David Roche
@papaybirder.bsky.social
Patch birder based on Papa Westray, Orkney
Just a snapshot of the mass of gulls, feeding in the North Wick this morning. Adult Iceland Gull amongst them, two White billed Diver past Mull Head and a fly over calling Waxwing. Technically speaking, all outdone by a Papay mega flock of ten Rook! #BirdingOrkney
November 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Just a snapshot of the mass of gulls, feeding in the North Wick this morning. Adult Iceland Gull amongst them, two White billed Diver past Mull Head and a fly over calling Waxwing. Technically speaking, all outdone by a Papay mega flock of ten Rook! #BirdingOrkney
And a wee bit of video as it fed along the dyke. Shame about the distinct lack of light! #OrkneyBirding
November 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
And a wee bit of video as it fed along the dyke. Shame about the distinct lack of light! #OrkneyBirding
Since my time here, there have only been three species seen on Papay which I have missed. A difficult one to get back with a strong eastern bias to Orkney records, this was the last place I expected to claw back a Pallas's Warbler. The sweetest kind of patch tick #PWC2025 #OrkneyBirding
November 6, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Since my time here, there have only been three species seen on Papay which I have missed. A difficult one to get back with a strong eastern bias to Orkney records, this was the last place I expected to claw back a Pallas's Warbler. The sweetest kind of patch tick #PWC2025 #OrkneyBirding
Couple of hours before I needed to be back in the shop so left the Firecrest to check elsewhere. Walking back for more views and this Bonaparte's Gull has appeared above Cott (wasn't there on the walk up!) #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025 2nd for Papay and still only the 5th Orkney record
November 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Couple of hours before I needed to be back in the shop so left the Firecrest to check elsewhere. Walking back for more views and this Bonaparte's Gull has appeared above Cott (wasn't there on the walk up!) #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025 2nd for Papay and still only the 5th Orkney record
Had all but given up hope of a Papay Firecrest until @papayranger.bsky.social came to the rescue with this bird at Shorehouse. An Island tick and only the 2nd Papay record. Now 13 birds found within Orkney this autumn, there had only been 35 records prior to this year! #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Had all but given up hope of a Papay Firecrest until @papayranger.bsky.social came to the rescue with this bird at Shorehouse. An Island tick and only the 2nd Papay record. Now 13 birds found within Orkney this autumn, there had only been 35 records prior to this year! #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
A quick check of Holland this morning, when I suddenly realised that I was being watched... missed the male Bullfinch, but Black Redstart and three Greenfinch new in plus a very unseasonal Wood Sandpiper at Mull Head #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025
October 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A quick check of Holland this morning, when I suddenly realised that I was being watched... missed the male Bullfinch, but Black Redstart and three Greenfinch new in plus a very unseasonal Wood Sandpiper at Mull Head #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025
A pretty rare, entirely non bird related post but too good not to share. Last night in the Papay hostel, singing with Caroline Price and Stream of Sound. A fitting end to an inspiring week of singing workshops. Utterly joyous
October 29, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A pretty rare, entirely non bird related post but too good not to share. Last night in the Papay hostel, singing with Caroline Price and Stream of Sound. A fitting end to an inspiring week of singing workshops. Utterly joyous
Of all the things that I thought I might find today, it's fair to say that a late October Dotterel wasn't one of them! Only my third Papay record (5th bird) but the first in autumn and my first juvenile anywhere since two on the beach at Snettisham back in 2005! #OrkneyBirding
October 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Of all the things that I thought I might find today, it's fair to say that a late October Dotterel wasn't one of them! Only my third Papay record (5th bird) but the first in autumn and my first juvenile anywhere since two on the beach at Snettisham back in 2005! #OrkneyBirding
Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Manse this afternoon #BirdingOrkney Can't remember the last vocal bird that I saw, so very satisfying to hear this one calling #PWC2025
October 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Manse this afternoon #BirdingOrkney Can't remember the last vocal bird that I saw, so very satisfying to hear this one calling #PWC2025
Barred Warbler giving good views in Rosa above the South Wick, first seen yesterday #BirdingOrkney Ten Pomarine Skua past Mull Head this morning plus a year tick Slav Grebe in the South Wick. Both Taiga Beans still present #PWC2025
October 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Barred Warbler giving good views in Rosa above the South Wick, first seen yesterday #BirdingOrkney Ten Pomarine Skua past Mull Head this morning plus a year tick Slav Grebe in the South Wick. Both Taiga Beans still present #PWC2025
Fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been something of a slog. We do tend to lose leaves a bit earlier in the autumn on here but this year seems particularly stark #BirdingOrkney Really doesn't feel like there is much left to attract and hold migrants...
October 10, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been something of a slog. We do tend to lose leaves a bit earlier in the autumn on here but this year seems particularly stark #BirdingOrkney Really doesn't feel like there is much left to attract and hold migrants...
No need when you have your very own, carefully constructed seawatch shelter! #OrkneyBirding
October 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
No need when you have your very own, carefully constructed seawatch shelter! #OrkneyBirding
Unbirdable outside so it's a day of description writing and painting. That said, I will be keeping a regular eye out from the house, should @stevedudley.bsky.social Franklin's Gull decide to drop in for a visit onto the loch...
