23rd August

It was back to full census today, with all 6 routes visited in bright and breezy conditions. There was no sign of the Booted Warbler although that area seemed particularly exposed but there were 3 Icterine Warblers (Phisligar and 2 at Senness), 2 Barred Warblers (Ides Taing and Scotsha) and a Wryneck (Stromness Point) all recorded. Calculating exactly which birds might have been new is proving problematic with none of the recent scarcities (and many of the more notable migrants) being seen at the same locations day after day and while some local movement seems inevitable, there are clearly a lot of birds passing through the island at the moment. Other migrant figures came to 8 Whinchats, a Redstart, 31 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers (all different from those of 22nd), 3 Whitethroats, 7 Garden Warblers, a Wood Warbler at Gravity, 6 Pied Flycatchers, 2 each of Kestrel and Merlin were present, along with 76 Ruffs and 2 Wood Sandpipers.

Icterine Warbler (photo Jonathan Scragg) 

Ruff (photo Stephen Rutt) 

Twite (photo Stephen Rutt)