🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2026 season, part or full time roles available! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
There will be further info about staff roles in the new year, both full-time and voluntary.
#OrkneyBirding
Siberian Rubythroat
Black-headed Bunting
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mandarin’s
Another season filed away!
In summary it was a quiet spring with very little to shout about but the autumn was superb. Our second records of Rufous-tailed Robin and Siberian Rubythroat the standout birds with a strong supporting cast. Thank you to all this years staff and visitors, see you in 2026!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at NRBO
Warra week. Black-throated Thrush and Sibe Rubythroat!
#OrkneyBirding
Always nice to find a Red-breasted Flycatcher, this bird appeared to drop onto a wall and feed in the garden at Dennishill.
#OrkneyBirding
Another day, another bird. This Black-headed Bunting found by @maddyhine.bsky.social is our 9th island record and first since 2012. Needless to say, another island tick!
#OrkneyBirding
A bit of video of todays White-rumped Sandpiper on Sandsheen. First on here since two birds in 2015. Amazed it was able to predate the Great Black-backed Gull, or thats what I assume from the evidence 🫣
#OrkneyBirding
Three nights and three Leach’s Petrels! We’ve also caught 118 Storm Petrels, a great start to the Stormy sessions
#OrkneyBirding
#StormPetrels #SeabirdsUK
Who doesn’t love a contextually significant rubbish bird. A nice pair of Mandarin on Gretchen this morning, only the second time I’ve seen Mandarin in North Ronaldsay
#OrkneyBirding #NotPlasticStillFantastic
A superb Aurora Borealis showing last night over the obs
#space #northernlights #darkskies #orkney #aurora
A quick update on the blog from the past few days! The mist nets are up in Holland and the year list is ticking along nicely ✅
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/4th-...
#OrkneyBirding
Appears the link to the blog didnt work yesterday! So we’ll try again!
#OrkneyBirding
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/wint...
An update from over the winter and sightings from the first few days of March now on the blog! With the appearance of a familiar friend, we have our first rarity of the year!
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2025/03/winter…
#OrkneyBirding
Well our first adult Glaucous Gull of 2025 wasn’t quite in the condition we’d hoped for 😢
Happy New Year from all of us at NRBO. We’re looking forward to seeing you in 2025!
🚨VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY🚨
We are looking for a volunteer for the 2025 season to help with bird monitoring, ringing, and obs maintenance! Full board included. Long term volunteers preferred, but all applications welcome! Contact alison@nrbo.co.uk for more info.
Please share!
🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
What a year it has been @northronbirdobs.bsky.social ! Personal highlights include Ortolan Bunting, Great Snipe, Black-faced Bunting, Long-tailed Skua, Stone-curlew (island mega!), and a pterdroma now in the hands of the BBRC powers that be as a Zino’s Petrel! #UKbirding
Eyebrowed Thrush
Lanceolated Warbler
Brown Shrike
Booted Warbler
The 2024 season is coming to a close! Its been an incredible year of birds. It appears we may have beaten last years yearlist total, but still need to wait on various rarities making the grade! A big thank you from me, Maddy and Alison to all the volunteers and guests this year!
Not the November bird I had mind, but the first Brown Booby for Orkney was a very welcome find after a dry spell. Not quite as smart as yesterdays Eyebrowed Thrush, Craig seems to attract bright orange birds! #scottishbirds #OrkneyBirds #UKbirding
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
All the lovely habitat we have here on the island and the Black-faced Bunting chooses a cattle pen full of litter…
#scottishbirding #orkneybirds
@northronbirdobs.bsky.social
Born in the USA. This very obliging American Robin was a first for the island this afternoon, not what we thought the easterly winds had in store for us! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
#UKbirding #scottishbirds #orkney #birds
Everyone down to Brown (shrike) town! #ukbirding #scottishbirding
A locustella double of the highest order! Lancey and Pallas’s Gropper in the same day 😍 #scottishbirding #ukbirding
This Dusky Warbler was a wholly unexpected find this morning while showing new volunteer @cgunnnat.bsky.social around D. Im told the earliest Autumn record by some distance!
Blog update for the last few days. We’ve finally seen some birds after a rather bleak August.
northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/2024/09/28th...
One of over 200 Wheatears that passed through the island yesterday. There was also the islands 7th record of Mandarin on Ancum.
White-line Dart
Double-Dart
Moth traps have been an unmitigated disaster this year so far! Not sure we’ve ever had so few trapping nights! That said Double Dart is a first for the island so it’s not all bad!
