The newly ploughed observatory crop has played host to a colour-ringed Knot in the past few days. Initially seen in poor weather and post submission we discovered it’s also carrying a geo-locator from @globalflyway.bsky.social you can follow Arenicola’s progress on the globalflyways network website

The three Dotterels remain at Sandar for their 13th day. Showing very well despite occasionally disappearing. #OrkneyBirding

Bright and blustery days are often unproductive on North Ron but today proved the total opposite! A very smart Subalpine Warbler in Ancum just before lunchtime was joined on the yearlist by three Dotterel in the afternoon at Sandar.

A quick trip to Filey with @maddyhine.bsky.social for the Eastern Black Redstart. Very nice indeed

King Eider still at Dornoch after we were fogged off on Christmas Eve. Still two Surf Scoter but no sign of Black Scoter sadly. #HighlandBirding #Ukbirding #KingEider #BoxingDayBirding

Warra week. Black-throated Thrush and Sibe Rubythroat! #OrkneyBirding

Always nice to find a Red-breasted Flycatcher, this bird appeared to drop onto a wall and feed in the garden at Dennishill. #OrkneyBirding

Another day, another bird. This Black-headed Bunting found by @maddyhine.bsky.social is our 9th island record and first since 2012. Needless to say, another island tick! #OrkneyBirding

A bit of video of todays White-rumped Sandpiper on Sandsheen. First on here since two birds in 2015. Amazed it was able to predate the Great Black-backed Gull, or thats what I assume from the evidence 🫣 #OrkneyBirding

Always good to see Curlew Sandpipers, this bird was one of four on Bewan today. #OrkneyBirding

Some great birding today, with plenty of migrants making landfall throughout the day. Personal highlights included 2 Barred Warblers, 2 Rosefinch, a Wryneck, Black and Common Redstart, 7 Garden Warblers and nearly 20 Willow Warblers! Four Convolvulus Hawkmoth and two Bat sp in the evening at nets.

Another Long-tailed Skua summer? Yes please!

Bonaparte’s Gull at Bewan today, it certainly made the blow of missing a very brief American Wigeon land a bit softer. Both would be island ticks so 1 out of 2 isn’t bad. Now on 295 for the island! #OrkneyBirding

Some good birds caught over the last few days. Obvious highlight was the Eastern Subalp but Crossbill and some Curlew chicks a close second. #OrkneyBirding #Ringing

Costa del North Ronaldsay strikes again! Black Kite today, Little Ringed Plover yesterday and a Glossy Ibis Tuesday. Not the usual mix for the Northern Isles.

Who doesn’t love a contextually significant rubbish bird. A nice pair of Mandarin on Gretchen this morning, only the second time I’ve seen Mandarin in North Ronaldsay #OrkneyBirding #NotPlasticStillFantastic

Some highly enjoyable but very cold birding in Finland and Norway with @heatherleabirds.bsky.social in the past 48hrs!

A few processed pics from mine and @maddyhine.bsky.social week on Fuerteventura. African Houbara an obvious highlight but Eastern Yellow Wag and African Blue Tit were great too. Common Sand on a Hippo (at the zoo 🙈) was good fun.

A few days in Kruger NP post flock to marion has treated us well! Leopard at death today, Ground Hornbill both today and yesterday, Lions yesterday and Elephants seemingly everywhere!

A very long but very enjoyable day of birding on board the Flock to Marion ship. Wandering Albatrosses, Sooty Albatrosses, White-chinned Petrels and another Barau’s Petrel! #FlocktoMarion #BirdingSouthAfrica #BirdLifeSouthAfrica

Day two: Burchell’s Coursers just outside Piketberg in lovely evening light was the highlight of the day…. although Ostriches were pretty good too, even when photographed through windscreen. #birdingsouthafrica

African Penguins, Orange-bellied Sunbirds and Cape Sugarbird the highlights from a great first day in South Africa. #birds #birdingsouthafrica

Happy New Year from all of us at NRBO. We’re looking forward to seeing you in 2025!

Some fun with Ptarmigan this afternoon. Never get tired of Snow Chickens! #ScottishBirds

What a year it has been @northronbirdobs.bsky.social ! Personal highlights include Ortolan Bunting, Great Snipe, Black-faced Bunting, Long-tailed Skua, Stone-curlew (island mega!), and a pterdroma now in the hands of the BBRC powers that be as a Zino’s Petrel! #UKbirding

Thats me and Maddy off island for 2024! Its been an incredible season but now time for some down time and extra curricular birding 😅

The 2024 season is coming to a close! Its been an incredible year of birds. It appears we may have beaten last years yearlist total, but still need to wait on various rarities making the grade! A big thank you from me, Maddy and Alison to all the volunteers and guests this year!

Not the November bird I had mind, but the first Brown Booby for Orkney was a very welcome find after a dry spell. Not quite as smart as yesterdays Eyebrowed Thrush, Craig seems to attract bright orange birds! #scottishbirds #OrkneyBirds #UKbirding @northronbirdobs.bsky.social

All the lovely habitat we have here on the island and the Black-faced Bunting chooses a cattle pen full of litter… #scottishbirding #orkneybirds @northronbirdobs.bsky.social

Born in the USA. This very obliging American Robin was a first for the island this afternoon, not what we thought the easterly winds had in store for us! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #UKbirding #scottishbirds #orkney #birds

A locustella double of the highest order! Lancey and Pallas’s Gropper in the same day 😍 #scottishbirding #ukbirding

Everyone down to Brown (shrike) town! #ukbirding #scottishbirding

I was late getting to the moth trap this morning, good things come to those who are late apparently! North Ronaldsay’s first Death’s-head Hawkmoth! #UKmoths

Booted Warbler enjoying the last of the afternoon sun. Seriously underrated birds

A great couple of days of birding here! RB Fly found by Maddy, a smart male Bluethroat and this Booted Warbler found by @cgunnnat.bsky.social this morning.

This Dusky Warbler was a wholly unexpected find this morning while showing new volunteer @cgunnnat.bsky.social around D. Im told the earliest Autumn record by some distance!

Moth traps have been an unmitigated disaster this year so far! Not sure we’ve ever had so few trapping nights! That said Double Dart is a first for the island so it’s not all bad!

Cracking White-winged Black Tern on Gretchen this morning! Only the fourth island record and the first juvenile.

I seem to be doing alright for birds of prey this year, surprised and quite chuffed to find this Pallid Harrier as it disappeared off north! #NRBO #orkneybirding

A good day in the field yesterday, immature White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Arctic Tern and two Iceland Gulls were all new for the island year list putting us on a healthy 125. This Sparrowhawk was a retrap from last April! #NRBO #OrkneyBirding

Good few days guiding around the Highlands, nice to catch up with the Green-winged Teal at Tain and see a few birds I otherwise don’t get to see!

Back on North Ron now and its been fairly sluggish start but Stock Dove, White-fronted Goose and a few other regulars have got the island year list off to a strong start. 227 to beat! #ornithology #lowcarbonbirding #birds #orkney

Early this year I did a little trip to Sweden, it was a bit cold and the first few days were hard work for little reward, the last three days however were amazing and we were rewarded with Hawk Owl, Pygmy Owl and Ural Owl. Not to mention the mental Long-tailed Tits! #sweden #ornithology #birds