Black throated Diver in the South Wick this morning #PWC2026 Only my third here, away from the southern end of Papa Sound #BirdingOrkney A couple of nice littoralis in the North Wick plus Shelduck and Goldfinch new for the year
First real movement of Skylark this morning with 182 west past Mull Head, plus at least 95 on the deck #BirdingOrkney Adult Iceland Gull on Tredwell yesterday plus 6 Common Scoter in the sound #PWC2026
Mediterranean Gull again around Papay this morning. Now in its third year around the island, having first appeared in late Dec 2024 #BirdingOrkney Present on and off around here and Westray for most of the period in between, aside from a summer absence, mid May to late September 2025
One of three adult Glaucous (top left)
Not quite sure the photo does it justice, but pretty impressive to see!
Another day of wintry showers, giving some impressive cloud formations out to the North. Been quiet for white winged gulls so far, so nice to find three adult Glaucous Gulls in the North Wick, before flying out towards Mull Head #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
Just a snapshot of the mass of gulls, feeding in the North Wick this morning. Adult Iceland Gull amongst them, two White billed Diver past Mull Head and a fly over calling Waxwing. Technically speaking, all outdone by a Papay mega flock of ten Rook! #BirdingOrkney
Couple of hours before I needed to be back in the shop so left the Firecrest to check elsewhere. Walking back for more views and this Bonaparte's Gull has appeared above Cott (wasn't there on the walk up!) #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025 2nd for Papay and still only the 5th Orkney record
Had all but given up hope of a Papay Firecrest until @papayranger.bsky.social came to the rescue with this bird at Shorehouse. An Island tick and only the 2nd Papay record. Now 13 birds found within Orkney this autumn, there had only been 35 records prior to this year! #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
Single Little Auk past Mull Head this morning bringing up 170 for the island year list plus adult Iceland and 1st winter Glaucous Gulls #BirdingOrkney Can't see me adding much more (Waxwing or Mistle Thrush probably my best chance) but then again, autumn ain't over just yet...
Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Manse this afternoon #BirdingOrkney Can't remember the last vocal bird that I saw, so very satisfying to hear this one calling #PWC2025
Barred Warbler giving good views in Rosa above the South Wick, first seen yesterday #BirdingOrkney Ten Pomarine Skua past Mull Head this morning plus a year tick Slav Grebe in the South Wick. Both Taiga Beans still present #PWC2025
The school sycamores with barely a leaf left on them
The willows at Hundland
Fuchsia of May Cottage garden
Fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been something of a slog. We do tend to lose leaves a bit earlier in the autumn on here but this year seems particularly stark #BirdingOrkney Really doesn't feel like there is much left to attract and hold migrants...
A slight drop in the wind produced a bonanza of Sooty Shearwater off Mull Head #BirdingOrkney 360 west, but lots of birds feeding, including one flock of up to 150. Also my 2nd Barred Warbler of the autumn along the North Wick #PWC2025
Birding in Orkney? Then tag your posts #BirdingOrkney and they'll be picked up by this Feed as well as the main Scottish and UK birding Feeds. Simples 😉
In on the recent Taiga action with this adult and juvenile, present at Backaskaill this morning. My first, anywhere away from the Yare Valley birds of winters past #BirdingOrkney Third find tick in under two weeks, having not added anything since May 2023! @patchbirding.bsky.social
Juv Long-tailed Skua past Mull Head this morning #BirdingOrkney Two Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Whinchat the best migrant offerings, but all lingering birds. No sign of Brown Shrike today
Brown Shrike still present this morning for its fourth day #BirdingOrkney Finally a rest bite tomorrow from the wind, so hopefully some action on the sea or a chance to unearth some new arrivals...
Orkney's 5th record of Brown Shrike, present in the garden of the Manse today #BirdingOrkney A species that I always thought should have one day been on the cards for here #PWC2025 #RareBirdsUK
Rosefinch around Whitehowe this afternoon #BirdingOrkney One that was missing from the island year list last year. Always surprises me how scarce these seem to be in Orkney, outside of the North isles. Just a lack of coverage from mainland?
Wryneck can be frustratingly skulking at times. Other times, less so... #BirdingOrkney Another new bird this morning #PWC2025
Buff-breasted Sandpiper hanging out on the Papay airfield today #PWC2025 #BirdingOrkney Two or three recorded most autumns within Orkney, but only my second island record.
Pectoral Sandpiper above the North Wick this afternoon, plus a surprise reappearance by the Greenish Warbler in the willows outside Hundland #BirdingOrkney Refound here the day after being seen at Fowl Craig but not seen since. Couple of Pied Flycatchers, my first of the year here #PWC2025
Two Great Shearwater past Mull Head this morning plus 53 Manx and 57 Sooty #BirdingOrkney Also first major arrival of Wheatear with over 100 birds between Mull Head and Fowl Craig
Ringed as an adult on Sanday, Orkney in April 2018 and all subsequent sightings seem to have been in Largo Bay, Fife (in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2025) #birdingFife #birdingOrkney
An early returning and colour ringed Sanderling was a surprise to see at the end of June. The last light green flagged bird I saw (on South Uist in Oct 2019) had been ringed on Sanday in May 2016 and I assume this individual is from the same scheme (waiting on details) #birdingFife #birdingOrkney
Is this the same bird as on Papay this morning @papaybirder.bsky.social ? #birdingOrkney
So 3 wks of surveying on Orkney has come to an end, and what an end, when a pod of Orca were seen off Hoy today.
Sadly, no migrants other than Honey Buzzard, Osprey & Marsh Harrier in that time. #BirdingOrkney #BirdingScotland
