25th August

Overcast throughout but it remained dry with a consistent, moderate easterly breeze; expectations were still high and we were rewarded with a cracking BLYTH’S REED WARBLER which showed very well at Sandback, sometimes together with a Reed Warbler for an excellent comparison (there was no comparison!).   The rest of the day was a bit of a slog with lots of tramping around for limited reward, there was however like yesterday, a light sprinkling of migrants across the island with the Greenish Warbler still around the Obs, the first 2 Reed Warblers of the autumn, 3 Whinchats, a Garden Warbler, one of yesterday’s Grasshopper Warblers still and 7 Willow Warblers.

                Other bits of note included 5 Herons, 2 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 4 Kestrels still, a juvenile Peregrine, 3 Ruff, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshank and a Whimbrel – the wind is forecast to remain in the east tomorrow, so it remains to be seen how ill-timed the staff night out in Kirkwall will end up to be!!

Blyth's Reed Warbler

together with a Reed Warbler

Photos Simon Davies