Last week I had the chance to go on a short visit to Papa Westray to check on the North Hill reserve and buildings we have there. The photo above is fairly irrelevant to the reserve but it was one of three I managed to take on the island before my camera battery ran out!
At this time of year the reserve is very quiet and barren looking, a contrast to the bright flowers of the maritime heath that are a backdrop to the breeding birds during the spring and summer. I had a windswept walk around the reserve with fulmars gliding by (the only birds here in any number currently) and the occasional greater black backed gull following me to see if I would stir up anything of interest. A few guillemots and shags were perched on ledges at Fowl Craig.
Elsewhere on the island, there was a mixed flock of waders at North Wick, with peak counts of 6 bar tailed godwit, 57 dunlin, 23 ringed plover, 19 oystercatcher, 200 purple sandpiper, 80 turnstone and 15 redshank. There were also a minimum of 20 wigeon in the bay, 8 eider duck, 4 red breasted merganser, 1 great northern diver and the usual nosy presence of grey seals.
Other birds of interest were a small flock of about 25 fieldfare and a few redwings. There was a pleasant surprise of 10 barnacle geese in with one (of the many) flocks of greylag geese on the island.