Buzzard wing tagged

As usual, most of the geese present have been Greylags but Barnacles have been around including a sighting of 22 in January. Pink-footed and Greenland White-fronted Geese have also put in the odd appearance. A Snow Goose was present in the Swartmill area in early March. A handful of Whooper Swans remained over the winter. (Many stop off in autumn on their way south from Iceland but most head south into Scotland for the winter).

Snow Goose

Goldcrest and Chiffchaff arrived in mid April when Puffins were back on the sea at Castle O’Burrian.

Goldcrest

As usual, both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls from the arctic were seen this winter but were not as numerous as in some years. A few Jack Snipe have been seen but many more have no doubt been here as these birds don’t tend to fly up unless you nearly tread on them, unlike Common Snipe which are much quicker to fly. A Grey Plover has been around Aikerness since November and was still present in March. It fed on the shore when the tide was out but was seen on the airfield at high tide.

Grey Plover

In early February many Guillemots (Aaks) were on the ledges at Noup giving a taste of spring. Also on the theme of spring, a very early Wheatear was seen on 18th Feb. Small numbers of Sandwich Terns appeared in early April. In late March a Short-eared Owl was present in the Westside and in April a Hawfinch was feeding in Pierowall.

Hawfinch

There have been quite a few Otter sightings at various places in Westray this winter and early spring.

Otters

Flocks of Snow Buntings have been seen at several places especially near the Ouse. Stonechats were also in evidence this winter.

Swallows were seen on 21st April.

A Corncrake was heard calling on 30th April.  A Goldfinch was using bird feeders in Pierowall village around 5th May.

A Water Rail was seen crossing a ditch on 6th May. Whimbrel, Great Northern Divers and Sanderling were vying for attention in early May.

Don and Sandra Otter

Fulmars are claiming their territories on ledges around the island.

We  have been lucky to be enjoying the Hen Harriers which choose to spend their winter here. There are definately three individuals and possibly more.

A Fulmar riding the cliff winds at Noup as the sun begins to set. The Brough of Birsay on the West Mainland of Orkney is just visible in the bottom left corner.

Common Seals drying out in Pierowall, the main village of Westray.

The abandoned village of Netherhouses on the Westside during a sunny February afternoon.

Purple Sandpipers taking a pause from feeding with a Common Gull near to the airport on Westray during a high tide .

An immature Shag came onto the rocks outside the Westray Surgery to dry it’s wings giving exeptional views.

At least 10 Snow Buntings were feeding with Twite around some farm buildings.

Evidence of some of our sea-life was this dried out Starfish in the Bay of Tuquoy.

The Super Blue Blood Moon as seen from Westray.

Sandra and Don Otter

Glaucous Gull

We were lucky to watch this Glaucous Gull feeding on a beach on Westray. They arrive here  most winters along with the similar Iceland Gull. Neither of these birds have black tips to their wings making them quite distinctive.

Iceland Gull

For a few days the cold air from the north held it’s grip on Westray, with minimal snow and some iced roads.

Sand O’Gill, Pierowall

The frozen Lochs pushed waterfowl like Wigeon onto the sea in the search for food.

Wigeon

One lucky observer watched an otter grooming it’s coat on the shore for about 20 minutes. Waders on Westray have included Jack Snipe, Grey Plover and Knot as well as the usual wintering flocks of Purple Sandpipers, Curlew and Sanderling.

Purple Sandpipers

Merlin sightings are increasing along with the occassional Hen Harrier, a nice male Hen Harrier passed across the fields in Skelwick. Snow Buntings are still around in small groups, an ever increasing flock of Twite, now exceeding 120 continues to feed on a couple of small fields planted especially with wild flower seeds. Common Seals haul out regularly in their favoured spots as the tide goes out.

Common Seals

Don and Sandra Otter

A flock of Greylag Geese were joined by 22 Barnacle Geese near the Old Kirk early in the week, the largest group of Barnacles we have seen on Westray.

Curlew

Curlew are still ever present, feeding in large groups in fields and at the shore.

Red-throated Diver

A Red-throated Diver in Pierowall Bay in calm waters gave lovely views.

Otter

Also, in Pierowall Bay, an Otter was fishing, diving repeatedly and occasionally coming to shore today.

The winter sunsets on Westray can be stunningly beautiful, this one only a few days ago.

