25th September

It seemed to be a long time in coming, but the influx of Pallid Harriers into Britain finally reached North Ronaldsay, with an eagerly awaited juvenile bird quartering the east side of the island all day. This is a new species for the island, and species number 202 on the year-list - a list that now includes an impressive 13 different raptors!

Such was the excitement of the harrier, and the ensuing high speed pursuit all over the island, that we never really got round to checking if any of the long-staying rarities were still around. A Pectoral Sandpiper deep in the morasses of Hooking Loch was perhaps the bird from 6 days previously, although it has not been seen in the interim. The Curlew Sandpiper and a Grey Plover were still around, while the day's common raptors were 2 Hen Harriers, a Merlin and a Kestrel.

There were few new passerines, although an unringed Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in Holland garden. A Barred Warbler was also still in the gardens, and counts of other songbirds came to 5 Whinchats, 2 Robins, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Blackcaps, a ringed Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrests, 19 Lapland Buntings and a Redpoll.