15th - 17th September

Bright and breezy on the 15^th with little evidence of any new arrivals as migrant totals across the land included the Barred Warbler still at Obs, 2 Kestrels, 2 Merlins, a Peregrine, 404 Meadow Pipits, 3 Rock Pipits, the Black Redstart, one of the summering Fieldfares still, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap and 6 Willow Warblers.   Other little bits of note comprised 8 Red-throated Divers off Stennabreck and single Grey Plover, Ruff and Jack Snipe.

                A very difficult day on the 16^th with a blazing force 8 southerly swinging round into the west, it certainly was tricky out in the field as the few birds unearthed included 5 Herons, 5 Pintail with 80 Wigeon, 2 Kestrels, a Merlin, 2 Peregrines, a lone juvenile Sand Martin, the Barred Warbler again at the Obs, 2 Willow Warblers and a Lapland Bunting on Trinley.

                A much nicer day on the 17^th with lighter winds and some nice sunshine in the afternoon; most of the interest was offshore with two and a half hours seawatching producing single Red-throated and Great-northern Divers, 2,184 Fulmars, 22 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Storm Petrels, 2 Leach’s Petrels, 725 Gannets and 7 Common Scoter while a nice flock of 8 Whooper Swans flew south along with 32 Pink-footed Geese.

                On the land birds included single Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine, a Ruff, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Barred Warblers (at the Obs and possibly a new bird at Senness), 2 Willow Warblers and a Common Redpoll at the Obs.

Whooper Swans

Peregrine

13th and 14th September

A very rough day on the 13^th with strong westerly winds bringing heavy, nasty squalls across the island; the main feature of the day was a movement of 647 Pink-footed Geese south over the island with small flocks passing by throughout the day (the biggest flock of 220 rested for a time on Stromness Point), associated with these were a few Wigeon seen coming in from the north and a juvenile Scaup briefly on Brides Loch – the first of the year.

                Passerines were limited to lingering birds which included 2 Sand Martins, 544 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipits, a Black Redstart, a Redwing, the Grasshopper Warbler near the lighthouse, a Barred Warbler at Brigg, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Holland, a Willow Warbler and a Brambling.   Other birds of note comprised 6 Herons, 2 Kestrels, 2 Merlins (including one in off the sea from the north) and an adult and juvenile Common Tern in Nouster Bay – only the fourth record of the year.

                A nicer day on the 14^th, still blustery with showers sweeping through but slightly calmer and the showers were further apart; a few Passerines popped up in the better conditions – probably all lingering birds which included a Lapland Bunting, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers (two at Holland and one at the surgery), 2 Barred Warblers (Obs and Holland), 3 Sand Martins, 5 Rock Pipits, a Robin, a Black Redstart, 59 Wheatears, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler.

                Other birds included the first Whooper Swan of the autumn in off the sea, 2 Kestrels, 2 Merlins, 2 Peregrines (including on over the Obs carrying at Kittiwake!), a Grey Plover, 6 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits.

There's always one lone, lost juvenile when the Pink-feet come through!

Yellow-browed Warbler               Simon Davies

10th - 12th September

A rough day on the 10^th with a strong SW wind and showers blowing through; the recent spell of easterlies still exerted their influence though as the day’s highlight was a lovely, tiny, streaky LANCEOLATED WARBLER caught by hand in rough grass at Sandar, ringed, admired and released at the Obs where it typically ran away like a mouse and rapidly disappeared – only the fifth for the island!   Other birds dug out on the land included the Greenish Warbler still at Dennishill, 2 Common Rosefinches together at Phisligar, 2 Kestrels, 5 Sand Martins, a Rock Pipit, a Black Redstart, a Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Pied Flycatcher.    Also of note were 8 Red-throated Divers, 6 Herons, 2 Pintail and 2 Ruff.

                An even rougher day on the 11^th with a blazing strong SW wind and more showers so new arrivals were at a premium but did include a Grasshopper Warbler by the lighthouse – the overdue first of the year, a House Martin in off the sea at the north end – only the second of the autumn and a little arrival of 39 Wheatears.   Lingering birds comprised the Buff-breasted Sandpiper still on Brides Loch, the Greenish Warbler still, a Barred Warbler at Brigg, 2 Kestrels, single Ruff and Whimbrel, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Rock Pipits, a Whitethroat and 2 Willow Warblers.

                We are now in the time that birds are going to move despite the weather not just because of it as with the strong westerly airflow still in charge on the 12^th there were still some new arrivals noted with a Corncrake flushed from docks at Longar – the first of the autumn and second of the year, a juvenile Stonechat at the Obs, 2 Bramblings at Holland and the overdue first Lapland Bunting of the autumn on The Links.

