🚨JOB OPENING🚨 We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2026 season, part or full time roles available! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact [email protected] Please share!

Another season filed away! In summary it was a quiet spring with very little to shout about but the autumn was superb. Our second records of Rufous-tailed Robin and Siberian Rubythroat the standout birds with a strong supporting cast. Thank you to all this years staff and visitors, see you in 2026!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at NRBO

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

Three nights and three Leach’s Petrels! We’ve also caught 118 Storm Petrels, a great start to the Stormy sessions #OrkneyBirding #StormPetrels #SeabirdsUK

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

A superb Aurora Borealis showing last night over the obs #space #northernlights #darkskies #orkney #aurora

A quick update on the blog from the past few days! The mist nets are up in Holland and the year list is ticking along nicely ✅ northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/4th-... #OrkneyBirding

Appears the link to the blog didnt work yesterday! So we’ll try again! #OrkneyBirding northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/wint...

An update from over the winter and sightings from the first few days of March now on the blog! With the appearance of a familiar friend, we have our first rarity of the year! northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/winter…#OrkneyBirdingng

Well our first adult Glaucous Gull of 2025 wasn’t quite in the condition we’d hoped for 😢

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

🚨VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY🚨 We are looking for a volunteer for the 2025 season to help with bird monitoring, ringing, and obs maintenance! Full board included. Long term volunteers preferred, but all applications welcome! Contact [email protected] for more info. Please share!

🚨JOB OPENING🚨 We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact [email protected] Please share!

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

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

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

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

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!

Blog update for the last few days. We’ve finally seen some birds after a rather bleak August. northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2024/09/28th...

One of over 200 Wheatears that passed through the island yesterday. There was also the islands 7th record of Mandarin on Ancum.

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!

Our 2023 Bird Report has nearly finished production, here’s the cover featuring last August’s Booted Warbler. If you’d like a copy contact the obs via email at [email protected]