18th-26th September

 With September drawing into its final I think we'd have honestly hoped for better in terms of passerine migrants, with winds seemingly off kilter for us it been a little frustrating at times seeing birds popping up to the north and south of us but not quite finding the mark here! 

The 18th started off with a Tree Pipit at Kirbest, a Snow Bunting at Bridesness and a Spotted Flycatcher around T1. A small flurry of Pink-footed Geese followed just after lunchtime but it was very much a day of have what we hold while the three Yellow Wagtails remained at Cauldhaim.

The 19th showed promise that it be a bit better, a Wood Warbler, two Pied Flycatchers, three Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff were trapped at Holland before breakfast. A Common Scoter off the Links was followed up by Lapland Buntings at Seaside and Greenspot. The Arctic Warbler was still in situ around the obs with a supporting cast of a Barred Warbler, two Redstart and singles of Whitethroat, Whinchat, Goldcrest and Blackcap. A Spotted Flycatcher at Barrenha' was followed by further sightings of the same common migrants throughout the day. A skene of 40 Pink-feet and another 11 at Howar marked the first large-ish scale movement of Geese. The birds of the day were a flock of four Taiga Bean Goose near Holland, a island tick for most and lifer for some! The first Fieldfare of the autumn was at Scottigar while a Bluethroat was at Bridesness. A late in the day Locustella turned out to be a very pale Grasshopper Warbler, certainly an interesting individual that warranted the collection of DNA, do we'll await those results! 

The 20th was much quieter, the first Brambling of the autumn was the only new bird of note. The 21st saw a single Taiga Bean Goose at Tor Ness before it relocated to Peckhole. Otherwise it was more of the same. The next day saw the Buzzard re-appear, the four Bean Geese re-appear and a new Whinchat at Bewan. The highlight of the day was Buff-bellied Pipit initially seen at Bewan in the pouring rain, it quickly vanished in what would be become a theme of this individual over the next few days. 

The 23rd kicked off with the Barred Warbler still hanging about the traps. A Balearic Shearwater passed the sea-watch hide with 190 Sooty Shearwater and 13 Manx Shearwater. The first Redwing of the autumn was at Holland and three Slavonian Grebe were seen around the island. The Buff-bellied Pipit once again re-appeared calling over Neven but promptly vanished and couldn't be relocated again, I said it was a theme...

More Snow Buntings and a Lapland Bunting followed on 24th. A Pied Flycatcher was at Holland, a Whinchat was at Sandback, and a Brambling was at Coastguard Hut while much of the aforementioned birds around the obs remained. A Bluethroat at Peckhole was quickly followed by yet another smash and grab view of the Buff-bellied Pipit as it was seen on the deck near Sandsheen before bombing off up the Links towards Haskie! Five Taiga Beans were now at Howar (assumably the single and four had joined forces). A late sprinkle of migrants saw numbers slightly increased but largely involved the now usual suspects. The autumns first Chaffinches were at Scarfie Geo and Ancum and the first Siskins were at Brigg and Holland. A Lapland Bunting was on West Beach and a Quail was at Kirbest while a increase in Song Thrush gave the day an autumnal feel. 

It's been a bit same-y it has to be said, however the Buff-bellied Pipit, although a superb bird has had us tearing our hair out a bit at times. We still await our first Yellow-browed, which with numbers to the north and south of us seems a bit ludicrous we haven't had one yet! 

Lesser Whitethroat - GG

Pink-footed Geese - GG

Grasshopper Warbler - NRBO

Taiga Bean Geese - GG