26th September

The long hours of relentlessly walking the island's walls and ditches finally paid off late in the afternoon, with North Ronaldsay's third Lanceolated Warbler popping up from the edge of a field near Gretchen Loch. In fading light, it showed well for all observers just before tea, sometimes perching in the stonework for long periods.

There were still lots of birds around and new scarcities included another Little Bunting and a Barred Warbler. Song Thrushes numbered 200, with 20 Redwings and the Mistle Thrush also seen. A good selection of warblers comprised 28 Goldcrests, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers and 5 Lesser Whitethroats; other small migrants included 13 Tree Pipits, 9 Dunnocks, 1 Robin, 8 Redstarts, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Chaffinch, 41 Bramblings, 2 Siskins and a North-Western Redpoll. The 2 American Golden Plovers and the Little Stint were still present and 14 Sooty Shearwaters flew past at sea.

Little Bunting