                Other birds seen which were most likely lingering individuals included the Greenish Warbler again, 2 Barred Warblers (Obs and Holland House), a Yellow-browed Warbler at the surgery, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ruff, the Black Redstart, 4 Willow Warblers and a Pied Flycatcher while the lochs held 73 Wigeon and 4 Pintail.

Lanceolated Warbler - shame it had lost its tail                Simon Davies

Sand Martin hiding from the showers                       Simon Davies

8th and 9th September

A good autumnal feeling day on the 8^th with light winds and misty murk coming and going through the day, it was just a shame that the wind had gone back into the NW; there was a good list of scarcities across the island through the day which included a Marsh Warbler trapped at Holland, 2 Barred Warblers (Obs and a new bird trapped at Holland), 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 3 Common Rosefinches and the early first Brambling for the autumn.

                Other migrant totals comprised 2 Short-eared Owls, a Rock Pipit, the Black Redstart, a Redstart, a Whinchat, a Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.   Also of note were 82 Wigeon and a little arrival of 14 Pintail, a Kestrel, 774 Golden Plover, a Grey Plover, a Ruff, 10 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel.

                A light southerly breeze started the day on the 9^th but this soon became a brisk south-westerly, not usually our most profitable wind direction but there was again a nice selection of migrants across the island which included a Rock Pipit, the Black Redstart, a Redstart, 3 Whinchat, a Sedge Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, the Greenish Warbler again which reappeared back at Dennishill, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher and a single Common Rosefinch.

                Other little bits included the Buff-breasted Sandpiper still on Brides Loch, the first Jack Snipe of the autumn with an influx of 300+ Snipe, an increase to 8 Red-throated Divers, 3 Kestrels, a Ruff and 9 Black-tailed Godwits.

Yellow-browed Warbler                          George Gay

Whinchat                                            George Gay

5th - 7th September

A calm start on the 5^th before a brisk southerly breeze picked up through the day; the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at Brides while a trickle of migrants across the land included an influx of 375+ Meadow Pipits, the first Reed Warbler of the autumn (and only second of the year!), the Icterine Warbler again, a Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers and a Common Rosefinch at the Obs in the evening.   Other bits included an influx of 8+ Kestrels, single Merlin and Peregrine, a Grey Plover and 9 Black-tailed Godwits.

                A pleasant day on the 6^th with a few little hints that we might be finally getting some migrants including a Pied Flycatcher, 4 Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Barred Warblers (Obs and The Mill), the Icterine Warbler still, 2 Sedge Warblers and a Black Redstart.   Elsewhere, counts included 78 Wigeon, 80 Teal, single Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine and 11 Black-tailed Godwits.

                A fantastic day on the 7^th with out autumn finally arriving with a bang and a host of new migrants across the island, the overnight rain lingered through until mid-morning but it wasn’t until the afternoon that birds started to be unearthed as it seemed that new birds kept arriving all the time.    The highlights in summary included a GREENISH WARBLER at Bewan House, an ARCTIC WARBLER at Ancum Willows (about time after multiple birds just to the north of us!), the first Wryneck of the year at Nether Linney, our earliest ever Yellow-browed Warbler at Westbeach, a Common Rosefinch, a Barred Warbler and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Brides still.

                Other migrants across the land included 2 Kestrels, a Peregrine, 6 Sand Martins, 3 Tree Pipits and 3 Rock Pipits in amongst a big arrival of 655+ Meadow Pipits, 3 Redstarts, the first Whinchat of the autumn, a Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 8 Willow Warblers, the first 2 Spotted Flycatchers of the autumn and a Pied Flycatcher.   Also of note were 4 Herons, 4 Ruff, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel.

Arctic Warbler                      Simon Davies

Common Rosefinch                      Simon Davies

2nd - 4th September

Another pleasant, bright day with light winds on the 2^nd with a good selection of migrants (just not passerines!); an influx of duck was perhaps most noteworthy as counts included 68 Wigeon, 82 Teal, 39 Mallard and a Pintail all being harried by a good spread of raptors which comprised the second Common Buzzard of the year around Holland and Trebb, 2 Hen Harriers, 3 Kestrels, a Merlin and a Short-eared Owl.   Other little bits included 4 Great-northern Divers, 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Puffins and 5 Risso’s Dolphins offshore, 5 Herons, 44 Knot, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, 60 Redshank and 4 Willow Warblers – the only landbird migrants of note.

