17th and 18th May
Wall to wall sunshine with a decreasing southerly wind on
the 17th and with it tipped to be a good raptor day it was no real
surprise that at least 2 Marsh Harriers
were seen across the island with one seen heading high north towards Fair Isle
and the other seen at several spots through the day. The day’s other highlight was the first Quail of the year which was seen flying
past Holland towards the airstrip.
There
were limited other new arrivals as migrant totals included a big pale, sandy 1st
winter female Peregrine, 2 Woodpigeons, 5 Collared Doves, a Sand Martin, 2
House Martins, 2 Song Thrush, a lingering Redwing, single Whitethroat, Blackcap
and Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warblers, a Pied Flycatcher, only the second Jackdaw
of the year and 3 Mealy Redpolls. A
good arrival of 780+ Arctic Terns were mainly around the north end of the
island while waders were still prominent with 180 Sanderling, 113 Purple
Sandpipers, 60 Dunlin, a Whimbrel and 461 Turnstone counted.
The Raven fledglings were out exploring, photo Simon Davies
The
18th was another awesome day warm, sunny with light NE winds but all
in all a quiet day for migrants as the only real new birds noted were a little
influx of at least 7 singing Sedge Warblers in funny places and the first Reed Warbler of the year. Other counts included 2 Woodpigeons, a Sand
Martin, 4 Chiffchaffs and 2 Pied Flycatchers while 3 Red-throated Divers and 9
Great-northern Divers were counted on calm seas.
Until another angry (d**k) Oystercatcher decided he was exploring too far and knocked him off the wall!
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