23rd-31st August

A bit of gap between posts for various reason, some ornithological and some not! I'll keep this to a brief round-up and its 'old news' now!  

The 23rd saw a Great Shearwater pass close past Dennishead early in the morning. The American Golden Plover was still present and remained until 31st. Two Pomarine Skuas and a Leach's Petrel were the other highlights from the day also from Dennishead. The following day saw two juvenile Little Gulls feeding off the north end and a Common Buzzard did a tour of the island. 

The 25th saw the start of a set of easterlies that provided plenty of common and scarce migrants over the next few days. A Grasshopper Warbler was on the dyke just west of the New Kirk, a Barred warbler was in Holland and a Rosefinch was at Poor Man's Corner. 

The 26th would see a further Rosefinch at Garso, a Wood Warbler around T1 along with a Pied Flycatcher, yet another Barred Warbler was at North Gravity, a Whinchat popped onto a fence-line around Vincoin and the day ended with a surprise Turtle Dove in the road between the Knap-weed Field at Kirbest and Cursitter. The next day saw the Wood Warbler from the previous day move up to Holland, Rosefinches were at T1 and Lurand associating with Linnet and Sparrow flocks. Three Redstarts were present around the North coast of the island with two at Lenswick and one at Westness, a bit of relief as we only managed one in the spring. The first Wryneck of the year kicked of the 28th in the Lurand Crop, a Siskin was at Quoybanks and a new Wood Warbler was at Upper Linnay. 

The 29th saw two Yellow Wagtails over the Post Office, a Marsh Warbler at Barrenha' and six Common Sandpipers around the south end of the island. The 30th was probably the pick of the bunch for numbers. Tree Pipits were present at the observatory and Dennishill. A Grasshopper Warbler was skulking around at Lochend with a Redstart. Curlew Sandpipers were at Trolla and the north of the Links, the latter bird joined the Trolla bird the following day. Common and Lesser Whitethroats were at Rue and Bewan respectively, a Barred Warbler was at Upper Linnay. The two highlights of the day were a Reed Warbler at Scottigar and the re-appearance of the Wryneck in the Twingness Pund. The final day of August continued in the same fashion, a third Grasshopper Warbler of the Autumn was at Greenspot, two Rosefinches were in the willows at Ancum and Holland held a Wryneck, two Wood Warblers, two Pied Flycatchers and a Spotted Flycatcher amongst Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

Redstart - GG

Lesser Whitethroat - GG

Wood Warbler - GG

Reed Warbler - GG