Ways Of Learning…... North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory News…….BBC Pics of Scotland…….
by Bernie Bell - 09:00 on 13 December 2025
Ways Of Learning….
We were talking about mountain landscapes, and Mike was remembering at Primary School when the teacher showed them how mountains are formed by taking a piece of paper and pushing it so that it raised in the middle. Also, a teacher tying a rubber (pencil eraser) to the end of a piece of string and whirling it round and round to show how an electron goes round the nucleus of an atom.
Today, the information would be presented on a computer using Sooper-dooper graphics. The children would take in the information, but would miss out on the connection with the teacher and the memories of bits of paper and rubbers on strings – for which no machinery or electricity is needed. These explanations can be given just about anytime, anywhere, using what comes to hand – and it’s more fun!
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From North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory …….
“Recent Island Events
It has been a fairly quiet few months in North Ronaldsay, with the standout event being the North Ronaldsay Community Association’s (NRCA) supper and dance as part of the Science Festival occurring Orkney wide. During the day, islanders and visitors met at the Broch for some dyke building and to get the opportunity to meet some of the special guests who would be helping host the evening event. Guests included Haflidi Hallorsson, a chef and CEO of Icelandic lamb, and his wife Heida; Dorthea Joensen and Jens Ivan I Gerdinum, both farmers who also work for Búnaðarstovan, the very important agricultural centre in the Faroe Islands; Meg Rodger from Berneray, a crofter, artist and founder of the Birlinn Yarn Company; Alison Gault, a professor at Belfast School of Art and wool industry expert who is a leader on the Island Island project in Rathlin Island; and Charlotte Linton, a post-doctoral researcher in sustainable textiles who has been carrying out recent research in Orkney and Shetland.
After an afternoon of dyke building, the island reconvened at the Community Centre in the evening for a feast of dishes showing off lamb and mutton from different islands and communities. The food was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended, and home bakes from islanders topped off a fantastic supper. After stomachs had just about settled, it was time for the dance! We would like to thank Helga Scott for organising the events on the island and for all the guests and islanders who contributed to food preparation, service and for generally making the evening run smoothly.
Whilst events like suppers and dances bring the community together, the nature of an island community is a dynamic one. It was with great sadness we said goodbye to the Kerslake family at the end of September who left to explore bigger opportunities for their young family on mainland Scotland. Chris and Charlotte were invaluable members of the community, working a plethora of jobs to help island life run smoothly. At the obs we can all agree their pizza nights were a highlight! Their four children, Robin, Phoebe, Ezri and Camille will be missed by younger islanders and the school, and Robin became a valuable member of obs staff this year, helping in the shop and at lunch time service. We wish them luck in their new adventure!
Another departure from the island community was pilot Colin McAllister who retired from the Loganair inter-island service at the beginning of September. Islanders gathered to see him off the island for the last time and to say thank you for his many years of service to the islands.
Obs News
Staff remained the same throughout the Autumn (Alison Duncan as Warden, George Gay as Principal Ornithological Warden, Maddy Hine as Assistant Warden, Charles Gunn as chef/volunteer, and Craig Forsyth as volunteer), with the addition of Dylan Daunt from Edinburgh to boost census coverage. Staff remained on island until the beginning of November, with a series of unfortunate events involving weather, connecting flights and boats to catch, meant everyone rushed off on a small rib arranged by the council with just two hours to pack! Despite the hectic departure, it was another amazing season at North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory, with all the staff, visitors and guests throughout the year to thank for making it so great.
George and Maddy left island earlier than they would have liked to join the ringing group at Ngulia Lodge in Kenya. A busy two weeks saw over 8,000 birds ringed with big catches of Palearctic migrants including Whitethroat, Marsh Warbler, Thrush Nightingale, White-throated Robin, Rufous-tailed Bush-Robin, Upcher’s Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler and Eastern Olivaceaous Warbler boosting numbers significantly. Some of this year’s scarcer highlights included Rock Thrush, Basra Reed Warbler and River Warbler (we definitely got our eye in for when something turns up on North Ron!). A steady trickle of Afro-tropical birds made every ringing day interesting, sometimes you didn’t know what you were going to pull out of a bag next!
Meanwhile, back in the cooler climes of Orkney before staff left, final obs jobs of the season were taking place. The netting was taken off T5, some final repairs were made to traps to hopefully see them through the winter, and the trapping area nets were taken down. In the rush of departure, the nets were left furled in Holland Garden, but with the best of the winter season still ahead, there are definitely more birds to be caught there.
If you’d like to get a piece of the North Ronaldsay birding action for yourself, then we are now taking bookings for 2026 – contact us at enquiries@nrbo.org.uk or phone 01857 633200 or check out the online bookings through our website at www.nrbo.org.uk.
Keep up to date with recent sightings by visiting our blog: www.northronbirdobs.blogspot.com
Follow us on Twitter @NRonBirdObs and Facebook @North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory
NRBO shop
A range of NRBO branded merchandise can be bought from online through our website: https://www.nrbo.org.uk/online-shop/
NRBO badges and branded water bottles can be bought here: www.ukbirdingpins.co.uk/category/bird-observatories
Membership and Subscriptions
Annual membership costs £25 or £40 for those choosing to receive the Orkney Bird Report as well to cover the costs of both reports. If you would like to receive the Orkney Bird Report once it is published, please update your subscription to £40 to cover the extra report and postage. As always, included with membership is 10% off observatory accommodation.”
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BBC Pics of Scotland…..
5th – 12th December 2025….
Neil Moir’s image – just take a look!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r7vdrvgneo
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