Waders

Wheatear

Up with the Dunlin, I headed to Birsay. I walked the length of the Links beach and much of the Zanzibar bit (before a dog came and everything flew away). 30 or so Dunlin including a juvenile or two, a possible stint but only seen in flight and it wasn't relocated, a few Turnstone, some Ringed Plovers and two summer plumaged Sanderling. More surprising was a fluffy and quite small Oystercatcher chick.

To Marwick where there were plenty of Oystercatcher and Curlew on the new mown field and one summer plumage Sanderling. A few more juvenile Wheatear here and a singing Sedge Warbler.

At The Loons hide there was a Water Rail, plenty of Sedge Warblers a Greylag with an orange (local) necklace. However, just along the road at the watchpoint, a Whimbrel, two Blackwits and two Greenshank.

Back at the ranch The Shunan held juvenile Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls along with the usual Commons and Black-headeds. A marked paucity of waders at my local patch.