latter island on 27th when 175 were logged. Single Black Redstarts were seen on Rousay on 7th and North Ronaldsay on 10th while a Ring Ouzel was in Rendall on 10th and three on North Ronaldsay on 28th. Fieldfares were only seen on North Ronaldsay with one on 7th and up to three after 26th. Up to 40 Redwings were seen in Stenness and on North Ronaldsay mid-month while there were several records of singing birds in Rendall, Swannay and Costa. In amongst all this migratory activity, local Blackbirds got on with their business and a fledged brood was noted in Kirkwall as early as 15th.
The first Sedge Warbler was noted at Hestily, South Ronaldsay on 26th followed by others at The Loons and in Costa over the next couple of days. A Grasshopper Warbler was in song in Rendall on 30th. A Blackcap visited a Greeny garden on 7th and two were on North Ronaldsay on 10th. Two others occurred after 25th when one-two Lesser Whitethroats appeared in Evie, Deerness and on North Ronaldsay the latter locality also reporting an early Common Whitethroat. Chiffchaffs were noted in ten localities with up to four on North Ronaldsay and three in Rendall. The first Willow Warblers were two in song at Finstown on 10th, several more arriving on 11th/12th, a maximum seven being recorded on North Ronaldsay on 27th. A Pied Flycatcher was in Deerness on 28th.
A Great Grey Shrike was a good find by a visiting birding group at Whaness, Hoy on 12th. North Ronaldsay reported its usual light spring passage of corvids with a peak of nine Rooks on 9th and six Carrion Crows on 28th; a Rook was also on Papay on 8th.
Bramblings were noted in nine localities with as many as four in Finstown on 25th while one-two Goldfinches were reported from six sites. Similarly, small numbers Siskins passed through with one-two at six sites and up to five in Rendall. Up to three Common Redpolls were on North Ronaldsay on 25th/26th while two Lesser Redpolls were in Rendall on 27th and 30th. A possible Arctic Redpoll was seen in Costa on 21st/22nd. Up to three Crossbills were seen in Rendall with the maximum on 2nd when one was also in Holm; another was found dead on Burray on 19th. The late March arrival of Hawfinches continued into early April with singles reported from Lythes and St. Margaret’s Hope (South Ronaldsay), Stromness, Rendall and North Ronaldsay during 1st – 3rd. Two-three lingering Snow Buntings were noted in three West Mainland localities and on Papay during 15th-28th while single Lapland Buntings were seen on North Ronaldsay on 3rd and 10th.
Eric Meek
May 3, 2010
Raptors in the hill
I went in to the hill tonight in the early evening. I wasn’t all that far from home and I was really just out for a bit of a leg stretch and a spy about. I’m not going to say just where it was but it was a fairly typical sort of valley, grazed fields giving what to rough grazing and then the heather hill. Several burns run of the hills here and there are stands of scrub willow dotted about the lower slopes. The walk up over the fields had lapwings and oystercatchers mixed with a few greylag geese that have no intention of heading to Iceland. The rough grazing has rabbits scampering around my feet as I pick my way through the clumps of rush grass.
Through the throng of calling meadow pipits and skylarks I here a familiar song! To my delight I can here the descending song of a willow warbler the first this year. I take the opportunity to draw breath and have a look. Before me there are a few spruce trees and beyond that a large clump of willow. Its from in here that the bird is singing. Unfortunately its quite sporadic and doesn’t seem to keen to get up high and sing, its enough to know he is here though. It’s a good job as well because as im standing looking panic is spreading up the valley as birds scatter and warning alarms sound. The reason is almost instantly obvious, a male hen harrier is quartering its way along the burn, swooping about the stands of shrubs as he attempts to put up small birds. This is quite a show but just as quickly he is gone, disappearing over the brow of a low slope. With in moments the sound of birds re-emerges to fill the air. I move on towards the heather edge. I had not been moving for more than five minutes and the male harrier returned to give the burn another look. This time I plonk down the scope and scope the slow moving fella up. It’s a fine twisting plunging display as he pounces a couple of times unsuccessfully until he moves off from sight once again.
A bit of peace falls over the hills side before me and I sit in the lea of a ruined building. I am out of the north wind and am catching the warm rays of the sun. Is so unusual to feel the sun so hot on the skin I think I’m going to get an instant tan…lovely. Looking across the vista before me I see high sloping hillsides covered in heather. You can hear curlews and red grouse from in front as the wind is carrying the sound towards me. The next raptor to arrive is a male short eared owl. I see it on the horizon as crosses and descends, It makes little effort to quarter the ground. It turns and banks then turns again and lands. During this manoeuvre it was giving out a rough barking call. I scope him up as he sits. Its apparent he is sitting looking out making no effort to preen. As minutes pass I look about to see what else is happening returning briefly to the owl to check he is still there. On the third look he was gone! A quick look drawn by the same call put me strait on him. The moment I acquired him in the bins my relieved breath I was about to exude was strangled in the throat as a darker larger female burst from the ground to and I a flurry of wings turn almost inverted and receive a food pass. It was over in seconds and my eye naturally followed on after the male as he moved of horizontally along the hillside. Within seconds I was back to look for the female. She was nowhere to be seen though she hadn’t flown off and was not on the wing anywhere in sight, neither was she insight on the heather. It now dawned on me that I had just seen a food pass to a bird that was sitting on a nest. I had found one of those really hard to find sites a SEO nest site…..excellent. The male eventually crested the horizon and disappeared over the hill top.
