21st July

A decent day with a moderate southerly breeze and some good spells of sunshine; the most exciting news of the day concerned two small Corncrake chicks seen near as a field was being cut for silage, they were seen to run safely to the edge to disappear into a ditch – the first confirmed breeding on the island since around 2003!   Other birds seen through the day included a Heron, a notable influx of 167+ Sanderling, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Whimbrel, the Grey-headed Wagtail still along the Sangar track, the Shorelark still near the Lighthouse and a male Crossbill trapped at the Obs.

The first triple figure count of Sanderlings of the autumn included these two Orkney colour ringed birds