24th - 26th June

This was an uneventful spell, although one or two new birds each day still incentivised continuation of some daily census work during the quiet summer period. A Blackcap, 2 Common Redpolls, a Sand Martin, 2 House Martins and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen on the 24th, the latter staying on for another day. A Garden Warbler was new on the 25th; 2 Siskins, 2 Whimbrels and a Collared Dove arrived on the 26th; and a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff remained in the Holland House gardens the whole time.

Two big Shelduck ducklings, the only survivors from an originally much larger brood, were encountered during a search for Common Gull chicks around Gretchen Loch. Surprisingly, these are the first Shelducks ever ringed here, despite the species nesting regularly on the island.

In other ringing news, this colour-ringed Pied Wagtail has been raising a brood of chicks near the lighthouse recently. It was ringed in Weymouth, Dorset, early in 2010, and was also seen on North Ronaldsay in September 2011.