5th September

With the prevailing wind direction still set very firmly in the west, rarity hopes were mainly pinned on the possibility of a storm-blown Nearctic wader choosing North Ronaldsay for its Palearctic landfall. Such expectations were soon realised with an adult American Golden Plover joining the flock of its European relations near the observatory for the afternoon. This is the eleventh record of the species here, and the second of 2012.

There wasn't a lot of change among the island's other birds. A Barred Warbler and 2 Lapland Buntings were seen again, while a Goldcrest was just about the only new passerine. A couple apiece of Merlin and Peregrine were present and 4 Grey Herons were seen.