News from Papa Westray

Hello All,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sarah West, and for the next five months I'm going to be working for the RSPB as their Warden on Papa Westray, known affectionately as Papay, one of the smallest inhabited islands in Orkney! I am responsible for looking after the colonies of seabirds breeding on the North Hill reserve on Papay and on the Noup Cliffs reserve on Westray, the larger island next door. Over the next five months I will be monitoring the progress of the variety of seabird species that breed on these reserves, surveying their numbers and recording their every move, as well as carrying out night time surveys for the elusive Corncrakes that breed on both islands. I will also be surveying the colonies of the rare Scottish Primrose (Primula scotica) that grows on the maritime heathland at the North Hill reserve, counting every individual plant so that we can monitor the population of this rarity over time. In addition to this, I will be leading guided walks around the North Hill reserve over the summer months on a Wednesday and a Saturday afternoon. If you are interested in joining in on a guided walk around the reserve, please contact me on 01857 644240 or call the Papay Co-op on 01857 644321 for a full guided tour around the island, including lunch and a tour of the reserve.

It's all go here at the moment, as more and more seabirds are returning to the cliffs everyday, taking their places and getting ready to breed. Already the coastline is covered with pairs of Fulmars, and the Guillemots and Razorbills are increasing in numbers as each week goes by. The Shags and Kittiwakes aren't far behind them. The Tysties (Black Guillemots) are back as well, with over 280 seen around the reserve in a survey earlier this month, plus a further 180 or so seen off of the Holm of Papay, making their lovely whistling noises to one another. The Bonxies (Great Skuas) and Arctic Skuas are starting to return with several seen back on territory, watching over their chosen piece of land and bickering with the neighbours.

Tysties at dawn

The various wader species that breed at North Hill are also back and Lapwings and Oystercatchers can be seen displaying over the reserve on a regular basis. The passerines are back as well, and the song of a Skylark can be appreciated across the island. A few Sandwich Terns have been sighted flying over the islands, but don't look like they're going to settle down quite yet, and the Gannets are back at Noup Cliffs on Westray. So now all we're waiting for is for the Arctic Terns to return from their wintering grounds in the Antarctic, and for the Corncrakes, which should be returning to us any day now, although it's a bit too windy to hear them at the moment! Once the entire crew is here, the breeding season begins! Although it has already started for some, with Shags seen on eggs on the Holm of Papay, Ravens with eggs at North Hill, and even some Ravens with young chicks seen on Westray! Wish me luck for the coming season!

Recent Sightings (in addition to above)

Greylag Geese (nests with eggs), Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Eider (large flocks seen around south coast), Long-tailed Duck (seen occasionally around coast),  Red-breasted Merganser (seen around coast), Red-throated Diver (seen occasionally around coast), Great Northern Diver ( seen often around coast), Cormorant, Hen Harrier (1 female/juvenile), Merlin (1 male plus 1 female on Westray), Coot (seen on nests), Ringed Plover, Grey Plover 3, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone,  Sanderling, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit 4, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed Gull (on nests), Common Gull (on nests), Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Puffin (few seen on sea), Short-eared Owl (1 on Westray), Swallow 3, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Wheatear (seen regularly around coast), Redwing(1 on Westray), Fieldfare 1, Blackbird, Ring Ouzel (1 male), Blackcap (1 female), Wren, Hooded Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Twite 2.