October 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Unbirdable outside so it's a day of description writing and painting. That said, I will be keeping a regular eye out from the house, should @stevedudley.bsky.social Franklin's Gull decide to drop in for a visit onto the loch...
In on the recent Taiga action with this adult and juvenile, present at Backaskaill this morning. My first, anywhere away from the Yare Valley birds of winters past #BirdingOrkney Third find tick in under two weeks, having not added anything since May 2023! @patchbirding.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
In on the recent Taiga action with this adult and juvenile, present at Backaskaill this morning. My first, anywhere away from the Yare Valley birds of winters past #BirdingOrkney Third find tick in under two weeks, having not added anything since May 2023! @patchbirding.bsky.social
Orkney's 5th record of Brown Shrike, present in the garden of the Manse today #BirdingOrkney A species that I always thought should have one day been on the cards for here #PWC2025 #RareBirdsUK
September 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Orkney's 5th record of Brown Shrike, present in the garden of the Manse today #BirdingOrkney A species that I always thought should have one day been on the cards for here #PWC2025 #RareBirdsUK
Baird's Sandpiper in the North Wick this evening #OrkneyBirding 7th Orkney record, 1st for Papay and a species I have always imagined finding here #PWC2025 Present for all of about five minutes but thankfully obliged for the camera #RareBirdsUK
September 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Baird's Sandpiper in the North Wick this evening #OrkneyBirding 7th Orkney record, 1st for Papay and a species I have always imagined finding here #PWC2025 Present for all of about five minutes but thankfully obliged for the camera #RareBirdsUK
Rosefinch around Whitehowe this afternoon #BirdingOrkney One that was missing from the island year list last year. Always surprises me how scarce these seem to be in Orkney, outside of the North isles. Just a lack of coverage from mainland?
September 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Rosefinch around Whitehowe this afternoon #BirdingOrkney One that was missing from the island year list last year. Always surprises me how scarce these seem to be in Orkney, outside of the North isles. Just a lack of coverage from mainland?
Wryneck can be frustratingly skulking at times. Other times, less so... #BirdingOrkney Another new bird this morning #PWC2025
September 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Wryneck can be frustratingly skulking at times. Other times, less so... #BirdingOrkney Another new bird this morning #PWC2025
Buff-breasted Sandpiper hanging out on the Papay airfield today #PWC2025 #BirdingOrkney Two or three recorded most autumns within Orkney, but only my second island record.
September 11, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Buff-breasted Sandpiper hanging out on the Papay airfield today #PWC2025 #BirdingOrkney Two or three recorded most autumns within Orkney, but only my second island record.
Pectoral Sandpiper above the North Wick this afternoon, plus a surprise reappearance by the Greenish Warbler in the willows outside Hundland #BirdingOrkney Refound here the day after being seen at Fowl Craig but not seen since. Couple of Pied Flycatchers, my first of the year here #PWC2025
August 31, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Pectoral Sandpiper above the North Wick this afternoon, plus a surprise reappearance by the Greenish Warbler in the willows outside Hundland #BirdingOrkney Refound here the day after being seen at Fowl Craig but not seen since. Couple of Pied Flycatchers, my first of the year here #PWC2025
My first Papay tick of 2025 in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper, briefly in the North Wick this morning. No sign this afternoon, but made up for by finding this Greenish Warbler in the far geo at Fowl Craig! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Also a Great Shearwater offshore whilst watching it
August 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
My first Papay tick of 2025 in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper, briefly in the North Wick this morning. No sign this afternoon, but made up for by finding this Greenish Warbler in the far geo at Fowl Craig! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Also a Great Shearwater offshore whilst watching it
Young Ruff in the North Wick this morning. A new breeding species for Papay #OrkneyBirding Despite seeing the male, several times over the late spring/Summer period, they were remarkably discrete and almost avoided detection completely #PWC2025
August 13, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Young Ruff in the North Wick this morning. A new breeding species for Papay #OrkneyBirding Despite seeing the male, several times over the late spring/Summer period, they were remarkably discrete and almost avoided detection completely #PWC2025
Before and after. That's what happens when you get 80mph winds in August...
August 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Before and after. That's what happens when you get 80mph winds in August...
A few more random pics. Great to see so many Spot Flys, Bullfinches, young Willow Warblers, Redpolls (one loose flock of over 400 birds!) and general common stuff I don't see on Papay.
August 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM
A few more random pics. Great to see so many Spot Flys, Bullfinches, young Willow Warblers, Redpolls (one loose flock of over 400 birds!) and general common stuff I don't see on Papay.
A circular route starting in Brora and walking the strath through to Rogart and Loch Fleet. Back along the coast past Golspie to finish back in Brora. Some superb areas of habitat and an abundance of birdlife and plants
August 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM
A circular route starting in Brora and walking the strath through to Rogart and Loch Fleet. Back along the coast past Golspie to finish back in Brora. Some superb areas of habitat and an abundance of birdlife and plants