Now is the time of year when baby Grey Seals are being born and these can be seen at particular places on Westray. Here is s bull Grey Seal patrolling the area for available females.
Common Snipe have increased in numbers to our shores and fields. Sometimes 40 can be seen feeding together.
Purple Sandpiper numbers are building up. At some locations with careful approach, photographs can be taken without disturbing their frenetic tideline feeding.
Pink-footed geese occur in smaller numbers than the Greylag goose. These two Pink-footed geese were with a flock of about fifty Greylags.
Baby Grey seals are born covered in creamy white fur which begins to shed after a couple of weeks, causing the baby to engage in a lot of scratching.
Cormorants nest on the adjacent island of Eday, but can be seen around Westray. This flock of around 20 flew over Rapness ferry terminal to the south of Westray.
Whooper Swans continue to be seen but in much smaller numbers. Occassionally, some appear wearing leg rings. We submit the details to the WWT which provide us with data about the bird’s known history. Invariably from Iceland, this information is useful to help with understanding the movements and requirements of this Amber listed species. We are awaiting feedback from this adult and it’s young.