On a side note we’ve got a fairly good ‘yanks’ list. Recent years have seen Veery (our 2nd!), N Harrier, Am Robin and of course the RW Blackbird (I may have forgotten one?!). 2014 had Grey-ch Thrush and BB Cuckoo in the same day! Still no confirmed REVs for NR, feels overdue.
Spring is a different story, some of my best birding has been in spring, despite it being poor in recent years, it seems to be mostly the staff birding here in May/June and few visitors. Coverage is key, and I guess thats why we do what do! Fair Isle always seems busier in spring. 2/2
Can’t disagree, we’ve only been consistently recording from the mid-80’s and coverage at times has been patchy, have had plenty of days when I wish we had better coverage, but there’s been a definite upturn in visitor numbers in the past 4/5 autumns. No doubt due to the purple patches we’ve had. 1/2
A quick trip to Filey with @maddyhine.bsky.social for the Eastern Black Redstart. Very nice indeed
King Eider still at Dornoch after we were fogged off on Christmas Eve. Still two Surf Scoter but no sign of Black Scoter sadly.
#HighlandBirding #Ukbirding #KingEider #BoxingDayBirding
Yeah, checked it thoroughly with the recent(ish) Lothian bird being downgraded to an intergrade!
We don’t, but there’s a video a guest took showing it to all be brown and uniform :)
Warra week. Black-throated Thrush and Sibe Rubythroat!
#OrkneyBirding
Always nice to find a Red-breasted Flycatcher, this bird appeared to drop onto a wall and feed in the garden at Dennishill.
#OrkneyBirding
298, two to go before the big lumping event
Another day, another bird. This Black-headed Bunting found by @maddyhine.bsky.social is our 9th island record and first since 2012. Needless to say, another island tick!
#OrkneyBirding
A bit of video of todays White-rumped Sandpiper on Sandsheen. First on here since two birds in 2015. Amazed it was able to predate the Great Black-backed Gull, or thats what I assume from the evidence 🫣
#OrkneyBirding
Always good to see Curlew Sandpipers, this bird was one of four on Bewan today.
#OrkneyBirding
Some great birding today, with plenty of migrants making landfall throughout the day. Personal highlights included 2 Barred Warblers, 2 Rosefinch, a Wryneck, Black and Common Redstart, 7 Garden Warblers and nearly 20 Willow Warblers! Four Convolvulus Hawkmoth and two Bat sp in the evening at nets.
Another Long-tailed Skua summer? Yes please!
Bonaparte’s Gull at Bewan today, it certainly made the blow of missing a very brief American Wigeon land a bit softer. Both would be island ticks so 1 out of 2 isn’t bad. Now on 295 for the island!
#OrkneyBirding
Yeah Charles is still here, he uses the same hot spots Ive been using. Makes it easier for me if stuff gets missed from log to know where it was
Theyre all saved under the individual census routes ebird.org/checklist/S2...
All will be named NRBO Census Area A through to F
Some good birds caught over the last few days. Obvious highlight was the Eastern Subalp but Crossbill and some Curlew chicks a close second.
#OrkneyBirding #Ringing
Only put in what I see, but Ive definitely put at least three birds in over past week or so.
#OrkneyBirding
Costa del North Ronaldsay strikes again! Black Kite today, Little Ringed Plover yesterday and a Glossy Ibis Tuesday. Not the usual mix for the Northern Isles.
Who doesn’t love a contextually significant rubbish bird. A nice pair of Mandarin on Gretchen this morning, only the second time I’ve seen Mandarin in North Ronaldsay
#OrkneyBirding #NotPlasticStillFantastic
Siberian Tit
Siberian Jay
Pine Grosbeak
Steller’s Eider
Some highly enjoyable but very cold birding in Finland and Norway with @heatherleabirds.bsky.social in the past 48hrs!
Some other bits as well. Monk Parakeets bought back fond memories of Simon leaping out the car at Morre Jable 😂
A few processed pics from mine and @maddyhine.bsky.social week on Fuerteventura. African Houbara an obvious highlight but Eastern Yellow Wag and African Blue Tit were great too. Common Sand on a Hippo (at the zoo 🙈) was good fun.
A few days in Kruger NP post flock to marion has treated us well! Leopard at death today, Ground Hornbill both today and yesterday, Lions yesterday and Elephants seemingly everywhere!
A very long but very enjoyable day of birding on board the Flock to Marion ship. Wandering Albatrosses, Sooty Albatrosses, White-chinned Petrels and another Barau’s Petrel!
#FlocktoMarion #BirdingSouthAfrica #BirdLifeSouthAfrica
Day two:
Burchell’s Coursers just outside Piketberg in lovely evening light was the highlight of the day…. although Ostriches were pretty good too, even when photographed through windscreen.
#birdingsouthafrica
African Penguins, Orange-bellied Sunbirds and Cape Sugarbird the highlights from a great first day in South Africa. #birds #birdingsouthafrica