Ravens and big gulls moved along the hilltop horizon and the raptors settled down for a bit. With nothing in the air I turned my attention to scanning the heather its self. This proved to be successful almost strait away, on the lower slopes I found a female ringtail casually preening. I put her in the scope and even though she was quite distant and a bit engulfed by the heat haze that was messing up efforts to film and photograph her she was providing a nice enough view. To my surprise though another bird arrived and although this one lifted up it soon settled unperturbed by the new arrival. My thoughts are that these are first year birds and probably related. So with the two of them on the ground I an trying to get them both in frame with the digiscope the male bird comes on the scene. This looks good and the ring tail is rising to the male things really get a head of steam. Screaming into this comes yet another ringtail female. There is a furious strumash of wheeling shrieking birds as the new bird sets about the other two and has them sent on their way quick smart. It is breath taking and dramatic stuff. With the competition gone the pair play and bond with a delight full interaction around the willow stands both will land and the male will preen, this wont last for more than a minute then the female will make him rise and settle again. This goes on for a while and I make some efforts to film the male but its all desperately far for the camera.
As I am doing this I am aware of the owl calls coming from up the valley at the probable nest site. I can see nothing there but sure enough a scan about shows the male short eared owl entering the hill side. He moves along the hillside high up and despite the calls moves over the hill top and disappears…probably foodless. I move back to the hen harriers but they too are up and moving away. I take that as my cue to move away as well. I have only been watching for forty minutes but it’s the sort of forty minutes that make Orkney such a special place.
Want to see it for your self come for a walk…phone 771697…we seldom close.
Through the throng of calling meadow pipits and skylarks I here a familiar song! To my delight I can here the descending song of a willow warbler the first this year. I take the opportunity to draw breath and have a look. Before me there are a few spruce trees and beyond that a large clump of willow. Its from in here that the bird is singing. Unfortunately its quite sporadic and doesn’t seem to keen to get up high and sing, its enough to know he is here though. It’s a good job as well because as im standing looking panic is spreading up the valley as birds scatter and warning alarms sound. The reason is almost instantly obvious, a male hen harrier is quartering its way along the burn, swooping about the stands of shrubs as he attempts to put up small birds. This is quite a show but just as quickly he is gone, disappearing over the brow of a low slope. With in moments the sound of birds re-emerges to fill the air. I move on towards the heather edge. I had not been moving for more than five minutes and the male harrier returned to give the burn another look. This time I plonk down the scope and scope the slow moving fella up. It’s a fine twisting plunging display as he pounces a couple of times unsuccessfully until he moves off from sight once again.
A bit of peace falls over the hills side before me and I sit in the lea of a ruined building. I am out of the north wind and am catching the warm rays of the sun. Is so unusual to feel the sun so hot on the skin I think I’m going to get an instant tan…lovely. Looking across the vista before me I see high sloping hillsides covered in heather. You can hear curlews and red grouse from in front as the wind is carrying the sound towards me. The next raptor to arrive is a male short eared owl. I see it on the horizon as crosses and descends, It makes little effort to quarter the ground. It turns and banks then turns again and lands. During this manoeuvre it was giving out a rough barking call. I scope him up as he sits. Its apparent he is sitting looking out making no effort to preen. As minutes pass I look about to see what else is happening returning briefly to the owl to check he is still there. On the third look he was gone! A quick look drawn by the same call put me strait on him. The moment I acquired him in the bins my relieved breath I was about to exude was strangled in the throat as a darker larger female burst from the ground to and I a flurry of wings turn almost inverted and receive a food pass. It was over in seconds and my eye naturally followed on after the male as he moved of horizontally along the hillside. Within seconds I was back to look for the female. She was nowhere to be seen though she hadn’t flown off and was not on the wing anywhere in sight, neither was she insight on the heather. It now dawned on me that I had just seen a food pass to a bird that was sitting on a nest. I had found one of those really hard to find sites a SEO nest site…..excellent. The male eventually crested the horizon and disappeared over the hill top.
Ravens and big gulls moved along the hilltop horizon and the raptors settled down for a bit. With nothing in the air I turned my attention to scanning the heather its self. This proved to be successful almost strait away, on the lower slopes I found a female ringtail casually preening. I put her in the scope and even though she was quite distant and a bit engulfed by the heat haze that was messing up efforts to film and photograph her she was providing a nice enough view. To my surprise though another bird arrived and although this one lifted up it soon settled unperturbed by the new arrival. My thoughts are that these are first year birds and probably related. So with the two of them on the ground I an trying to get them both in frame with the digiscope the male bird comes on the scene. This looks good and the ring tail is rising to the male things really get a head of steam. Screaming into this comes yet another ringtail female. There is a furious strumash of wheeling shrieking birds as the new bird sets about the other two and has them sent on their way quick smart. It is breath taking and dramatic stuff. With the competition gone the pair play and bond with a delight full interaction around the willow stands both will land and the male will preen, this wont last for more than a minute then the female will make him rise and settle again. This goes on for a while and I make some efforts to film the male but its all desperately far for the camera.
As I am doing this I am aware of the owl calls coming from up the valley at the probable nest site. I can see nothing there but sure enough a scan about shows the male short eared owl entering the hill side. He moves along the hillside high up and despite the calls moves over the hill top and disappears…probably foodless. I move back to the hen harriers but they too are up and moving away. I take that as my cue to move away as well. I have only been watching for forty minutes but it’s the sort of forty minutes that make Orkney such a special place.
Want to see it for your self come for a walk…phone 771697…we seldom close.
