Orkneys Part 2

A return trip to the Orkneys was always on the cards after the fantastic holiday in May. So in early October the long drive north started again, this time staying overnight just north of Loch Ness. The B and B was in a stunning location with lots of wildlife around. Lots of Red Deer were seen, huge flocks of siskins were seen on a regular basis and of course the ubiquitous Hooded Crow. We were informed that badgers come into the garden and wild boar are sometimes seen outside the perimeter fence but we lucked out there.

The next day we drove up to Gill's Bay for the ferry over to St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay. The weather was really bad has we drove but fortunately eased for the crossing. Not much was seen especially as half the crossing was in the dark.

The next day we visited the Ring of Brodgar which we had seen in May but had not actually walked around. It was windy but fine when we started but halfway around the heavens opened with first rain and then hail. We were soaked to the skin by the time we got back to the car, not a great start. This sort of set the tone for the week trying to avoid the frequent showers. The wind was predictably strong especially Tuesday when they reached 60 mph. The only place you could walk was with the wind it was impossible to walk into it, even standing up was difficult.

On the Tuesday we went back to St Margaret's Hope as it is a little sheltered compared to a lot of the islands. In the harbour there I found my first year tick in Red Necked Grebe which was with a Slavonian Grebe.

On the Wednesday we took the short ferry over to Hoy. This was a much more remote and wilder island compared to Mainland, Orkney. The north of the island was very mountainous with lots of steep hills and moorlands, very dramatic and beautiful. It was here I found my second year tick a Merlin sitting on a Passing Place sign, I saw another the day after. Also seen my first Hen Harrier of the trip here, saw five in all. The south of the island was much flatter with miles of shoreline which must have had some great waders over the years.

Other birds seen were Starlings, big flocks everywhere we went but as much as I tried I could not find a Rosy Starling. The most common corvid was again Rook seen in their thousands. Curlews were also everywhere, one flock which must have been approaching a thousand were observed feeding in a field next to the road. A flock of 5 Twite were seen at the Brough of Birsay. Two Artic Skuas were seen on the ferry back, after May it seemed strange not to see any Bonxies. Gannets and Guillemots were the most numerous seabirds and a few Black Guillemots were also seen. The only divers seen were two or three Red Throated. Red Breasted Merganser were also quite common. Most common gull on this trip was actually Common Gull surprisingly.

Seals were also everywhere we went, but unfortunately no cetaceans or otters were found at all.

Another four ferry trips without chumming what is the world coming to.