9th - 10th August

The autumn sprung into life in dramatic fashion, but we had to endure what must have been one of the heaviest days rain in the islands history on the 9th to get it! From dawn till dusk, torrential downpours battered the island forcing moving waders to drop in in impressive numbers with immediate effect. Birding was virtually impossible, but several pairs of waterlogged binoculars did manage to record a minimum of 14 Greenshanks (equal record count), 11 Green Sandpipers (record island count)and 13 Ruffs. The Pacific Golden Plover was seen at Holm, a Pied Flycatcher at Sangar and 3 Willow Warblers were noted on a soggy walk around the north end in the evening. With the rain clearing away on 10th, birding was a much more pleasant experience and plenty of birds were still around to see. A Barred Warbler caught and ringed at Holland gardens was followed by another at Antabrek a few hours later, with 3 Willow Warblers scattered about and a Black Redstart at Nouster. The Green Sandpiper record was broken again with 13 birds now present, along with 8 Common Sandpipers, 10 Greenshank and 14 Ruff while the first Peregrine for almost 3 months flew over the observatory, and a Common Tern was among the Arctic Tern flock at the south end. 

 

Green Sandpipers

 

Barred Warbler