Apr 29, 2010
Whimbrel alert
Yesterday Allan Leicht reported 70+ Whimbrel at Rango. Just now i saw a dozen coming in the Stonyhill Rd in the crop field oppisite Masehow. The wind is from the west at the moment and the south easterlies have dropped away......exelent...works done and the rest of the day is my own...
Apr 28, 2010
THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
The skua dives. The albatross
Flies over seas so mountainious
The thought of it will overwhelm.
The young boy standing at the helm.
Should he dare to turn his face around.
Aware of that unspoken sound:
The fathomless, the swallowing.
The green, green towers following?
Where is the earth? Where is the sun?
The wheel spins now. The boy has run.
The rigging groans. The three masts fall.
Can god be in this world at all?
And there is nothing but the sea.
And mad birds crying endlessly.
Eddie Cummins
1999
I FLAME at WORDS.
The skua dives. The albatross
Flies over seas so mountainious
The thought of it will overwhelm.
The young boy standing at the helm.
Should he dare to turn his face around.
Aware of that unspoken sound:
The fathomless, the swallowing.
The green, green towers following?
Where is the earth? Where is the sun?
The wheel spins now. The boy has run.
The rigging groans. The three masts fall.
Can god be in this world at all?
And there is nothing but the sea.
And mad birds crying endlessly.
Eddie Cummins
1999
I FLAME at WORDS.
Apr 26, 2010
Last winter walk with Tim
This last Sunday marked the last walk of the season with Tim Dean. I must admit my attendance has been a bit sparse this year so I was looking forwards to the day, despite being warned it was to be a long walk in the heart of the west mainland. We all met up at the car park in the centre of Dounby. The plan for the day was to be a liner walk with half of the cars left at the brig below Click mill where the Hillside burn runs into Glimms moss and on through Durkadale. This was to be the finish point, we would start at the Corrigall farm museum and by way of a very circuitous route wend our way back here. Before we even start off there’s time for a look about here. There are a few greylag that were hanging about in pairs. The burn also revealed a pair of Widgeon that looked intent on sticking around. The rest of there breed has largely moved off. In a few short weeks the Widgeon has moved from being one of our commonest occurring winter ducks to one of the UKs rarest breeding birds with I think im right in saying only four or five hundred pairs across the north of the British isles. Orkney is lucky enough to have a fair portion of these fine looking ducks breeding here. As we are setting off for the start point a good flock of Pinkfeet circle and come down in fields south of us. Here they will do some quick feeding before taking advantage of the favourable winds that threaten to suck them off towards Iceland with an irresistible draw of spring.
The departure from Corrigall led us through the farm yard and along a track in towards the Harray hills and the dale of Corrigall. Linnets in pairs and blackbirds accompanied us as we went. Some of the first chattering Swallows hunted up and over the gorse lined gully. The burn is descending over the series of small steps provided delightful background music as we admire the fine yellow displays of gorse flowers and primroses set off so well by a bit of sunshine. The first butterflies of the year for me appeared. I always look on this a one of the real starter moments of the summer season. They were all to be Lesser Tortoiseshells that would have been stirred to life from their hibernations by the temperature rise of the last couple of days. The track wound on until we were almost opposite the track that leads into the peat hill at the Vale of Corrigall. The first bird to bee seen causing a stir is the years first Bonxie. The very silhouette of this dark marauder is enough to put fear in the hearts of the field birds and every thing nervously lifts in to the air to circle and land as the danger recedes. Here as we stand and watch the sceptical we begin to watch a pair of distant Hen harriers soaring above the hill. Eventually they came closer putting up a flock of golden plover. These birds are looking truly resplendent in their summer plumage. They are staging here before moving on to pastures further north east or west. After a good look through them it was back on with the Harriers. The male was seen to start to skydance for the female but all to soon crested the hill and fell from view. All to soon we have to be moving on and the series of tracks eventually lead us out on to the Lyde road. We now have a short road section that will take us to below St Michel’s kirk and once more on to tracks and off tarmac. The ditches along the road and tracks are alive with colour the yellows of celandine and Marsh marigold attracting in more freshly awoken butterfly’s. In the shorter cut grass and verges the blue flowers of Germander Speedwell are starting to show well. The Kirk is being used today for service so we bypass its opportunity to view one of the best view points on the west mainland, it was unfortunate but it will always be there. We move on all the time accompanied by singing Meadow pipits, Skylarks, curlews and Lapwings. Soon enough we crest the hill and before us stretches a magnificent view of the west mainland basin with the parishes of Quoyloo, Sandwick and Birsay. Dominating the foreground is the Loch of Bosquoy. This gem of the west mainland is to be where we are to have our lunch and a welcome rest.
Bosquoy is a beautiful wee loch. Its shallow waters are abundant in small brown trout and the waters hold fine beds of reeds that form a couple of lagoons there’s shelter between them from a couple of crannogy islands. The vital abundance of life here is irresistible to bird life during the winter months and even now there are hundreds of Tufted ducks staging here before moving further north to breed in the all to brief arctic summer. We are not alone here and we share scopes with another group of birders as we tuck in to our well earned sandwiches.
