16th October

Another day without any weather to speak of, well none to force much significant change in bird numbers present on the isle. The Northern Harrier continues to show well being seen a number times all over the island while the Richard's Pipit showed once in the south-east corner of Gretchen field again. A Stonechat at the Observatory was perhaps the most noteworthy newcomer and the first of the autumn and there was also a Swallow, 12 Meadow Pipits, 24 Rock Pipits, 7 Robins, the interesting female Redstart again, the Whinchat, 15 Wheatears, a handful of thrushes, a Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Blackcaps, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 47 Goldcrests, 3 Lapland Buntings and 173 Snow Buntings seen. A calm sea saw 17 Great Northern Divers counted while the best from seawatching efforts were 4 Sooty Shearwaters, a late Puffin and 2 Arctic Skua's. A couple each of Hen Harriers and Kestrels remained, a Grey Plover was on Gretchen Loch and 24 Barnacle Geese passed over.

Stonechat (photo George Gay) 

Lapland Bunting (photo Mark Warren)