The weather continued in its fine vein of form treating us to unbroken sunshine finally breaking up on the 26th when the wind switched into the west and bought about scattered showers by the evening.
The 24th produced quite a few migrants, 9 Chiffchaffs and 8 Willow Warblers were joined by a couple of Blackcaps, 10 Robin and 7 Whimbrel. The stand-out trio of birds went to a male
Redstart at Brigg, a
Grasshopper Warbler in the ditch near Howar and a Ring Ouzel in Brides Kirk Pund. Otherwise the usual suspects kept us busy.
The next day was a similar story but seemingly there had been a bit of clear out. Two new year ticks came away from the passerine side of things, a pale phase Arctic Skua was seen heading North past the Lurn and a
Common Sandpiper was on the rocks between Hindoo Geo and Stromness point.
A Hen Harrier left south from the obs, a rather grumpy male Sparrowhawk was trapped and Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler numbers had decreased to two and three respectively.
A change in wind direction perhaps bought about a change in birds, the morning started with a
Buzzard seen at Sangar heading towards Westness, only to be followed by another that headed South over the obs around an hour later. Not bad considering they're not a common bird this far North. Other raptors for the day included singles of Merlin, Kestrel and the previous days Sparrowhawk. On the land up to 33 Sand Martins were between Brides and the Links, a Short-eared Owl was seen on the Links in the afternoon, another Ring Ouzel was at the lighthouse and our first Sedge Warbler of 2020 was singing near Sangar. Our final year tick of the day was a
Common Tern over Brides Loch in the late afternoon rounded off a pretty good day.
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| Whimbrel GG |
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| Common Sandpiper GG |
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| Goldcrest GG |
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