15th September

A truly fantastic September days birding with plenty of highlights-North Ronaldsay at its best! Holland House was the place to be early on where an Isabelline Shrike was found at about 7.30am, conveniently making its way into an already open mist-net just a few minutes later. This 3rd for the island spent the rest of the day in the kirkyard where it could be elusive but showed well to the visiting bird-tour group in the afternoon. The bird was considered to be an adult female and of the Daurian (isabellinus) race, but with it being such a busy day we haven't had a chance to fully scrutinise the photo's and biometrics and compare them with the current available literature of this complex group of birds. Mobiles were busy as  texts came in of new scarcities and a fine supporting cast for the day included the Rose-coloured Starling (south end), 4 Red-breasted Flycatchers (Holland, Post Office, Westness and Rue), a Wryneck (Mid Park), Barred Warbler (trapped at Holland late afternoon), 2 Yellow-browed Warblers (Observatory and Holland) and a ringed Common Rosefinch (Holland). One of yesterdays Curlew Sandpipers was still present and also worth a mention were a Tree Pipit, 768 Meadow Pipits, 70 Wheatears, a Dunnock, 7 Garden Warblers, 10 Willow Warblers, the Wood Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatchers, Chaffinch and a Lapland Bunting. With rain and a strengthening easterly wind overnight what will tomorrow bring...

Isabelline Shrike