The Loons – Greenland White-fronted Goose A small flock of Greenland white-fronted geese regularly winter in West Mainland. This timid, distinctive goose can often been seen in the fields behind the small reedbed at the Loons hide.In recent years, between 50 and 100 Greenland white-fronted geese have been wintering on Orkney. They breed in Greenland, migrating south to Orkney between mid October and early November to areas such as the Loch of Swannay, The Loons and close to Glims Moss, Birsay. Migration - The white-fronts generally leave Orkney in mid April to return to their breeding grounds in Greenland. Quite often, when they arrive back, the ground is still covered in deep snow. They have to wait, sometimes several weeks, for the snow to melt before they can begin breeding. Neck-collared individual - N8HSince November 2007 the Orkney wintering flock has contained this marked individual with a lengthy and interesting history. It also tells us that our small population does mingle with the rest of the Greenland White-fronted goose population which is useful information.First ringed during winter 2003/04 in Wexford, EIRE
VV – 16/11/2005 Smaladh, ISLAYVV – 19/11/2006 Saligo, ISLAYVV – 11/11/2007 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 10/02/2008 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 30/10/2008 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 16/11/2008 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 05/04/2009 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 20/11/2009 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY VV – 05/04/2010 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY (32)VV – 05/04/2010 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY (32)VV – 31/10/2010 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY (29)VV – 01/04/2011 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY (34)VV – 06/11/2011 Hundland Farm, Birsay, ORKNEY (24)VV - 17/12/2011 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY (54)VV – 31/12/2011 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEY (58) Marwick – Ruff
Ruff are a relatively unusual winter visitor to Orkney. However, for the past four years a colour-ringed individual originally ringed in the Netherlands in April 2004 has been seen in the Birsay area. The latest sighting was at Marwick amongst Redshanks in the flooded pools behind The Choin. Sightings of this bird are listed below;
First ringed 15/04/2004 – Stavoren, Zuidermeerpolder, NETHERLANDSVV – 21/04/2004 Klein, Weskepolder, NETHERLANDSVV – 07/07/2005 Ezumazijl, Lauwermeer, NETHERLANDSVV – 10/02/2007 Kirbuster, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 02/02/2008 The Loons, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 14/12/2008 Loch of Banks, Birsay, ORKNEYVV – 16/12/2011 Marwick, Birsay, ORKNEYReserve sightings over the festive period included a rare white phase Gyr Falcon on Ward Hill, Hoy, adult & first winter Glaucous Gulls at The Choin, Marwick, and a very unseasonal Yellow-browed Warbler in one of the bird crops at Brodgar.All the best for 2012AlanPS - VV = Field sighting