13th to 15th August

Familiar waders continued to feature as with the previous few days on the 13th but the undoubted highlight was a Red-necked Phalarope on Gretchen Loch briefly in the afternoon. The 14th was a smelly affair with a 9 hour 'Fulmarathon' to ring the chicks along the coast taking priority. A total of 120 were ringed (great experience for our 3 trainee ringers) and the first stranding of adults this year added 10 more to the day's tally. Casual sightings during the day included a Black Redstart, 2 Common Sandpipers and at least 17 Ruff. There was more to report from the 15th which began with 4 Sooty and 12 Manx Shearwaters on a mornings sea-watch. The Golden Plover flock increased again to a minimum of 1250 birds, and found among them mid-afternoon was a smart, adult American Golden Plover. Black-tailed Godwits increased to 32 and at least the same number of Ruff were present, along with 2 Greenshank, 2 Wood Sandpipers and 3 Common Sandpipers. A group of 6 Pochard were on Hooking and a few passerines were also seen with the same Barred Warbler as last week at Holland House again along with 3 Garden Warblers and a Tree Pipit.

 

Its been a busy few days for the observatory, with half the team currently off the island at the Rutland Birdfair. So if your there too-don't forget to visit the Bird Observatory Council stand in Marquee 2 (stand 17) to find out how you can win a week's stay for 2 at NRBO by supporting our work and becoming a 'friend'.

 

 

Record shot's of today's American Golden Plover-plumage features match those of a bird photographed on South Uist last week.  This is the earliest autumn record for the island and it comes just as last month's Pacific might have moved on having been missing for a few days.

 

Greenshank