18th September

Still breezy but largely dry conditions meant there was good coverage of the island today with the highlights being a Yellow-browed Warbler at Scottigar, a new Common Rosefinch which joined the long staying ringed bird at Neven (originally ringed at Holland on the 7th) and the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper still at Kirbest.   Some more typical autumn arrivals included an influx of 64 Snow Buntings, two Mealy Redpolls, the first returning Jack Snipe and a trickle of 90 Pink-footed Geese heading south.   Other assorted bits and pieces comprised 11 Ruff dotted around the fields, a fine adult Grey Plover still sporting some black breeding plumage and counts of 28 Pintail and 17 Shoveler while some lingering migrants from earlier in the month included single Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Blackcap and six Arctic Terns still hanging on off The Links.

Snow Bunting (Andrew Thompson)