WHITE-BILLED DIVER
(Gavia adamsii)
An adult flew north through Rapness Sound on 30th May 2000. This species is a very rare visitor to British waters from breeding grounds on the Arctic Siberian tundra.

LITTLE EGRET
(Egretta garzetta)
One long-staying individual was at the Swartmill Loch from 29th October to 24th November 1981.

WHITE STORK
(Ciconia ciconia)
There are two records of single birds, both seen at the Burness Loch. The first was on 20th-24th May 1971 and the second was a bird which had wandered widely throughout Orkney, taking in Westray on 29th-30th May 1977.

SPOONBILL
(Platalea leucorodia)
There is an old record of a flock of four at the Burness Loch on 10th October 1889.

STELLER’S EIDER
(Polysticta stelleri)
On 25th October 1974, an immature drake was found off Aikerness; staying until 14th November. This bird remained in the area, being seen off Westray on 14th July 1978 and again from 7th May to 24th June 1981. It was also seen off Papa Westray in several years from 1974, with the final sighting being in July 1982.

COMMON CRANE
(Grus grus)
There are several recent records. In 1971, one stayed in the Noltland area from 24th-29th May. A long-stayer was on the island in 1988, from 16th July-2nd August. A migrating flock of four were seen at several places on the island in May 1997 before being later recorded over North Ronaldsay and Fair Isle.

AVOCET
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
There is one record of this extremely rare bird in Orkney; two birds were at the Ouse on 8th May 1974.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER
(Calidris melanotos)
One was shot at the Burness Loch on 28th August 1889.

IVORY GULL
(Pagophila eburnea)
The sole record of this high arctic breeder is from 1889, when one was shot on 9th December.

SCOPS OWL
(Otus scops)
One was seen on 30th April 1948. This tiny owl is a vagrant from southern European breeding areas, an a less than annual visitor to Britain.

SNOWY OWL
(Nyctea scandiaca)
One was seen on 19th May 1967 with another twenty years later on 14th March 1987. There is a further un-documented record from Skelwick around 1996.

BEE-EATER
(Merops apiaster)
One was at Skaill on 29th-30th May 1969.

ROLLER
(Coracius garrulus)
There are two records from the 19th Century; of two on 10th November 1890 and one in June 1896. A third record came in 1950 when one was seen in July.

MELODIOUS WARBLER
(Hippolais polyglotta)
One was seen in a ditch near Chapelbrae on 10th June 1993.

ICTERINE WARBLER
(Hippolais icterina)
One was seen around 1998, details not known.

MAGPIE
(Pica pica)
An individual of this tree-loving species must have looked very out of place at Noup Head on 14th April 1900.

CHOUGH
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
There are two records of this extremely rare crow on Westray; on 19th October 1935 and 14th May 1942. The nearest breeding population is in Islay.

ORTOLAN BUNTING
(Emberiza hortulana)
The sole record is of one on 7th May 1970.

LITTLE BUNTING
(Emberiza pusilla)
A recent addition to the island bird list, one was seen at Noup Farm on 3rd October 1998.