                A similar day on the 3^rd with a light westerly breeze but a trickle of migrants made it onto the day’s log which included 3 Barred Warblers (two trapped at Holland and another at Veracott), the first Blackcap of the autumn, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 6 Willow Warblers, a Song Thrush and a Black Redstart.   The day’s other highlight was the re-appearance of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Brides Loch in the afternoon.

                Other birds through the day included a Hen Harrier, 5 Kestrels, a Merlin, a Ruff, 10 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Sandwich Terns in Nouster (an adult and a juvenile) while 6 Risso’s Dolphins and a Minke Whale were off the top end.

                An awesome day on the 4^th with bright sunshine and hardly a breath of wind first thing developing into a welcome light easterly; a selection of migrants included the first Common Rosefinch of the autumn at Gravity, an Icterine Warbler at Antabreck, 2 Barred Warblers (Obs and Holland), the first Redstart of the autumn at Westness, 6 Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Herons, the first Sparrowhawk of the autumn, 4 Kestrels and a Hen Harrier.

                The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at Brides while other waders included a Grey Plover and 13 Black-tailed Godwits.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper                               Simon Davies

Knot                                                  Simon Davies

30th August - 1st September

A nice day on the 30th with a light westerly breeze and plenty of sunshine; the highlights of a quiet day in the field came early on as we caught a smart young female Kestrel and a new Barred Warbler in the traps around the Observatory.   Other birds of note through the day included a Hen Harrier, 3-4 Kestrels, a Merlin, a good count of 1,010 Golden Plover, 94+ alba Wagtails (including a good roost of 45 at the Obs), an influx of 133 Wheatears, the 2 Fieldfares and the Lesser Whitethroat again.

                A calm start on the 31^st but the wind rapidly picked up to become a strong southerly by the afternoon, unlike elsewhere on the northern isles it was tough out in the field with little rewards as birds of note comprised 3 Herons, single Hen Harrier, Kestrel and Merlin, an influx of 170 Snipe with many small flocks buzzing around and a Black Redstart still around Holland.

                All change again on the 1^st with fully overcast conditions and a very light and decreasing SW breeze; there was a nice range of species seen across the island but still quiet on the landbird front with the regular suite of raptors being joined by a 3cy Peregrine, a Tree Pipit, the Black Redstart, a Song Thrush and 8 Willow Warblers.

                Other birds of note included single Red-throated and Great-northern Divers, 4 Sooty and 16 Manx Shearwaters offshore, another trickle of ducks onto the island included 23 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall and the first Pintail of the autumn, 2 Grey Plovers again, 2 Ruff, 138 Snipe and 3 Black-tailed Godwits.

Barred Warbler               Simon Davies

Kestrel                             Simon Davies

28th and 29th August

Dry and bright through the 28^th with a brisk and increasing southerly breeze; two more stand out birds were seen through the day with a moulting adult Black Tern seen briefly roosting on Bewan Loch before being flushed by an Arctic Skua and then being seen zooming over Brides Loch half an hour later which was followed in the afternoon by a cracking adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper found feeding on the beach at Brides.

                The great raptor spectacular continued with 2-3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlins, 3-4 Kestrels, a Peregrine and 3 Short-eared Owls all floating around, making counting them a bit tricky, also on the land the first 2 Tree Pipits and Rock Pipit of the autumn were seen along with the Lesser Whitethroat still at the Obs.   Other birds included 46 Sooty Shearwaters, 58 Manx Shearwaters and a Red-throated Diver were offshore, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Whimbrel.

                Bright and sunny again on the 29^th but the now force 6-7 southerly wind made things difficult in the field; there were limited new arrivals with an influx of ducks noteworthy which included 108+ Teal, 77+ Mallard, 4 Shoveler and 3 Wigeon along with a few increased wader counts comprised 71 Ringed Plover, 67 Dunlin, 3 Ruff and 28 Black-tailed Godwits.   Two Hen Harriers, 2-3 Kestrels and a Merlin were still present while at least 300 Meadow Pipits and 30 alba Wagtails came in off the sea at the north end.

                Other birds included a Great-northern Diver, a Black Redstart still at Holland and the Barred Warbler again at Senness.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper                              George Gay

26th and 27th August

A decent day on the 26^th with the brisk wind eventually swinging round into the SE during the afternoon; the main feature of the day was some good seawatching totals from the north end – the first day of the autumn with some obvious passage as birds of note included 153 Sooty Shearwaters, 108 Manx Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua, a Storm Petrel, 7 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Divers and a pod of 5+ Risso’s Dolphins lingering off the beacon.   Other birds across the island included 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels, a Merlin, the first 2 Grey Plovers of the autumn (an adult and a juvenile), 46 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Ruff, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and the 2 over-summering Fieldfares still in Gue Park.

