Well, the bird has hopefully roosted in the reed bed at Liddell Loch, South Ronaldsay this evening after showing well for most of the day.
PLEASE could anyone coming to see it take heed of the following.
The bird moves between a stubble field ONLY viewable from the cottage "Murray" on the B9041 at HY584843 - take the turn signposted Tomb of the Eagles and this is the first house on your right as you get to the top of the hill. Park there and look SE to the beacon on the Skerry and the bird should be on the skyline in the stubble field. If not there go to the sharp left bend at the bottom of the hill after following the signs to the Tomb of the Eagles, at HY 456838, park sensibly, and walk West along the rough track until you reach a stubble field that suddenly appears on your left. The bird spends time in this area with loafing gulls; find the gulls here and the crane should be with them.
Please don't try to get too close, please don't try to get better photos than mine (published above!) - remember, there are other people on their way to see this bird after you (Paul Higson, finder of the 4th-ever Sandhill Crane to make landfall in Britain and Ireland)
