Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 3d

Aye, 23 yesterday. Normally two pairs of breeding Mute Swan on there

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 3d

A slight drop in the wind produced a bonanza of Sooty Shearwater off Mull Head #BirdingOrkney 360 west, but lots of birds feeding, including one flock of up to 150. Also my 2nd Barred Warbler of the autumn along the North Wick #PWC2025

1 17

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 4d

Don't worry, Its not as dangerous/collapsible as what it might appear!

2

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 4d

No need when you have your very own, carefully constructed seawatch shelter! #OrkneyBirding

1 1 12

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 4d

Unbirdable outside so it's a day of description writing and painting. That said, I will be keeping a regular eye out from the house, should @stevedudley.bsky.social Franklin's Gull decide to drop in for a visit onto the loch...

3 1 45

Reposted by David Roche

Will Bowell- Just Wild Images @justwildimages.bsky.social · 6d

Stunning views of the Siberian Thrush in Shetland. Worth the three hours in Loch Asta. More on justwildimages.blogspot.com
@birdguides.bsky.social @promoteshetland.bsky.social
@hughharrop.bsky.social @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social
@britishbirds.bsky.social @britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social

2 8 75

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 14d

In on the recent Taiga action with this adult and juvenile, present at Backaskaill this morning. My first, anywhere away from the Yare Valley birds of winters past #BirdingOrkney Third find tick in under two weeks, having not added anything since May 2023! @patchbirding.bsky.social

1 1 27

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 15d

Juv Long-tailed Skua past Mull Head this morning #BirdingOrkney Two Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Whinchat the best migrant offerings, but all lingering birds. No sign of Brown Shrike today

1 17

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 16d

Brown Shrike still present this morning for its fourth day #BirdingOrkney Finally a rest bite tomorrow from the wind, so hopefully some action on the sea or a chance to unearth some new arrivals...

1 9

Reposted by David Roche

Steve Dudley @stevedudley.bsky.social · 19d

Here’s a wee clip of the utterly fabulous Brown Shrike found by @papaybirder.bsky.social on neighbouring Papa Westray today. I do so enjoy a little dirty Papay twitching 😜 All part of the joys of #WestrayBirding + 🙅🏻‍♂️

3 4 88

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 19d

Orkney's 5th record of Brown Shrike, present in the garden of the Manse today #BirdingOrkney A species that I always thought should have one day been on the cards for here #PWC2025 #RareBirdsUK

2 6 92

Reposted by David Roche

John Malloy @johnmalloy.bsky.social · 24d

Black Tern, Druridge Bay Country Park
September 2025.

#NEBirding

1 1 27

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 24d

Agreed!

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 24d

Baird's Sandpiper in the North Wick this evening #OrkneyBirding 7th Orkney record, 1st for Papay and a species I have always imagined finding here #PWC2025 Present for all of about five minutes but thankfully obliged for the camera #RareBirdsUK

1 1 63

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 25d

Rosefinch around Whitehowe this afternoon #BirdingOrkney One that was missing from the island year list last year. Always surprises me how scarce these seem to be in Orkney, outside of the North isles. Just a lack of coverage from mainland?

1 1 37

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 25d

Wryneck can be frustratingly skulking at times. Other times, less so... #BirdingOrkney Another new bird this morning #PWC2025

2 4 64

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 27d

Buff-breasted Sandpiper hanging out on the Papay airfield today #PWC2025 #BirdingOrkney Two or three recorded most autumns within Orkney, but only my second island record.

1 1 64

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 28d

A bit greyer than your average juvenile but yes. Can't turn it into a SemiP or RNStint unfortunately

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Sep 8

Until today I had only seen four Wryneck on Papay, in what is now my 9th year on the island. This afternoon, I found THREE different birds within less than two hours! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Five Garden Warbler and three Pied Fly also amongst a small number of common migrants

3 38

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 31

Pectoral Sandpiper above the North Wick this afternoon, plus a surprise reappearance by the Greenish Warbler in the willows outside Hundland #BirdingOrkney Refound here the day after being seen at Fowl Craig but not seen since. Couple of Pied Flycatchers, my first of the year here #PWC2025

3 41

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 26

My first Papay tick of 2025 in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper, briefly in the North Wick this morning. No sign this afternoon, but made up for by finding this Greenish Warbler in the far geo at Fowl Craig! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Also a Great Shearwater offshore whilst watching it

Feeding in the bottom of the geo, less than 10 metres below me

Far North end of Fowl Craig. I have always walked past this geo and thought it deserved something good... Not sure I have ever seen a single migrant passerine in it until today!

2 3 76

Reposted by David Roche

Tim Marshall @twmar.bsky.social · Aug 22

A trip out to the Eastern end of the Moray Firth with Guide Charters out of Macduff gave us a close encounter with a Sooty Shearwater which stayed with the boat for over 15 minutes. Another highlight was a Pomarine Skua that did a fly-by. #birdingscotland

1 36

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 21

Quite (and most definitely not a Robin/Thrush!) Bullock's Oriole from North America

1

Reposted by David Roche

British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · Aug 19

A life-sized bronze statue has been unveiled on the island of Papa Westray, Orkney, in memory of the last known Great Auk Pinguinus impennis killed there in 1813. The statue is an exact replica of the preserved remains of the bird, which are held by the Natural History Museum.

5 83 260

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 17

Two Great Shearwater past Mull Head this morning plus 53 Manx and 57 Sooty #BirdingOrkney Also first major arrival of Wheatear with over 100 birds between Mull Head and Fowl Craig

1 20