The weather has stayed nothing short of spectacular with light easterly winds and wall to wall sunshine. The day started well with the first
Blackcap of the year being seen at Sangar, singles of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. Wheatear and Redwing numbers slowly decreased over the period as the warm clear weather prompted them to move on towards their breeding grounds. A Dunnock trapped in the afternoon was only the third caught this year but the undisputed bird of the day was a
Magpie, our fourth island record and much welcome one for those of us that missed the 2017 bird.
The 18th was a little quieter but still had a couple of stand out birds, an adult Iceland Gull flew over the obs while the cade lambs were being fed. Six
Whimbrel were seen throughout the day 5 of which came in off the sea. Corvid numbers continued to move through with 9 Carrion Crow in various places around the island. Sand Martin and Swallow numbers also peaked on the 18th with 4 Swallows and 8 Sand Martins. The 19th was a little breezier, a Collared Dove was trapped in the morning and a Willow Warbler was trapped in the evening. Two Robins hung around the obs for most of the day and 3 Whimbrel headed out North. The bird of the day was a winter plumaged
White-billed Diver at Westness. All together a very productive period of birds!
 |
| Magpie |
 |
| Sand Martin |
 |
| Whimbrel |
Comments