21st-22nd November

Much better weather the last couple of days and although there was no sign of the SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER during a brief search on the 21st, it was back at Lenswick again and showing well on the 22nd. On the latter date the drake Green-winged Teal was also on Gretchen Loch again while 11 Pintails were the only new wildfowl, with 16 Shovelers and 24 Tufted Ducks lingering birds. Twite numbers have at last started to show signs of increasing with 95 on the former date along with 60 Snow Buntings and a Chaffinch also. A surprising 3 Chiffchaffs were recorded with the lingering bird at Kirbest and 2 new individuals which weren't seen until they came into roost at Holland House gardens-both certainly sounded like Siberian Chiffchaffs but it was too dark to judge their plumage and they weren't seen the next morning. The oddest sighting during the period though goes to a very confused Golden Plover at the south end in full summer plumage!