13th-14th October
It's been another couple of busy days bird wise and the winds finally gave us a couple of birds to shout about again, one them was a bit of surprise, but we'll get on to that a bit later in the blog post!
Pink-footed Geese were present again for the first time in a couple days with 26 on the 13th and 29 on the 14th. Other wildfowl was much the same as it has been in recent weeks, 178 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 116 Teal, 56 Mallard, 23 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck and 1 Long-tailed Duck.
A sea-watch provided little with 3 Sooty Shearwaters being the highlight.
The usual birds of prey were present a pair of Hen Harrier and singles of Peregrine and Merlin.
Woodcock numbers grew over the two days with 11 recorded on the 13th and 17 on the 14th.
Our first Glaucous Gull of the autumn was on links in the morning on the 14th, I'm sure it won't be the last this autumn, Woodpigeon were present on both days and one of the two Richard's Pipits was present on the 13th in the Kirbest thistle field.
A huge increase in Skylark numbers saw flocks of 30's and 40's in off the sea at Westness and Nether Linnay with the day total finishing on 118.
Other passerine numbers were 1 Dunnock, 2 Redstarts, 38 Robins, 25 Blackcap, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 30 Chiffchaff, 69 Golcrest, 15 Chaffinch, 20 Brambling, 3 Goldfinch, 6 Common Redpoll, 7 Redpoll sp. and a big surprise was a Norweigan controlled Hawfinch, we're not sure how many have been recorded in the UK but it can't be many!
The Thrushes have been pouring in and the numbers have been good, 120 Fieldfare, 89 Song Thrushes, 362 Redwing, 88 Blackbird and a single Mistle Thrush.
An Arctic type Redpoll was present at Veracott, the bird didn't hang about long and couldn't be located in strong winds. A second Red-flanked Bluetail of the year was trapped in the morning and released in Holland was a nice surprise and an even bigger surprise on the 14th was a Hoopoe originally found at Ires Taing and then re-located at Trolla Vatn were it showed well for all spectators.
Pink-footed Geese were present again for the first time in a couple days with 26 on the 13th and 29 on the 14th. Other wildfowl was much the same as it has been in recent weeks, 178 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 116 Teal, 56 Mallard, 23 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck and 1 Long-tailed Duck.
A sea-watch provided little with 3 Sooty Shearwaters being the highlight.
The usual birds of prey were present a pair of Hen Harrier and singles of Peregrine and Merlin.
Woodcock numbers grew over the two days with 11 recorded on the 13th and 17 on the 14th.
Our first Glaucous Gull of the autumn was on links in the morning on the 14th, I'm sure it won't be the last this autumn, Woodpigeon were present on both days and one of the two Richard's Pipits was present on the 13th in the Kirbest thistle field.
A huge increase in Skylark numbers saw flocks of 30's and 40's in off the sea at Westness and Nether Linnay with the day total finishing on 118.
Other passerine numbers were 1 Dunnock, 2 Redstarts, 38 Robins, 25 Blackcap, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 30 Chiffchaff, 69 Golcrest, 15 Chaffinch, 20 Brambling, 3 Goldfinch, 6 Common Redpoll, 7 Redpoll sp. and a big surprise was a Norweigan controlled Hawfinch, we're not sure how many have been recorded in the UK but it can't be many!
The Thrushes have been pouring in and the numbers have been good, 120 Fieldfare, 89 Song Thrushes, 362 Redwing, 88 Blackbird and a single Mistle Thrush.
An Arctic type Redpoll was present at Veracott, the bird didn't hang about long and couldn't be located in strong winds. A second Red-flanked Bluetail of the year was trapped in the morning and released in Holland was a nice surprise and an even bigger surprise on the 14th was a Hoopoe originally found at Ires Taing and then re-located at Trolla Vatn were it showed well for all spectators.
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| Chiffchaff - George Gay |
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| Common Redpoll - George Gay |
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| Hoopoe - George Gay |
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| Hoopoe (think the weather got the better of these pictures!) - George Gay |
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| Red-flanked Bluetail - George Gay |
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