27th September - 1st October
It's been a fairly slow trickle over the past few days with the Brown Shrike still hanging around Holland and eventually be trapped in the evening on 28th. Otherwise its been a very steady trickle of migrants and hangers on.
The 27th was a day of very poor weather and only the Long-billed Dowitcher and Brown Shrike made the highlights. The following day saw a Yellow-browed Warbler and Barred Warbler join the Shrike in Holland, a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Westness while a Black-throated Diver was seen in Nouster. The 29th saw the first Velvet Scoter of the year pass the sea-watch hide and the first Whooper Swan of the autumn was sat on Gretchen. Yellow-browed Warblers were at Holland once again and at Barrenha', other highlights included a Rosefinch near Holland, a Lesser Whitethroat at Lochend and a lone Blackcap around the obs. The final day in September saw the autumns first White-fronted Goose and 7 Barnacle Geese all heading east. The bird of the day was a Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Beacon, while a steady trickle of Blackcap kept things moving albeit slower than we'd wish. A Redwing at Garso and a Fieldfare at Brides provided an autumnal feel to the day.
The first day in October would promise much and deliver very little despite monster efforts in the field from obs staff and visitors alike. Four Yellow-browed Warblers were supported by an influx of Blackcaps that totalled 29 birds throughout the day. Sibe' Chiffchaffs were a near constant feature on the west side but it was ultimately a bit of disappointment with the weather set in the east. A total of 17 Robins were seen around the island, while 10 Song Thrush, 3 Barred Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Willow Warblers, 14 Goldcrest and the first Chaffinch of the autumn rounded off the day. The weather ahead looks good so we aren't disheartened yet, but a bit more rain in the forecast would be nice!
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