Ritchie Dinnes reports this group of curlews which he spotted on the north coast passing through on their annual migration.
He also sends this picture. He says, "I was enjoying the birdlife on Orkney two weeks ago when I captured this image of a bird which I could not identify." He thinks he may now know what it is, but can anyone help?
And I am rather at a loss as to what this is, seen bobbing around in the waves off the Ormsaigbeg shore this evening.
Many thanks to Ritchie for the pictures.
Hi Jon,
ReplyDeleteThe first bird is a male Lapland bunting in summer plumage(very envious) and second one is a winter plumaged guillemot hope that helps.
Kev.
Pretty sure the Orkney bird is a Lapland Bunting.
ReplyDeleteDave K.
Is Ritchie's Orcadian Bunting perhaps from Lapland?
ReplyDeleteLapland Bunting. My other half (one of the nations' experts!)is currently there enjoying the Red- Winged Blackbird, first for Britain. Second one looks like a juvenile Guillemot.
ReplyDeleteBy 'there' I mean on Orkney!
ReplyDeleteJon looks like a Lapland Bunting and juvenile Guillemot
ReplyDeleteIs the little bird a Lapland Longspur?
ReplyDeleteJPS
Ritchie's Orkney bird is a male Lapland Bunting - a scarce winter migrant from Scandinavia or Greenland - quite a find!
ReplyDeleteYour bird on the sea is a Guillemot, still in winter plumage - not quite such a find!
Fingers crossed for the thrush nestlings!
I think the little bird is a Lapland Bunting. Nice one , Ritchie.
ReplyDeleteSheila Houston
I think the little bird is a Lapland Bunting. Well done, Ritchie.
ReplyDeleteThe suggestions for Ritchie's small bird range from Lapland longspur through to Lapland bunting, which is the identification that came from Ritchie's researches. And my sea bird seems to be a guillemot which is still in its winter plumage. Many thanks to all those who emailed me. Jon
ReplyDelete