                Rain overnight led to a damp start to the day on the 27^th but the SE wind had shifted back into the NW producing a fine, bright, sunny day; there were two obvious stand-out birds through the day, both seen by single, fortunate observers.   The best came early morning with a juvenile RED-FOOTED FALCON seen briefly on wires near Ancum from where it flew over to North Manse, dropped behind a wall, never to be seen again!   The other highlight was a Balearic Shearwater which flew close inshore past the seawatch hide in the evening along with 64 Manx Shearwaters and another Pomarine Skua.

                The burst of south-easterly wind yesterday produced a sprinkling of migrants including a Barred Warbler at Senness, the first Lesser Whitethroat of the autumn, a Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, a Black Redstart, 3 Short-eared Owls, 3 Kestrels, 2 Hen Harriers and 2 Merlins.   Other birds of note 3 Red-throated Divers, 5 Herons, 9 Wigeon, 56 Teal, 35 Mallard, 16 Knot, 169 Sanderling and 10 Black-tailed Godwit.

Barred Warbler                                        Simon Davies

23rd - 25th August

Bright and sunny again on the 23^rd with the brisk westerly wind persisting; the first Reed Warbler of the autumn at Ancum was the pick on the land along with now 2 Hen Harriers, a Merlin and 5 Willow Warblers while waders included 27 Knot, 3 Ruff, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 92 Redshank with a single Great-northern Diver offshore.

                A fresh NW wind through the day on the 24^th brought frequent but short-lived squalls blasting across the island, the day’s highlights comprised the Spotted Redshank again on Brides and an adult Common Tern at Bewan with the late Arctic Tern families – only the third of the year.   Other birds included 3 Herons, a Kestrel, 2 Merlins (including one heading south out to sea off The Lurn) and a decent count of 928 Golden Plover.

                A really rough morning on the 25^th with a blazing NW wind bringing regular, nasty showers whipping through; birds today included a juvenile Garganey on Hooking (maybe one of ours but equally likely to be an immigrant), a Great-northern Diver, 4 Herons, a Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrels, a Merlin and 28 Knot.

Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot

20th - 22nd August

Still calm on the 20^th but with some increased cloud cover with the day’s highlight going to a brief but vocal Spotted Redshank on Brides.   Other birds included 8 Sooty Shearwaters and 9 Manx Shearwaters on a seawatch in the morning, the first autumnal migrant flock of 10 Wigeon, the Hen Harrier, Kestrel and 2 Merlins, a Black Redstart still and the 2 Fieldfares still hanging on in Gue Park.

                A nice, flat calm start to the 21^st but the now SE wind rapidly built up to a blazing force 7 by the afternoon but there was again, little new to mention with the Nightingale appearing in a mist net at Holland once more.   Other bits of note comprised a Red-throated Diver, 3 Herons, now 15 Wigeon and the Hen Harrier, Kestrel, 2 Merlin and 7 Ruff still.

                A moderate westerly replaced the blasting south-easterly on the 22^nd with the Spotted Redshank reappearing on Kirbest Myre and then Brides and (presumably) one of the same Roseate Terns popped up again just off Gue Park.   The Hen Harrier, Kestrel and Peregrine were seen again along with 4 Black-tailed Godwits.

Spotted Redshank                                   Simon Davies

Hen Harrier                                      Simon Davies

17th - 19th August

Bright and sunny again on the 17^th with a brisk SW wind so there was little change in the islands birdlife with the highlights comprising long staying birds which included the Hen Harrier, the Kestrel, 7 Ruff in a field near Holland, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, the Short-eared Owl showing well on The Links, 8 Swifts overhead, a Black Redstart and a Willow Warbler.

                All change on the 18^th with blazing force 7-8 westerly winds blasting across the island bringing heavy showers throughout, coverage was understandably reduced with the only notable birds being at the top end as 7 Sooty Shearwaters and 8 Manx Shearwaters went through and a trickle of waders and Lesser Black-backed Gulls came in off the sea from the north.

                All change yet again on the 19^th with a glorious contrast to the blazing winds as we were bathed in sunshine and enjoying almost flat calm conditions; on the land, the Common Nightingale reappeared in a mist net at Holland while a Common Crossbill flew south (only the second of the year) with the young Song Thrush, 2 Black Redstarts, 8 Sedge Warblers and 5 Willow Warblers also seen.   One of the day’s highlights was fantastic views of at least four well grown juvenile Water Rails at Ancum – great to see proof of breeding which is suspected every year.

