10th - 11th August

The year's fifth Pectoral Sandpiper was on Ancum Loch on the 10th (although its possible that it could be the same individual that was seen three weeks ago?) while other birds included the first dispersing juvenile Merlin of the autumn, a Hen Harrier, a high count of 1185 Golden Plover, a new Garden Warbler and a Pintail with a small influx of 17 Teal.   The Blue-headed Wagtail family have now split up with two juveniles still with the parents at Ancum while another two have spread their wings and made it to Westness.   A quieter day on the 11th saw the Pectoral Sandpiper still present while 6 Sooty Shearwaters passed offshore and three Swifts and a Sand Martin passed over the land.
A fun afternoon was spent on the 10th with three teams spreading out around the coast to ring the Fulmar chicks that are rapidly growing; around 180 of the foul smelling, balls of fluff were found - a higher total than the last few years.