I’m very pleased to announce that I’ve come back for a second season as Warden for the RSPB reserves on Westray and Papa Westray, the two most northerly Orkney islands with RSPB reserves. I had an amazing time last year working as Warden on North Hill and Noup Cliffs, and I enjoyed it so much that I thought I’d come back for more! I started at the beginning of April, so I managed to experience a week of lovely calm, sunny weather before the winds and rain set in...
Despite the weather though, I have managed to get some of my survey work done, as well as keeping an eye on the migrants passing through. This month, I’ve mostly been concentrating on counting the Black Guillemots (or Tysties as they’re called up here) that nest in geos and in caves along the cliff faces, and in the spaces between boulders or underneath rocks. These surveys involve getting up very early and walking around the coastline, counting and noting down any Tysties that I see, and noting whether they are in their fine black and white breeding plumage, or if they are still in their grey winter colours. Usually, the Warden only counts the Tysties seen around the coastline of the North Hill reserve, the Holm of Papa (by boat – thanks to Tommy Rendall) and the cliffs down in the south-east of the island, but this year I’m surveying the entire coastline! Twice! This hasn’t been done since the national scale Seabird 2000 surveys, so it will be really interesting to see how my results compare to the previous ones! I have now completed both counts, with 671 being the highest number seen around the island, more than half of which were around the reserve! I’ll let you know how that compares to the Seabird 2000 results when I find out.
In addition to the Tysties, I’m also in the process of surveying breeding Curlews across the island...when the weather’s good enough for it! The UK supports an internationally important population of breeding Curlews, around 60% of which are in Scotland alone, but unfortunately, like in the rest of Europe this population is declining rapidly, as Alan mentioned in his previous post (below). Data from the Breeding Bird Survey shows that the number of breeding Curlews in the UK decreased by 42% between 1995 and 2008, and they are continuing this decline. All of this has led to Curlews being ‘upgraded’ to the Amber List for birds of conservation concern in the UK. Reasons for this decline may be predation, poor breeding success, or changes in habitat making areas less suitable for breeding. And it is because of this decline that I am surveying Curlews all across Papa Westray this year, to see how many are breeding across the island so that we can try to compare these figures to previous numbers and see how our population is changing. It’s a lot of ground to cover, and I need good weather conditions to do the surveys, so wish me luck!
As well as this, have been keeping an eye on the breeding birds and migrant birds on the island, with recent highlights of migrants below. Sandwich Terns have returned to the island once more, with the first being seen on the 15th, and have now taken up residence opposite the kirk again. Their numbers are slowly increasing - hopefully they will be successful in raising chicks again this year! The Great Skuas (Bonxies) are back as well, with two seen on the reserve on the 12th April, rising to 13 birds by the 20th, getting ready to breed! Arctic Skuas have also returned to the reserve, with a beautiful pale phase bird and another dark phase bird both seen on 20th April – I do hope they do well this year! I have also seen my first Swallow of the year, so I guess it must be summer... In addition to this, I have been getting everything set up for the coming season, including getting ready to start my guided walks again! Guided walks are on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8th May to 31st August, when I will take visitors along the coastline and up to the cliffs to have a look at the breeding seabirds and Scottish Primroses, as well as seeing a few seals! If you would like to book on to a tour, please call me on 01857 644240 – please note, the tours have been cancelled on some dates that clash with island events. That’s all for now, but I’ll be back with regular updates!
Recent Sightings - April
Great Northern Diver seen regularly around coastline; WHITE-BILLED DIVER – 1 seen off of the Minister’s Flag area on the southwest coast on 26th; Pink-footed Goose – 9 on 20th; Shelduck pair on 22nd; Wigeon seen regularly, 42 on 9th; Teal seen often on the lochs; Shoveler seen regularly, c.25 at Backiskaill Loch on 9th; Pintail pair on St Tredwell’s Loch on 9th;Tufted Duck – c.40 on St Tredwell’s Loch on 3rd; Goldeneye – 9 on St Tredwell’s Loch on 3rd; Long-tailed Duck – 30 around south-west coast on 9th; Hen Harrier – 1 ringtail seen across the island; Peregrine – 1 on 5th and again on 13th; Merlin – one at Mull Head on 20th and 21st; Golden Plover – 102 highest count on 18th; Grey Plover – 1 at North Wick on 10th; Purple Sandpiper – 115 at North Wick on 10th; Sanderling – 34 at North Wick on 10th; Bar-tailed Godwit – 6 at North Wick on 5th and 10th; Black-tailed Godwit – 2 in summer plumage on 24th; Woodcock – 1 on 13th; Puffin – 5 seen on the sea below Fowl Craig on 14th; Woodpigeon – 1 on reserve on 20th; Collared Dove seen by islanders on 21st; Swallow first seen on 20th, 4 on 26th; Robin – 1 on 2nd and 1 on 24th; Wheatear – first seen on 18th, 28 around reserve on 20th; Blackbird – 20 on 17th is the highest count; Ring Ouzel seen by islanders on 21st; Song Thrush – 1 on 11th, 2 on reserve on 14th till 16th; Redwing – 7 on 14th and many seen across island until 24th; Fieldfare – 3 on 16th, 1 on 17th; Chiffchaff – 1 on 20th and 21st; Raven – pair with 3 chicks at Fowl Craig; Chaffinch – 1 in Rose Cottage garden from 16th till 20th; Snow Bunting – 20 at North Wick on 31st March and 1 on reserve on 12th.
Orca – 3 seen close to Westray from the morning plane on 13th April. Otter scats and prints found in the snow on 8th April.