                Nine Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Knot and 6 Ruff were the pick of the waders while little influxes of 34 Teal and 20 Mallard were noted along with the now regular Hen Harrier, Kestrel and Merlin.   Offshore 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters and some Porpoise were noted.

Juvenile Water Rail                                           Simon Davies

Short-eared Owl                           Simon Davies

14th - 16th August

Drizzle and rain drifted in and out through the day on the 14^th with the light SE wind swinging round into the SW; despite these promising conditions there was no sign of any more drifty landbirds after yesterday’s arrivals with the highlights again being the two Roseate Terns showing well at the foghorn and one of the juvenile Mediterranean Gulls offshore at Bewan.   Other birds included a trickle of hirundines down the west coast comprising 140 Swallows, the first House Martin of the autumn and 6 Swifts, the Hen Harrier and Kestrel again, a Ruff, good high tide counts at the north end of 42 Purple Sandpipers and 247 Turnstone and 4 Willow Warblers the only leftovers from yesterday.

                The 15^th and 16^th then passed with barely a ripple as sunny conditions and a brisk SW wind were not conducive to producing many new arrivals; 5 Ruff were with 1,200+ Golden Plover in the Kirbest area, the Kestrel remained, the first juvenile Bar-tailed Godwits of the autumn sneaked in and the 2 Roseate Terns were again by the foghorn on the 16^th.

Roseate Tern                                                Simon Davies

Hen Harrier                                            Simon Davies

12th and 13th August

Bright sunshine through the 12^th with a promising easterly breeze but it was a fairly quiet day in the field with no real landbird arrivals although the first Merlin of the autumn was dashing around and a female Crossbill at Ancum finally made it onto the yearlist; other birds on the land included a Black Redstart, the two over-summering Fieldfares and the juvenile Hen Harrier.

                Wader counts through the day comprised 777 Golden Plover, 114 Lapwing, 119 Sanderling, 169 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 2 Whimbrel, 89 Curlew and 160 Redshank while there were still 915+ Arctic Terns present around the island and 4 Risso’s Dolphins were off the east side.

                With light easterlies and some cloud cover coming and going on the 13^th it was classic conditions for the first decent birding day of the autumn which started early with a beautiful, fresh juvenile Common Nightingale plucked out of a mist-net at Holland House – an odd record as it was only the eighth record for the island and just the second in autumn.   The day carried on at its relaxed but exciting pace with the first Icterine Warbler of the year at Hooking and the first Barred Warbler of the year at North Gravity.

                A good sprinkling of other migrants across the island comprised 26 Black-tailed Godwits on Ancum, 4 Ruff, the Hen Harrier, the Kestrel, the Merlin, a big female Peregrine, the Short-eared Owl, a new island record count of 64 Sand Martins in the Ancum area, 2 Black Redstarts, 48 Wheatears, a very juvenile looking Song Thrush trapped in Holland, 8 Sedge Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 8 Willow Warblers and a Pied Flycatcher.

Nightingale                     Simon Davies

A packed Linnet nest

9th - 11th August

Bright and sunny conditions on the 9^th with a brisk southerly breeze produced a good morning’s visible migration with 302 Swallows the main feature of the day (171 went south from 0830-0930 – it was brilliant to see small flocks of Swallows heading out to sea, threading their way through a big feeding flock of Arctic Terns just off The Lurn!), also on the move were 6 Swifts and several small flocks of Dunlin, Redshank and Sanderling.   Other birds through the day included 2 Manx Shearwaters off the north end, a Heron, the Kestrel still, 4 Ruff and 13 Black-tailed Godwits at the airstrip, one of the lingering Roseate Terns still, at least 23 Arctic Skuas blogging offshore chasing the Terns and Tysties and an improved count of 54 alba Wagtails with numbers swelled by many juveniles.

                Still warm and settled on the 10^th with a couple of notable new arrivals with now 4 Mediterranean Gulls present (three in the Brides area and another up at the north end) and the first Hen Harrier of the autumn cruising around – a fine, fresh juvenile female.   Other little bits comprised the Kestrel, an increase to 25 Knot including the first few spangly juveniles, 2 Whimbrel, 23 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank and 2 Sandwich Terns with 550+ Arctic Terns.

                Yet another stunning day on the 11^th with a couple of heavy morning showers giving way to wall to wall sunshine and light winds (getting a bit repetitive now!); 2 Great-northern Divers were offshore, the Hen Harrier was still floating around, 4 Ruff were still present, a Short-eared Owl was quartering Ancum and 3 Black Redstarts popped up.

Black-tailed Godwit                                  Simon Davies

Swift                                               Simon Davies

Arctic Skua                                     Simon Davies