10th-17th September

 A vast improvement in migration conditions have meant we've had a good number of commoner migrants passing through the island. The wind continued in the east for vast majority of the week and with it came birds.

The 10th began with a Barred Warbler at Garso, the two Dotterel and Buff-breasted Sandpiper remained in situ with latter seen up until the 16th. The Buzzard remained as did the Blue-headed Wagtail at Snettan and the Red-backed Shrike at Viggay. Other migrant totals included a second Barred Warbler, two Redstart, two Lesser Whitethroat, a Common Whitethroat, two Garden Warbler, four Blackcap, two Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, four Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Flycatcher. 

The following day was much the same story, our first Cory's Shearwater of the year passed in the morning and with a small shift in numbers, but nothing too significant, the two new highlights came in the shape of two Corncrake, on in Kirkie Park West and one later on at North Gravity and a Marsh Warbler trapped at Ancum Willows after its discovery in the afternoon. 

The clear out picked up a bit of pace on 12th with numbers for most migrant passerines down into singles. This continued into the following day with very little changing overnight however a Grasshopper Warbler in the Kirbest Ditch provided some evening entertainment. 

The 14th saw singles of Tree Pipit, Redstart, Whinchat, Black Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Pied Flycatcher. Elsewhere seven Common Whitethroat, six Spotted Flycatcher, seven Willow Warbler and 12 Curlew Sandpipers dominated the days birding, while two Stonechat were the first of the Autumn.

The 15th was probably the pick of the bunch and with the wind shifting into a more northerly persuasion it meant a lot of the migrants were concentrated in south end of the island. The pick of the bunch was an Arctic Warbler trapped in T1 however our first Wryneck ringed since 2015 was a very close second. A Bluethroat was seen briefly in the Knapweed field near Kirbest and a female Hawfinch was trapped at Holland. Other birding highlights included 15 Curlew Sandpiper, three Common Rosefinch, 12 Pied Flycatcher, three Spotted Flycatcher, four Goldcrest, 24 Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaff, 26 Blackcap, six each of Garden Warbler and Common Whitethroat, a lone Grasshopper Warbler, four Whinchat, seven Redstart, a Robin and eight Tree Pipit. After this years spring good totals of common migrants were highly welcome and quite sought after.  

The following day was very similar but with less birds, however there did seem to be some turnover, a new Wryneck was at Rue, the Arctic Warbler remained at T1 and the first Song Thrush this autumn was at Bridesness. The Spotted Redshank was seen again in the on and off fashion its been accustomed to in the last week or so. The 17th saw the wind switch back into the east once again, however it didn't deliver in a big way, the only new birds were three Blue-headed Wagtails in a cow field near Holm and two Grey Wagtails. The Arctic Warbler was once again at T1. It's slipped under the radar a bit, perhaps because its been here so long but the American Golden Plover is still present but seems to widening its range, it was seen at Breckan today so perhaps its looking to move on! 

The week ahead looks far more westerly based with tomorrow looking particularly horrible! However its autumn in the Northern Isles, so you never know! 

Wryneck - GG

Spotted Flycatcher - GG

Redstart - GG

Dotterel - GG

Curlew Sandpiper - MEH

Arctic Warbler - CG