Before us are a few Potchard and a good number of Shoveller. At the far end of the lock are a good wee flock of Pin tailed ducks, they are looking very sharp. These might be moving on but they might also stay and breed in the isles. These are another extremely rare breeding duck for the UK and Orkney supports its fair share!! There’s a commotion in the breks beyond the shore as a male Hen harrier is sent on its way with a barrage of attacks from lapwings and Curlews. The weather is misty and grey looking in to the distance with more open skies above us. The air is not too bad to look through though and it’s a good job because in the shallows on the far side is a splendid Spotted Redshank. This is a bird that is seen in Orkney four or five times a year although this is probably the one that’s been seen over at the Shunan on and off for the last few weeks. It is looking stunning in its summer plumage of black feathers. This is the first I have seen in summer plumage and its defiantly bird of the day. Another passing migrant to show up was a Common sandpiper. This shot down the waters edge calling as it passed us to land some where on the lower shore. It was set up by an arriving fisherman to disappear once again. With our fast well broken and our feet rested we wander up the loch side to get better views of the Pintails before returning to the track . Three more Sandpipers move past us calling. It really is a wee gem Bosquoy.
The track now leads out to the main Harray road. We walk parallel with it in a field before crossing it and turning in to the Nisthouse road that leads us past the Shunan. This is a shallow loch that can dry up completely in the hot summer time. Today it is fairly full and is teeming with birds. None of them are particularly rare but there are all the usual suspects. It is a fine place to watch life going on and during the migration times the exposed muddy flats can prove irresistible for a hungry well travelled migrant so you never know what might turn up. It’s a place well worth a look in passing. We follow the track uphill past Nisthouse and the rookery. All the way along the track there seem to be sparrows and Linnets. More Brown hares are recorded. I forgot to mention that we were recording hares as we went but I had lost count at fifteen or so and that was ages ago!! Walking now on single track road we pass Holodyke looking impressive with it’s newly harrled walls. Turning into the hill at the new windmill sub station the vegetation changes again as we move along, rough grazing to one side and heather on the other. Snipe are put up as we move along. Little birds moving along the gorse turn out to be Greenfinches rather than the expected Linnets. Greenfinches seem to be increasing their range in Orkney and can be found in all sorts of unusual places. We have seen and heard a few Wrens as we went but I don’t think they were in big numbers. Another bird conspicuous by its absence was the Stonechat. I have seen only one pair and only heard of three other pairs being seen. Although its early in the season I hope for more to show. They may have been hard hit by the long cold of winter. I suppose time will tell. With the darkness of the heather moors before us a pair of Wheatears emerging from a nest hole bring a dash of colour, both birds looking at the peak of their breeding condition. The last mile and a half wend back to the Hillside road and the cars. Another small stretch of road yet there’s no lack of birds, Curlew, Lapwing, Skylark and Meadow pipit abound. Snipe take to the air from muddy puddles and all around Greylag geese seem set on remaining in the heather to breed. The last birds to be seen of the walk are another flock of Golden plover although less than seventy yards from us they don’t panic and fly but choose to slowly walk away down the hill. Probably an indication of how tired they are after a long flight to get here. We are finally at the cars and I can empathise with them…I am pooped as well but it has been and outstanding six hours of walking!!
The departure from Corrigall led us through the farm yard and along a track in towards the Harray hills and the dale of Corrigall. Linnets in pairs and blackbirds accompanied us as we went. Some of the first chattering Swallows hunted up and over the gorse lined gully. The burn is descending over the series of small steps provided delightful background music as we admire the fine yellow displays of gorse flowers and primroses set off so well by a bit of sunshine. The first butterflies of the year for me appeared. I always look on this a one of the real starter moments of the summer season. They were all to be Lesser Tortoiseshells that would have been stirred to life from their hibernations by the temperature rise of the last couple of days. The track wound on until we were almost opposite the track that leads into the peat hill at the Vale of Corrigall. The first bird to bee seen causing a stir is the years first Bonxie. The very silhouette of this dark marauder is enough to put fear in the hearts of the field birds and every thing nervously lifts in to the air to circle and land as the danger recedes. Here as we stand and watch the sceptical we begin to watch a pair of distant Hen harriers soaring above the hill. Eventually they came closer putting up a flock of golden plover. These birds are looking truly resplendent in their summer plumage. They are staging here before moving on to pastures further north east or west. After a good look through them it was back on with the Harriers. The male was seen to start to skydance for the female but all to soon crested the hill and fell from view. All to soon we have to be moving on and the series of tracks eventually lead us out on to the Lyde road. We now have a short road section that will take us to below St Michel’s kirk and once more on to tracks and off tarmac. The ditches along the road and tracks are alive with colour the yellows of celandine and Marsh marigold attracting in more freshly awoken butterfly’s. In the shorter cut grass and verges the blue flowers of Germander Speedwell are starting to show well. The Kirk is being used today for service so we bypass its opportunity to view one of the best view points on the west mainland, it was unfortunate but it will always be there. We move on all the time accompanied by singing Meadow pipits, Skylarks, curlews and Lapwings. Soon enough we crest the hill and before us stretches a magnificent view of the west mainland basin with the parishes of Quoyloo, Sandwick and Birsay. Dominating the foreground is the Loch of Bosquoy. This gem of the west mainland is to be where we are to have our lunch and a welcome rest.
Bosquoy is a beautiful wee loch. Its shallow waters are abundant in small brown trout and the waters hold fine beds of reeds that form a couple of lagoons there’s shelter between them from a couple of crannogy islands. The vital abundance of life here is irresistible to bird life during the winter months and even now there are hundreds of Tufted ducks staging here before moving further north to breed in the all to brief arctic summer. We are not alone here and we share scopes with another group of birders as we tuck in to our well earned sandwiches.