                Don and Sandra Otter

  Greylag Geese

There are still many flocks of Greylag Geese feeding on the fields of Westray during this first week of January 2018.

Sea Urchin

A fully intact Sea Urchin was a nice find on one beach. Once they die, Sea Urchins can sometimes be found on the tideline.

Fulmar

Fulmars have been back from their disappearance out to sea to moult for a couple of months now, declaring their territorial rights noisily.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover flocks can still be found but in lower numbers now.

Ringed Plover

One flock of over 100 Sanderling joined this flock of Ringed Plover with a handful of Dunlin on a beach to the south west of the island.

Peregrine

A Peregrine posed briefly for a photograph near the Old Kirk, with Papa Westray behind.

A couple of Fieldfares have been noticed, one was with 20 Redwings. Two Otters were watched swimming and diving in Loch Saintear, where a Slavonian Grebe was feeding amongst Widgeon. A male Hen Harrier flew towards Cubbigoe in Skelwick on 8th January.

Don and Sandra Otter

This autumn has brought in over 40 Whooper Swans from Iceland, which stayed for a short while with numbers changing, before they left on their journey south. A small handful remain over winter. Swartmill Loch attracted large numbers of other waterfowl as well, mostly comprising of Wigeon and Teal, but with Pintail and Gadwall also putting in an appearance, before heading off south too. A female Scaup was a welcome sight on 18th October.

Small numbers of Ruff were seen feeding by a pool on the Westside of Westray,up to a dozen on one occassion.

Two Yellow-browed Warblers were located on Westray, one in the village of Pierowall, the other on the Westside of Westray in early October. Blackcap,Goldcrest, Lesser Whitethroat and Dunnock all showed intermittently as supporting acts!

Small numbers of Snow Buntings have appeared periodically, including a nervous 7 near Noup Head lighthouse on 6th October.

Porpoise were seen in Skelwick Bay during particularly calm seas. Otter tracks can always be found on the beaches, they can be seen sometimes crossing the car park at the ferry terminal if you are very lucky!

Purple Sandpipers had begun to return by the 8th October at their usual favourite sites.

Great Northern Divers and Long tailed Duck can now be seen from the shore, joining Red-breasted Merganser, Shags and Goldeneye to name but a few. Fulmars have also returned now that December is here, after their disappearance out to sea for their moult.

Greylag Geese numbers have built up as they usually do over winter, Pink-footed Geese  are sometimes amongst them with the thrill of very small numbers of Barnacle Geese. Two Barnacles have been seen in fields by Roadmire and near the New Kirk, four were seen near The Ouse.

Twite have formed a flock of almost a hundred strong and can be seen along the road towards the airport in suitable feeding areas.

Grey Seals gave birth to their pups in October and November.

Good numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits used Westray’s fields and certain beaches to feed, with smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwits also around. Curlew flocks have built up using the fields to search for food, only outnumbered by Golden Plover, some Golden Plover flocks appearing to be about a thousand strong.

Fewer Common Skate egg cases have washed up on Westray’s shores this winter so far, withonly one being found at Rackwick.

Raptor sightings have increased as winter progresses. Peregrine, Merlin and Hen Harrier . Kestrel has not been seen so far in it’s usual haunts in December, but a lucky sighting of a Sparrowhawk at Ness was enjoyed  on Boxing Day. The Snowy Owl is back on Eday. We are hoping it will visit Westray too, as it did last winter!

One flock of 100 Sanderling was fun to see on one of the beaches on the south of Westray.

Sandra and Don Otter December 2017

Redstart

The Autumn has brought a few interesting birds to Westray. A Redstart, two or three Stonechats, 30 or more Chaffinches with a Brambling and two Yellow-browed Warblers. Snow Buntings, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers have also appeared. The first Redwings have arrived.

Whooper Swans are beginning to reappear, we have Greylag Geese flocks in abundance now. Golden Plover flocks are drawn to suitable fields for feeding . One flock contained several hundred individuals. Small numbers of Ruff have also been seen.

Purple Sandpipers are now returning to spend the winter here and the island’s sandy beaches are ideal places to see flocks of Sanderling and Bar-tailed Godwits.

Raptors seen recently include Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel.

Snow Bunting

Chiffchaff

Merlin

By Sandra and Don Otter