Winter weather

Well the harsh weather of November and December seems to have taken its toll on Orkney’s birds.  Large numbers of wildfowl and waders appear to have left the islands and it can only be hoped that they found safe refuge somewhere to the south-west.  Many small birds have been greatly reduced in numbers and we simply don’t know yet whether they have left or died.  One of the most obvious species to have been affected is Wren – this is usually one of our most widespread birds but I have only seen a few over the last two months.  Not seen any Stonechats at all, Only one Song Thrush,  and just the odd Reed Bunting

 Hopefully things will improve over the next few months. Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls have started to return , Greenfinches seem to have coped well as I saw a flock of over  fifty the other day,  although the weather made a turn for the worse over the weekend with more snow and gale force winds.