24th September

With the winds having switched round to the east everyone headed out into the field full of anticipation and confidence but like yesterday we had to wait until the afternoon for the day's highlight to turn up; this time, an intriguing Shrike was found along the dykes near Westness and with distant scope views the norm over the next few hours the combined forces of all present finally pinned down the range of features to confirm Orkney's first Brown Shrike.

   There was a sprinkling of other new migrants on the island including two Red-breasted Flycatchers - at the Obs and the lighthouse, a Bluethroat at Holland House, a Turtle Dove, three flava Wagtails, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat and a Pied Flycatcher while the first two Redwings of the autumn and single Chaffinch and Brambling gave a more wintery feel.   Two Whooper Swans and a single Barnacle Goose were with another 347 Pink-footed Geese and a Hen Harrier, two Merlins and a Peregrine cruised around.



 

Record shots of the Brown Shrike - Murray Souter

Red-breasted Flycatcher