SITE STATS

BURGAR HILL IS a unique place, with historical moorland and a modern wind farm together. The local wader population as you make your way up the hill includes Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and especially Curlew, with Orkney holding the highest population in Britain of a bird now threatened by changes in agriculture. Grass cut for silage, which means cutting earlier Red-throated Diver than hay, gives little chance for the breeding season to be successful, especially for Curlew, but also many of the other breeding waders as well. Check for passing Whimbrel in the spring, as well as feeding Golden Plover and Dunlin down from the moor. A small number of Whimbrel now breed in Orkney. Orkney is blessed with a good breeding Twite population and it is always worth going through the finch flocks to find this little gem. Great Grey Shrike was found here in 2010. Once you’re on to level ground by the wind farm, look out for Pied Wagtails and passing White Wagtails in the spring. Wheatears enjoy this open ground along with feeding Meadow Pipits, Sky Lark and Twite. Once at the hide look out for the breeding Red-throated Divers as this is the best location to view them on mainland Orkney as adults fly back and forth to the sound for food. POSTCODE: KW17 2PJ GRID REF: HY345 260 HOW TO GET THERE: The hide is off the A966 just north of the B9057 turn-off on your left with an RSPN sign. You turn right past Georth and left after Nidgarth and onto the track that takes you to the wind farm WHERE TO PARK: Main car-parking area by the wind farm buildings DISTANCE AND TIME: It is only a few hundred yards to walk to the hide TERRAIN: Walk mainly on crushed stone ACCESSIBILITY: All hours, all year FACILITIES: Kirkwall or Stromness nearest PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Buses daily, although infrequently – OCTO bus (tel: 01856 871536) operates a flexible, ‘by request’ service in Orkney; travelinescotland.com ORGANISATIONS: orkney@rspb.org.uk, tel: 01856 850 176. The SOC, The Scottish Birdwatching Resource Centre, Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian EH32 0PY, Scotland CLUB CONTACT: SOC Orkney Colin Corse, Garrisdale, Lynnpark Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SL, tel: 01856 874 484 RSPB members group, Orkney contact Dick Matson, tel: 01856 751 426, p.wilson410@btinternet.com COUNTY RECORDER: Jim Williams jim@geniefea.freeserve.co.uk MAPS: OS Explorer 463, OS Landranger 5/6