12th and 13th May
Misty and murky on the 12th
with a few spots of rain and a brisk SE wind – the conditions you dream about
on the island but with the exception of a couple of quality birds it was still
a bit underwhelming out in the field; the main highlight was a cracking dark,
male Honey Buzzard which flew south over Senness and then floated
around the south of the island, often landing in the damp weather.
Other migrants across the island included the second Bluethroat of the spring with a female on Westbeach, a
Stonechat (the first since 7th April), 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel
(only the second of the year), 9 Collared Doves, a Woodpigeon, a Short-eared
Owl, 17 Sand Martins, a White Wagtail, 88 Wheatears, a Fieldfare, 4 Sedge
Warblers and 5 Chiffchaffs.
Lingering wildfowl comprised the Whooper Swan, 2
Pink-footed Geese, a Barnacle Goose and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers while other
little bits included a drake Garganey, a smart male Ruff coming into his finery
and yet again, the Kumlien’s Gull.
Another great feeling day on the 13th with
a brisk SE wind and increasingly overcast conditions finally giving in to the
heavy rain which moved in by late afternoon but this time it paid off as a
great selection of migrants were unearthed producing the best day of the spring
so far! A female Red-backed Shrike was trapped in T5,
yesterday’s Honey Buzzard flew south down the west coast before meeting
the breeding Bonxies and Ravens and being forced out to sea very firmly from
where it carried on south and away and 2 Bluethroats completed
the highlights with females at Westbeach and Claypows.
Other migrants across the island included a pair of
Garganey, a Sparrowhawk, a Wood Sandpiper south over the Obs, 4 Woodpigeons, 6
Collared Doves, a Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit, a White Wagtail, a Song Thrush, 2 Sedge
Warblers, a suspicious unstreaked Acrocephalus
Warbler which couldn’t be pinned down, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats, 2
Garden Warblers, 2 Blackcap, 23 Chiffchaffs, 7 Willow Warblers, 2 Siskins and
the first migrant Lepidoptera of the year with 2 Red Admirals and 3 Silver Y’s
adding to the bubbling anticipation of the team!
Honey Buzzard Lewis Hooper
Bluethroat Lewis Hooper
Red-backed Shrike Simon Davies
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