North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
Founded in 1987 to monitor and record bird life on North Ronaldsay. Guest house and hostel accommodation available. For enquiries call 01857 633200
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
Warra week. Black-throated Thrush and Sibe Rubythroat!
#OrkneyBirding
#OrkneyBirding
October 28, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Warra week. Black-throated Thrush and Sibe Rubythroat!
#OrkneyBirding
#OrkneyBirding
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
Always nice to find a Red-breasted Flycatcher, this bird appeared to drop onto a wall and feed in the garden at Dennishill.
#OrkneyBirding
#OrkneyBirding
October 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Always nice to find a Red-breasted Flycatcher, this bird appeared to drop onto a wall and feed in the garden at Dennishill.
#OrkneyBirding
#OrkneyBirding
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
#OrkneyBirding
October 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
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
#OrkneyBirding
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
#OrkneyBirding
October 9, 2025 at 7:42 PM
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
#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
#OrkneyBirding
#StormPetrels #SeabirdsUK
July 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Three nights and three Leach’s Petrels! We’ve also caught 118 Storm Petrels, a great start to the Stormy sessions
#OrkneyBirding
#StormPetrels #SeabirdsUK
#OrkneyBirding
#StormPetrels #SeabirdsUK
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
#OrkneyBirding #NotPlasticStillFantastic
April 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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
#OrkneyBirding #NotPlasticStillFantastic
A superb Aurora Borealis showing last night over the obs
#space #northernlights #darkskies #orkney #aurora
#space #northernlights #darkskies #orkney #aurora
April 3, 2025 at 6:33 AM
A superb Aurora Borealis showing last night over the obs
#space #northernlights #darkskies #orkney #aurora
#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
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/4th-...
#OrkneyBirding
4th - 7th March
The weather seems to have finally broken! Another very windy day on 4th gave way to a light breeze and sunshine by 6th and 7th, allowing for...
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com
March 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
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
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...
#OrkneyBirding
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/wint...
Winter update and 1st March - 3rd March sightings
It has been a quiet winter for sightings, with all volunteers having left the island on 15th November, closely followed by George and Maddy ...
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Appears the link to the blog didnt work yesterday! So we’ll try again!
#OrkneyBirding
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/wint...
#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
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/winter…#OrkneyBirdingng
https://northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/winter…
March 4, 2025 at 8:12 AM
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
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 😢
March 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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!
January 1, 2025 at 12:22 AM
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!
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!
December 8, 2024 at 5:36 PM
🚨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!
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!
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!
December 8, 2024 at 5:32 PM
🚨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!
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!
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
December 7, 2024 at 9:29 AM
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!
November 16, 2024 at 9:15 AM
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!
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
November 8, 2024 at 11:24 PM
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
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
#scottishbirding #orkneybirds
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
October 22, 2024 at 6:27 PM
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
#scottishbirding #orkneybirds
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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
#UKbirding #scottishbirds #orkney #birds
October 16, 2024 at 11:59 PM
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
#UKbirding #scottishbirds #orkney #birds
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
Everyone down to Brown (shrike) town! #ukbirding #scottishbirding
September 28, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Everyone down to Brown (shrike) town! #ukbirding #scottishbirding
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
A locustella double of the highest order! Lancey and Pallas’s Gropper in the same day 😍 #scottishbirding #ukbirding
October 3, 2024 at 5:29 PM
A locustella double of the highest order! Lancey and Pallas’s Gropper in the same day 😍 #scottishbirding #ukbirding
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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!
September 7, 2024 at 11:30 AM
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...
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2024/09/28th...
28th August - 2nd September
With August now thankfully behind us September has started in style with a system of south-easterlies and a bit of rain. We have had few ye...
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com
September 2, 2024 at 7:47 PM
Blog update for the last few days. We’ve finally seen some birds after a rather bleak August.
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2024/09/28th...
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.
August 27, 2024 at 8:41 AM
One of over 200 Wheatears that passed through the island yesterday. There was also the islands 7th record of Mandarin on Ancum.
Reposted by North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
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!
August 25, 2024 at 9:02 PM
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!