26th May

Another scorcher, with sunshine all day has left the Observatory supply of sun-cream running low! There were more new arrivals with some more expected than others and with the south-easterly wind due to pick up overnight, hopefully there will be more new in tomorrow? Stromness Point continues to be the hot-spot at the moment-there was no sign of the Tawny Pipit but a Short-toed Lark was found in its place mid-afternoon, in the fields between there and Greenwall. Less predictable newcomers, usually associated with early spring rather than late May included 2 more Whooper Swans, 4 Woodpigeons, a Song Thrush, 2 Redwings while at least 18 Snow Buntings remain. A handful of new Warblers were also noted with 9 Sedge Warblers, 5 Lesser Whitethroats and 7 Chiffchaffs logged, plus ones and twos of the other recently recorded species. At least 1 Red-backed Shrike is still with us (the long staying female at Ancum), 4 Common Scoters were off the Links and a Short-eared Owl was flushed from the area frequented by last weeks Paddyfield Warbler-which couldn't be found today so appears to have moved on.

 Nearly 40 Short-toed Larks have been recorded on North Ronaldsay, but today's was just the sixth in spring.