2nd - 4th September
Another pleasant, bright
day with light winds on the 2nd 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 3rd 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 4th 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
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