14th September

With a brief subsidence in the wind came a rare chance to open the Holland mist-nets first thing, but by mid-morning some serious rain had set in rendering birding attempts (although we did try) in the afternoon all but useless! There were no surprises in the nets with a selection of the expected migrants caught and ringed with the added bonus of a couple of male Sparrowhawks caught and a minimum of 5 present throughout the island. There were also 3 Kestrels, while a female Garganey on Gretchen among an arrival which also featured 100 Wigeon once the heavens had opened took 'bird of the day' prize. There was also a new Wryneck and Yellow-browed Warbler - both at the Observatory while the Barred Warbler remains at Senness. The days list for migrant passerines came to 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Robins, 3 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, 52 Wheatears, a Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 9 Willow Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 16 Snow Buntings. The Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper were both seen again at Cauldhame, and there may well be 2 of the latter while Shelducks definitely increased to 2 birds and there was one each of Common and Arctic Terns seen.