Birds to See in Orkney Islands in August
104 bird species on our list for Orkney Islands are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Barn Swallow and Common Starling. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Hen Harrier, Chaffinch and Purple Sandpiper and 12 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Orkney Islands’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 104 birds in August
104 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.74% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.73% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.59% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.27% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaSummer visitorCommon31–34 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 2.26% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.22% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Aug
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.87% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.82% in Aug
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.56% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorCommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.51% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.37% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.27% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.25% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesSummer visitorCommon9–10 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.18% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.17% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorCommon24–25 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.12% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.01% in Aug
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantCommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 0.99% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.93% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.90% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.89% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.88% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.85% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.85% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.80% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.79% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.76% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantCommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.72% in Aug
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.72% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.70% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.70% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.68% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.66% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.62% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.61% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.60% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.59% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.55% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.53% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Aug
CootFulica atraSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.49% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.44% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.40% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.40% in Aug
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.40% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaSummer visitorCommon34–39 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.39% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.36% in Aug
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.34% in Aug
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.31% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.30% in Aug
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantCommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.29% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.28% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in Aug
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Aug
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorCommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.27% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.27% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.24% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorCommon50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.23% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentCommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.22% in Aug
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.21% in Aug
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Aug
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusScarceUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug · 0.16% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.15% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.10% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.08% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in Aug
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · records held back in Aug (protected)
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.05% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentCommon58–77 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in Aug (protected)
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Little AukAlle alleScarceUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · records held back in Aug (protected)
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made