14th November

It rained all day! The few notable migrants that were out and about included a black redstart and greenfinch by Holland, 2 chiffchaff, and 3 woodcock. A goldeneye was on Gretchen Loch and the female scaup was still present on Bewan Loch.

13th November

Waders on the Links included 71 ringed plover, 79 sanderling, 11 dunlin and 20 bar-tailed godwit, and a hen harrier was at nearby Hooking. Singles of black redstart and stonechat were seen along the west side, and 3 common scoter flew past.2 robins were at Holland and other migrants still present included 2 woodcock and 6 chiffchaff. A sooty shearwater was seen on the sea and a scaup was on Bewan Loch.

12th November

A handful of migrants today, including a very late common redstart at Sandback, black redstart at the Observatory, 2 stonechat, a blackcap, 3 robin and 6 chiffchaff. A lapland bunting was mobile at the north end, notable finches comprised singles of brambling, greenfinch and meally redpoll and thrush numbers had decreased to just 32 blackbirds, 44 fieldfare, 63 redwing and 3 song thrush. A juvenile glaucous gull dropped in briefly on Garso Loch, the canada goose is still at Bridesness and a count of 296 wigeon is the largest for some time.












This interestingly late 1st winter female redstart showed buff fringes to the tertials and secondaries, creating a distinct pale wing panel most evident in the field. With this, the date and long wing length, 1mm within its range, it is tempting to assume this bird is of eastern origin. However, the eastern form samamisicus is currently regarded as indistinguishable from nominate phoenicurus in this plumage. Shame....

11th November

A juvenile iceland gull was amongst the many gulls at Bridesness, where the canada goose and 11 barnacle geese remain. A common scoter was in Nouster Bay and 23 long-tailed duck and 8 red-breasted merganser were in Linklet Bay. A dunnock at Westness is amazingly the first this autumn, and other counts included a blackcap, 3 chiffchaff, a goldcrest, 9 robins and 17 woodcock. Thrushes consisted 5 song thrush, 119 fieldfare, 91 blackbird and 93 redwing.

10th November

Today's few new arrivals included a black redstart, blackcap at Westness and a kestrel in the north, with a female scaup on Bewan Loch and common scoter in Garso Wick also of note. Leftovers of Fridays arrival consisted of 92 blackbirds, 81 fieldfare, 103 redwing, singles of song thrush and goldcrest, and 14 woodcock.

9th November

A grey phalarope was in Nouster bay, as were 11 long-tailed duck and 2 red-breasted merganser. Thrushes had decreased today with just 55 fieldfare, 59 redwing and 36 blackbird, 2 stonechat were around Twingness and black redstarts were at the Lurn and Westness. 2 each of robin, goldcrest and chiffchaff were at Holland, where the 3 common redpoll remain.

8th November

The HUME'S LEAF WARBLER was still present at Bridesness in the morning, and whilst watching this an OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT dropped in calling. It showed for some 15 minutes before heading off towards Stennabreck. There was limited coverage in the afternoon but thrushes were still in reasonable numbers, a single waxwing flew through and a black redstart was by Gretchen hide. 2 brambling were at Nether Linnay and in contrast to yesterday only 14 woodcock were seen. Other migrants included 13 goldcrest, 2 chiffchaff, 2 blackcap and 9 robin.