Before us are a few Potchard and a good number of Shoveller. At the far end of the lock are a good wee flock of Pin tailed ducks, they are looking very sharp. These might be moving on but they might also stay and breed in the isles. These are another extremely rare breeding duck for the UK and Orkney supports its fair share!! There’s a commotion in the breks beyond the shore as a male Hen harrier is sent on its way with a barrage of attacks from lapwings and Curlews. The weather is misty and grey looking in to the distance with more open skies above us. The air is not too bad to look through though and it’s a good job because in the shallows on the far side is a splendid Spotted Redshank. This is a bird that is seen in Orkney four or five times a year although this is probably the one that’s been seen over at the Shunan on and off for the last few weeks. It is looking stunning in its summer plumage of black feathers. This is the first I have seen in summer plumage and its defiantly bird of the day. Another passing migrant to show up was a Common sandpiper. This shot down the waters edge calling as it passed us to land some where on the lower shore. It was set up by an arriving fisherman to disappear once again. With our fast well broken and our feet rested we wander up the loch side to get better views of the Pintails before returning to the track . Three more Sandpipers move past us calling. It really is a wee gem Bosquoy.
The track now leads out to the main Harray road. We walk parallel with it in a field before crossing it and turning in to the Nisthouse road that leads us past the Shunan. This is a shallow loch that can dry up completely in the hot summer time. Today it is fairly full and is teeming with birds. None of them are particularly rare but there are all the usual suspects. It is a fine place to watch life going on and during the migration times the exposed muddy flats can prove irresistible for a hungry well travelled migrant so you never know what might turn up. It’s a place well worth a look in passing. We follow the track uphill past Nisthouse and the rookery. All the way along the track there seem to be sparrows and Linnets. More Brown hares are recorded. I forgot to mention that we were recording hares as we went but I had lost count at fifteen or so and that was ages ago!! Walking now on single track road we pass Holodyke looking impressive with it’s newly harrled walls. Turning into the hill at the new windmill sub station the vegetation changes again as we move along, rough grazing to one side and heather on the other. Snipe are put up as we move along. Little birds moving along the gorse turn out to be Greenfinches rather than the expected Linnets. Greenfinches seem to be increasing their range in Orkney and can be found in all sorts of unusual places. We have seen and heard a few Wrens as we went but I don’t think they were in big numbers. Another bird conspicuous by its absence was the Stonechat. I have seen only one pair and only heard of three other pairs being seen. Although its early in the season I hope for more to show. They may have been hard hit by the long cold of winter. I suppose time will tell. With the darkness of the heather moors before us a pair of Wheatears emerging from a nest hole bring a dash of colour, both birds looking at the peak of their breeding condition. The last mile and a half wend back to the Hillside road and the cars. Another small stretch of road yet there’s no lack of birds, Curlew, Lapwing, Skylark and Meadow pipit abound. Snipe take to the air from muddy puddles and all around Greylag geese seem set on remaining in the heather to breed. The last birds to be seen of the walk are another flock of Golden plover although less than seventy yards from us they don’t panic and fly but choose to slowly walk away down the hill. Probably an indication of how tired they are after a long flight to get here. We are finally at the cars and I can empathise with them…I am pooped as well but it has been and outstanding six hours of walking!!
Apr 12, 2010
Merry dancers
That was an exelent display last night lasting from one untill the back of four in the morning. Its been years since i have seen the lights and was well pleased with it last night. Strange that the two aurora watches i checked had no warnings!!
Apr 11, 2010
Russadale
Chafinch calling and Dunnocks going for it, M henharrier close in, 'swallow' hunted around buildings yesterday...place was cooking!!
Apr 5, 2010
Apr 4, 2010
close call
Leaving Stromness to night for reasons to long to go into here I had tied on the back of the bike a big bag of shopping a pair of waterproof trousers and my separate hard drive with three years worth of photos. So after a good blat up the Howe bray and down the other side (surely you mean 80kph officer) I realised to my horror the back seat was empty. I quickly retraced my steps to find gulls hovering over the contents of my shopping bag. Approaching I see the hard drive lying in the road along with my oilskins and some assorted veg! The drive its self was wrapped in a towel and then in a bin bag to protect it from the rain. It was looking well rat chewed as I grab it and shove it in my coat. All the time I am telling my self don’t stress…don’t stress. Mind you as I am saying that I am kicking an empty tomato can and an empty soup can in to the ditch. The food is the last of my concerns as I head home…don’t stress…don’t stress. I get in doors and have to piss before I can bring my self to look or unwrap the poor thing. The bag is in tatters and the towel is ripped and poking out…..ooooer. With it all pealed back the box is scuffed about the corners where it was abraded through…..oooer Its connected up and switched on….it makes spinning up noises all be it with an ominous sort of tick from time to time. As the computer boots up the picasa icon stays unlit. Oh well I think, I was hoping for a lot. Mind you, you have to have a wiggle of all the connectors don’t you. Well bugger me if the icon don’t light up!! After a moment the photo store opens and I have the last album I used in view. Its un responsive though and I sit clicking the mouse and tapping the drives scared case…..the screen flickers a bit and starts to work, I can run up and down the album list and select things oh joy oh joy!!. As far as I can see its working away fine. Its this sort of thing that will send me grey haired, well if I wasn’t allready..lol.
It looks to me it went along the road for at least forty yards at a fair lick. The reason its survived is down to the towel wrap and the electrical engineering skills of Mick Rennie who built it of as solid stock as he could because that’s what he does. The man is an engineering genius of the first order. (last time I saw him he was designing and building a steam engine from complete scratch to run a Suzuki alternator just for some thing to do whilst he was between jobs) Nice one Mick I take my hat off to you!! I owe you big style!!!
