11th - 13th April

The wind has been pretty much continually easterly for the past couple of days, intermingled with some rain showers. The sort of weather that would be getting us very excited if it were later in the spring! Even so, there are still migrants about with some important additions to the year list to keep things ticking over.

On the 11th the Common Scoter was still present off the broch, as well as the Black-throated Diver in Nouster. A year tick of Yellowhammer was seen at Brides before flying towards Southness where it couldn't be relocated, and our first Willow Warbler of the year was trapped and ringed in Holland at the evening nets session. Another year tick came in the form of a juv Iceland Gull that flew south over Holland House. Other birds of note include a Peregrine, two Great Skua, four Woodpigeon, a Collared Dove, three Swallow, a Black Redstart, three Blackcaps, a Brambling, four Chaffinch and a Grey Wagtail.

The Black-throated Diver was still present on the 12th, and Pink-footed Goose numbers rose to four, with one behind the Kirk and another three at Verracott. Otherwise, birding was quiet with highlights including a Grey Plover, six Woodpigeon, a Collared Dove, a Mistle Thrush, two Blackcap and five Chaffinch.

The 13th was also quiet, but Barnacle Goose was added to the year list when one was seen feeding with Greylags south of Ancum. A Lesser Redpoll was trapped in T1 in the morning and a Grey Wagtail was also present at Gretchen. Five Common Scoter flew south past Iris Taing and a Woodcock was flushed from Longar. The Black-throated Diver remained in Nouster. 

In other news, we received the recovery information from a colour ringed Turnstone that has been present at Westness for the past few days. The bird was ringed at Filey Brigg in September 2020, and this is the first time the bird has been sighted since then.

Colour ringed Turnstone (MEH)

Chiffchaff (MEH)