Buff-tailedBumblebee(Bombus terrestris)
Flapper (or Common) Skate Egg Case. This empty egg case was found washed up on Swartmill Beach.
Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone. There are still a few Purple Sandpipers feeding along shorelines on Westray along with Turnstones. A great opportunity to see them changing from their winter to their summer plumages.
Westray has had a “First”, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee on 8th May 2018. It flew lazily over some rank grass then disappeared briefly into a tiny burrow before emerging and flying purposefully away. This species of bee has only recently colonised Orkney and is rapidly spreading across the islands.
Goldfinch. Unusual for Westray, this Goldfinch has been seen on local bird feeders.
Bonxie (Great Skua). Bonxie’s are back! This individual was flying over Rackwick Links to the north of Westray, but they can be seen anywhere as they search for food.
Water Rail. A lucky but brief sighting of this Water Rail crossing a ditch at Swartmill Loch.
Sand Martins. These two individuals were perched on a fence above Loch of Burness, another welcome sign of the new breeding season on Westray.
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