2nd October

Slightly disappointingly, Robin Day on North Ronaldsay didn't live up its lofty reputation this year, failing to produce much in the way of new birds at all, never mind the almost-expected mega-rare chat. A Barred Warbler on the west coast topped a short list of fresh arrivals that also featured a Pied Flycatcher and 5 Whooper Swans. Lingering scarcities provided a bit more interest, with the Greenland White-fronted Goose, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, the Short-toed Lark, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, the Hawfinch and a Common Rosefinch all still present.

Common migrants remaining on the island included 418 Redwings, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Blackcaps, 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests and 9 Bramblings.

Although we had a few European White-fronts in the spring, this pathetically confiding juvenile specimen is the first bird of the Greenland race we have had this year.

Short-toed Lark