28th August - 2nd September
With August now thankfully behind us September has started in style with a system of south-easterlies and a bit of rain. We have had few year-ticks and some nice migrants.
The 28th was quiet, the American Golden Plover remained on the island, and was seen every day roaming between Sandar and Peckhole, but spent the majority of its time on the Links. A Common Sandpiper was at Lenswick, but it things would begin to turn the turn corner on 29th as birds arrived over an hour spell in the middle of the day. Two Whinchat at the Shooting Gallery would get the balling rolling and were quickly followed by an Icterine Warbler, this would usually be a proper scarcity, but this spring's anomaly meant it wasn't perhaps as exciting as it may have been. A Lesser Whitethroat at Holland was followed by a fly-over Yellow Wagtail, also at Holland. The day was rounded off by a House Martin at Westness and two female-type Common Scoter off the point at Stromness.
The 30th would see the first Willow Warbler of the autumn finally fall! The Icterine Warbler remained in situ at Lenswick. The bird of the day was undoubtably a Great Snipe discovered in Loch Park just before lunchtime, it was seen by one other observer before it did a vanishing act and despite extensive searches it couldn't be re-found. The other highlight for the day was a Convolvulus Hawkmoth found buzzing around the Honeysuckle in Holland in the evening.
The final day in August was started with a smart Black Redstart by the Storm Petrel nets near Sand Geo, a blue Fulmar passed the coast near the Lurn. Other highlights included a Woodpigeon roaming the south of the island, a Common Sandpiper at Neven and seven Whimbrel flew south down the Links.
The 1st September was a bit of slow burner with multiple Willow Warblers appearing around the island alongside a few Pied Flycatchers and a couple of Tree Pipits. Ancum seemed to be a hub of migration after lunchtime with a Wryneck appearing, then followed by a Common Rosefinch and a Barred Warbler. A second Wryneck was at Rue, there was an Icterine Warbler at Longarquoy, a Little Stint at Bewan and Marsh Warblers at Westness and Ancum. It was a stark contrast from a totally barren August that tested our mental fortitude at times, and a very late but very welcome introduction to island birding is all about for some of the volunteers!
The 2nd was greeted with keen anticipation, overnight rain and more easterlies had to produce right? Wrong apparently! Well not entirely wrong, another light dusting of Willow Warblers with at least five ringed in the morning were accompanied by a similar cast to the previous day perhaps with a few more Garden Warblers and Whinchats around. The Rosefinch had moved to North Gravity while one of the Marsh Warblers remained at Westness. The first Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn was at Antabreck during a truly torrential downpour that saw 7.2mm of rain fall in about 20 minutes.
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