3rd - 5th July

Three days of impenetrable mist disrupted nearly all flights to the island and made futile most attempts to count the island's birds. At least 7 Whimbrels were present on the 5th, their calls emanating from somewhere within the atmospheric murk throughout the day; more southbound Golden Plovers managed somehow to blindly navigate their way to North Ronaldsay, with up to 277 birds present in scattered flocks; and a couple of fogbound Common Redpolls were present throughout the period.