It looks to me it went along the road for at least forty yards at a fair lick. The reason its survived is down to the towel wrap and the electrical engineering skills of Mick Rennie who built it of as solid stock as he could because that’s what he does. The man is an engineering genius of the first order. (last time I saw him he was designing and building a steam engine from complete scratch to run a Suzuki alternator just for some thing to do whilst he was between jobs) Nice one Mick I take my hat off to you!! I owe you big style!!!
Apr 1, 2010
Fortunately for us the wet and heavy snows have passed south of us. Easter now looms so fingers crossed it will herald a change to warmer air. Some TV reporter today said it was forecast to be a hot summer. Looking to the last two winters the forecasts don’t lead to much confidence though. What will be will be tho and we will see what like when it comes. Life is bursting out all over though and birds are on territories every where. I heard my first Meadow pipit display this morning. Simon showed me a nice blackbird sitting on a nest in his greenhouse. It is nicely tucked away in a hole in the wall out of the sun. It will be interesting to see how it gets on. Its getting brighter out side now after getting rained off at the back of three. I think I might go out again for a bit. Scope out Barnhouse or something.....and thats nae kiddin
Mar 31, 2010
Facebook the next step forwards
I thought I was immune from the all encompassing Facebook but it seems not so today I am launching a Facebook page for the blog. The page is called Orkney Birding and if you are a facebooker then I hope you will search it down. You will be very welcome!
Mar 30, 2010
A poem from Lizz of the Org
Grey Geese
I hear your noisy calls and lift my head towards the sky,
There you are, a V shaped skein that holds the eye.
I watch you fly across the bay to margins where you graze,
To the fields where are gathered numbers that amaze.
I have seen you slip and slide across the frozen loch,
Circle round and land beside the ancient broch.
Watched the sky turn grey above the place you roost,
Each time you gave my heart a boost.
But now it's almost time for you to go,
Back to the lands you left before the winter snow.
Fly straight, be strong and true.
When Autumn comes, I will look again for you.
I hear your noisy calls and lift my head towards the sky,
There you are, a V shaped skein that holds the eye.
I watch you fly across the bay to margins where you graze,
To the fields where are gathered numbers that amaze.
I have seen you slip and slide across the frozen loch,
Circle round and land beside the ancient broch.
Watched the sky turn grey above the place you roost,
Each time you gave my heart a boost.
But now it's almost time for you to go,
Back to the lands you left before the winter snow.
Fly straight, be strong and true.
When Autumn comes, I will look again for you.
Mar 22, 2010
Greylag goose ringing update
The other day I received an update from Alan Leitch of the Orkney ringing group about the Greylag goose ringing that I had been along to giving a hand out in the summer time. On the 8th of July 09 at the loch of Hundland on the north west of the mainland the ringing group went to work on the moulting flightless flock there. The evening was chosen to try and reduce the effect of the predatory Bonxies that were a present and constant danger to the flightless flock and their youngsters.
On that evening we had captured the birds by means of driving the flightless breeding/moulting flock in to a prepared corral. We succeeded in corralling 191 birds which was about thirty percent of the birds present at the site. Preceding counts on the loch had established that there were at a peak 640 birds on June 30th when 82 broods and a total of 307 goslings giving 3.74 as an average brood were noted. This compares to 08 when a count of 500 birds with 58 broods and 215 goslings giving 3.70 as an average brood size. 25 marked birds from the 08 count were recorded on Hundland loch during this breeding season, many with goslings in tow.
Since July 08 all the sightings of the collared birds have been entered into a data base with some surprising results. about 90 % of the collared birds have been reported within 5km of Hundland loch with the furthest local birds appearing on Shapinsay just 20km away. The only exception to this local pattern have been sightings of birds on the Buckenham Marshes down in Norfolk!
In 08 two of our collared goslings made the 790 km trip to East Anglia. DIS and DIU had somehow managed to head off in an unexpected direction, possibly in the company of other geese This pair managed to return to Orkney to be recorded at RSPB Durkadale close to the ringing site. DIS remained at Durkadale and DIU headed off to Milldam on Shapinsay. Neither bird was seen again until they showed up yet again on Buckenham marshes on the 3rd of Jan!. This time they had a couple of the 09 first year birds in tow HAK and HAJ neither of these had been reported since ringing in july. They have been spending most of their time on the river Yare between Buckenham and Claxton marshes Norfolk since January. The interesting thing here is that these birds are to young to be related. DIS and DIU did not breed in 09 as they were to young. All four birds have been spending time with ‘feral’ Greylag and Canada geese although often reported as only loosely associating with other geese outwith the main group of ten birds. It does make you wonder if all the birds are Orcadian though! Interestingly though another gosling was reported shot to the BTO. This one HFS was shot at Wickhampton Acle Norfolkthis is in the close locality to the Orkney birds and begs the question was it one of the migrating group? But as Allan says we will never really know. Hopefully we will see all of these birds return to The west mainland possibly even on Durkadale come April. The oldest of them will be ready for breeding this year so the story will hopefully continue.
On a darker note the breeding population continues to expand and the pressure to reduce numbers dramatically looks like it is going to happen sooner or later. Different geese scaring methods to keep them from grazing new growing crops are being researched but I think little success is being achieved so they and their youngsters to come may have to take their chances in the future.
