North Ronaldsay May-June 23 Highlights

July 20, 2023

North Ronaldsay May-June 23 Highlights

It's been a great spring on North Ron with some nice falls of migrants and a good run of rarities towards the latter stages. Here's a selection of photos from May-June.

A 2cy Pallid Harrier showed wonderfully on 3rd May, floating between Peckhole and Kirbest. The first of an influx of this species to the UK during this period.

Pallid Harrier

We were then treated to a batch of south easterlies. 4th May was one of my favourite days of the season so far. It felt like the first 'proper' fall of the spring as there was a clear afternoon arrival of spring migrants - walking up the west coast in the morning I saw 1-2 birds of note, but on the way back there was a nice scattering of Pied Flycatchers, Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Willow Warblers. Best of all was a Quail, which had just arrived off the sea at Torness. I'd never actually seen a Quail before, despite hearing them on several occasions, so seeing one in these circumstances was very exciting.

Pied Flycatcher

Quail

Tree Pipit

The easterlies continued for a good week or so, bringing more migrants. Seeing these birds in out of context settings during migration is part of what makes the Northern Isles so exciting.

This Wood Warbler by the coast near the Obs was one of my highlights during early May.

Grasshopper Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Wren

Redstart

This Yellow Wagtail was rather bamboozling, showing a confusing mixture of features. After discussing it with others, it seems most likely a thunbergi x flava intergrade, although obviously we can't be certain. The bird had a nice necklace and dark bluish-grey crown suggesting Grey-headed, although the supercilium was too extensive and there was considerable white on the throat also. A very nice looking bird regardless! More photos here http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2023/05/13th-15th-may.html.

Same wagtail amongst the cow pats in East Loch Park

Dotterels

Late May continued with a steady trickle of migrants (although generally lower numbers) and brought a few rarer birds. A Western Subalpine Warbler and a Bluethroat were good finds by Maddy Hine. A Green-winged Teal appeared in front of me at Garso loch for a moment before ploughing off never to be seen again. A Pectoral Sandpiper did exactly the same for an even briefer moment, which was a bit frustrating. A Surf Scoter found by George Gay on the sea off Neven was an island mega and the first I'd seen for a long time.

Bluethroat

Green-winged Teal - showing nice orange wing bar

A fantastic selection of spring rarities were caught and ringed during the first two weeks of June, mostly by Rob Duncan, who ran the nets at Holland whilst we were out on census. Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Nightjar, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Marsh Warbler and the island's third Great Reed Warbler were notable highlights.

Golden Oriole

Red-backed Shrike

Great Reed Warbler

A female Collared Flycatcher found by George was another highlight during early June. North Ronaldsay is still yet to record an adult male, despite there being four previous island records of this species.

Collared Flycatcher

Female Grey-headed (or possibly intergrade) Wagtail

After spending 7-10 hours a day out for most of May and June I was starting to feel pretty burnt out by the second week of June, so one day decided to have a slower morning and catch up with a few jobs. After doing the recycling, I strolled out of the Obs at about 10:30 and after less than 10 minutes, a Great Reed Warbler came tanking out of some rosa bushes! I tried not to get too excited, since one had been ringed two days previously. Thankfully, the bird reappeared at the base of one of the Heligloand traps, allowing it to be caught and ringed, proving it as a new unringed individual.

The second Great Reed Warbler in just a few days!

The second half of June continued with the trickle of good birds, including Cuckoo, Short-toed Lark, another Nightjar, Red-backed Shrike and an adult Pacific Golden Plover at Westness.