Minke no Orcas

 Arbitary R-bM photo from Bosquoy early in the week

A text from PH summoned me to the Orphir Rd, scene of last year's big Orca pod. A single beast had been seen, I kind of suspected that this would not be quite right, and sure enough a single Minke Whale was evident feeding avidly around the Sound. I suspect this may well be the same animal as hung around Clestrain last year and was quite often reported as an Orca. Unfortunately I didn't stay quite long enough it seems as a pod of  five Orcas showed well off Ness Point a little later. Also in the Sound were quite a few divers including two Black-throats and at least one GND, as well as a few Red-throats. Plenty of auks and Arctic Terns too.

On to Yesnaby where there were a few skuas about, lots of breeding waders and piles of auks passing.

Back at The Shunan the drake Shoveler is still present as were a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Teal.