In December 09 the Grey goose count for the whole of Orkney revealed a staggering count of 80,538 of which an estimated 10-12000 (11%) currently summer on the islands. It is likely that this amount of birds is affecting other traditional breeders but I don’t think that any real research yet exists to support the idea. Some form of control looks like it will eventually come about though.
Finally there was the leucistic white Greylag known as Blondie or more properly HBF. You may have seen this bird in the photos I posted last July. It was amazing that it had survived the predation from Bonxies and made it to a first year bird. Its more amazing still that it has survived the trophy instincts of local and commercial shooters. Blondie is doing well, alive and kicking and still out west.
My thanks to Alan and the Orkney ringing group for the update and the opportunity to get out and help in the first place.
If anyone has sighting of any of these collared birds anywhere and at any time could you please report them to…alan.leitch@rspb.org.uk
Cheers.
On that evening we had captured the birds by means of driving the flightless breeding/moulting flock in to a prepared corral. We succeeded in corralling 191 birds which was about thirty percent of the birds present at the site. Preceding counts on the loch had established that there were at a peak 640 birds on June 30th when 82 broods and a total of 307 goslings giving 3.74 as an average brood were noted. This compares to 08 when a count of 500 birds with 58 broods and 215 goslings giving 3.70 as an average brood size. 25 marked birds from the 08 count were recorded on Hundland loch during this breeding season, many with goslings in tow.
Since July 08 all the sightings of the collared birds have been entered into a data base with some surprising results. about 90 % of the collared birds have been reported within 5km of Hundland loch with the furthest local birds appearing on Shapinsay just 20km away. The only exception to this local pattern have been sightings of birds on the Buckenham Marshes down in Norfolk!
In 08 two of our collared goslings made the 790 km trip to East Anglia. DIS and DIU had somehow managed to head off in an unexpected direction, possibly in the company of other geese This pair managed to return to Orkney to be recorded at RSPB Durkadale close to the ringing site. DIS remained at Durkadale and DIU headed off to Milldam on Shapinsay. Neither bird was seen again until they showed up yet again on Buckenham marshes on the 3rd of Jan!. This time they had a couple of the 09 first year birds in tow HAK and HAJ neither of these had been reported since ringing in july. They have been spending most of their time on the river Yare between Buckenham and Claxton marshes Norfolk since January. The interesting thing here is that these birds are to young to be related. DIS and DIU did not breed in 09 as they were to young. All four birds have been spending time with ‘feral’ Greylag and Canada geese although often reported as only loosely associating with other geese outwith the main group of ten birds. It does make you wonder if all the birds are Orcadian though! Interestingly though another gosling was reported shot to the BTO. This one HFS was shot at Wickhampton Acle Norfolkthis is in the close locality to the Orkney birds and begs the question was it one of the migrating group? But as Allan says we will never really know. Hopefully we will see all of these birds return to The west mainland possibly even on Durkadale come April. The oldest of them will be ready for breeding this year so the story will hopefully continue.
On a darker note the breeding population continues to expand and the pressure to reduce numbers dramatically looks like it is going to happen sooner or later. Different geese scaring methods to keep them from grazing new growing crops are being researched but I think little success is being achieved so they and their youngsters to come may have to take their chances in the future.
In December 09 the Grey goose count for the whole of Orkney revealed a staggering count of 80,538 of which an estimated 10-12000 (11%) currently summer on the islands. It is likely that this amount of birds is affecting other traditional breeders but I don’t think that any real research yet exists to support the idea. Some form of control looks like it will eventually come about though.
Finally there was the leucistic white Greylag known as Blondie or more properly HBF. You may have seen this bird in the photos I posted last July. It was amazing that it had survived the predation from Bonxies and made it to a first year bird. Its more amazing still that it has survived the trophy instincts of local and commercial shooters. Blondie is doing well, alive and kicking and still out west.
My thanks to Alan and the Orkney ringing group for the update and the opportunity to get out and help in the first place.
If anyone has sighting of any of these collared birds anywhere and at any time could you please report them to…alan.leitch@rspb.org.uk
Cheers.
Mar 16, 2010
SEO.
The first Short eared owl of the spring to get on the garden list was across the garden the other night. It soon headed off to the back field to hunt over the rank grass there quartering for a while before heading off. The Short eared owls are becoming more obvious now as the season progresses. I was on the Bigswell road the other night staking out a sight that may hold a Barn owl when I saw to of them quartering the same ground. They eventually met and a great argument ensued providing some fine but distant views. Eventually the split and went their separate ways…..very entertaining at the time tho!!
Mar 9, 2010
Pinkie's
There have been six to eight hundred Pink foots grazing below the house today. Every so often a Hen harrier or Peregrine would have them all up, circle for a bit and back down. They didnt seem to keen to move on, and who can blame them it probably was a long enough flight to get here.
It was cool as any way!!
It was cool as any way!!
Bonaparte's Gull
Movment
Return migration seems to be starting to get a grip. There have been a few reports of pinkfeet passing overhead and more of flocks coming down. We were fortunate enough to have three hundred plus roost below the house two nights ago. Oyster catchers are also returning to the county with a small rise in numbers making them more obvious in the fields. Golden plover flocks are about out east, staging for their onward flight . There are also flocks of redwings dotted about all over feeding as fast as they can before moving. I was up the Biggswell road on Sunday where I saw 150+ take to the air spooked by a sparrow hawk.
There was a report of a barn owl in Harray last week. This is a rare bird for us not to mention elusive. I had a report of a white owl emerging from a derelict property a few days ago and have spent the grimlings in to darkness watching the house and area surrounding it but as yet with no luck. I did briefly have hares boxing yards if front of me last night…..you never know what you are going to see…every thing is about to change with the season once again...I love it!!
There was a report of a barn owl in Harray last week. This is a rare bird for us not to mention elusive. I had a report of a white owl emerging from a derelict property a few days ago and have spent the grimlings in to darkness watching the house and area surrounding it but as yet with no luck. I did briefly have hares boxing yards if front of me last night…..you never know what you are going to see…every thing is about to change with the season once again...I love it!!
Spring seems sprung
What a difference a bit of warm weather makes. On Saturday we like the rest of the UK felt the benefit of the large areas of high pressure that has moved across the country. Things look even better a few days later with the system looking stalled over the entire country every one is experiencing a rush of spring carried on the welcome warm air.
It was much like this for me on Saturday, I didn’t have the opportunity to get out birding tho , my days efforts were to be spent in the garden constructing a rabbit hutch with my ex brother in law. Its amazing what a small hike in temperature makes. The ground beneath the feet was still frozen hard yet soon started to thaw…well at least the top centimetre. More encouraging was the first wren singing. The wrens had been a bit of a concern with the prolonged cold weather but there had been a female skulking about the shrubs for a few days. This welcome return has now been joined by a rather vociferous male who is singing from all the high perches around the houses. I still haven’t seen that many out and about but it looks good for round about at the moment.
The wren wasn’t to be alone though and with in minutes of him singing our first skylark of the year was singing above the house. The delight felt in hearing the song was doubled almost immediately with another bird sparking up before the firsts song cycle had finished. The spring chorus wasn’t going to stop there either and down the fields there was a rich strong sound of birds feeling the spring, several curlew were bubbling away and rising into the air in display. Oystercatchers were also displaying with their heads down and stomping around the sound of their piping calls carried beautifully across the warm open spaces to us.
For so long the dominant bird sound has been the squabbley sounds of greylag geese that the cacophony of spring sounds seemed overwhelming …not to mention very welcome……..birds are returning and its all about to kick off again…magic.
It was much like this for me on Saturday, I didn’t have the opportunity to get out birding tho , my days efforts were to be spent in the garden constructing a rabbit hutch with my ex brother in law. Its amazing what a small hike in temperature makes. The ground beneath the feet was still frozen hard yet soon started to thaw…well at least the top centimetre. More encouraging was the first wren singing. The wrens had been a bit of a concern with the prolonged cold weather but there had been a female skulking about the shrubs for a few days. This welcome return has now been joined by a rather vociferous male who is singing from all the high perches around the houses. I still haven’t seen that many out and about but it looks good for round about at the moment.
The wren wasn’t to be alone though and with in minutes of him singing our first skylark of the year was singing above the house. The delight felt in hearing the song was doubled almost immediately with another bird sparking up before the firsts song cycle had finished. The spring chorus wasn’t going to stop there either and down the fields there was a rich strong sound of birds feeling the spring, several curlew were bubbling away and rising into the air in display. Oystercatchers were also displaying with their heads down and stomping around the sound of their piping calls carried beautifully across the warm open spaces to us.
For so long the dominant bird sound has been the squabbley sounds of greylag geese that the cacophony of spring sounds seemed overwhelming …not to mention very welcome……..birds are returning and its all about to kick off again…magic.
Feb 27, 2010
Even though we are only days (apparently) from spring the return of the snow seems to have reinforced the unrelenting grip of winter. I suppose we cant complain though. The last few months have brought some of the calmest winter weather that in can mind on bar none. Its an effect of climate change that we suffer from extremes of weather and this is surely one example. However its an example that will probably get over looked in the general moping about the time the snow was on the ground.
Anyway I was listening to a solitary Lapwing having a good call and display in the sunshine the other afternoon and it brought home to me how much I miss the cacophony of bird song that makes up the background ambiance that we so quickly take for granted when its here. Coincidently this film cropped up whilst I was going through the albums and the sounds brought summer rushing back for a moment. I filmed this on the way home from the summer solstice shenanigans on the opposite side of the loch.
Anyway I was listening to a solitary Lapwing having a good call and display in the sunshine the other afternoon and it brought home to me how much I miss the cacophony of bird song that makes up the background ambiance that we so quickly take for granted when its here. Coincidently this film cropped up whilst I was going through the albums and the sounds brought summer rushing back for a moment. I filmed this on the way home from the summer solstice shenanigans on the opposite side of the loch.
Feb 25, 2010
Feb 23, 2010
Short warning!!!
The Research Work of the RSPB
There will be a Lunchtime Science Seminar, Wednesday 24th February, at 1.00 pm in the Lecture Room at ICIT, Old Academy, Stromness.
Dr Rowena Langston, Principal Conservation Scientist at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, will be talking about the RSPB's programme of research in support of the conservation of birds and their habitats.
All welcome!
There will be a Lunchtime Science Seminar, Wednesday 24th February, at 1.00 pm in the Lecture Room at ICIT, Old Academy, Stromness.
Dr Rowena Langston, Principal Conservation Scientist at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, will be talking about the RSPB's programme of research in support of the conservation of birds and their habitats.
All welcome!
Outside noo
Outside its one of those sharp, freezing nights when the temperature plummets in the still night air. There had been cloud cover earlier that had kind foiled half a plan for snapping the moon. I did manage a couple before bed tho, taking advantage of the excellent conditions. Best of all my cold fumble fingered efforts were accompanied by the piping of several oystercatchers. Music to my ears tonight
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