A couple of days of settled warm weather with the remanent effects of the previous weeks Southerly airflow still bringing in a few migrants. The 26th saw limited coverage due to a break in of Sheep further up the island that obs staff assisted with. The afternoon however did see a good selection of migrants around the island, not in any great number but we're approaching that time of quality over quantity! A new Willow Warbler was ringed around the obs, a Song Thrush was seen by Parkhouse, it was also seen in the same on the 27th. A Grey Wagtail was hanging around the bottom of the Viggay track, a female Merlin was on the West coast and a Black-tailed Godwit was seen flying over Nouster in the evening, both Merlin and Black-tailed Godwit haven't been seen on the island for a little while. The days highlights were a very smart Ruff joined on Bewan by our first Curlew Sandpiper of 2020 and a male Red-backed Shrike was present at Senness, this may refer to the same bird some three days previous.
The 27th was almost as busy bird-wise but seemed to lack that cutting edge. The same Ruff was present at Bewan and another was seen on Ancum both birds being males. A lone Barnacle Goose was hanging around with Greylags near Bridesness and a pair of Tree Sparrows were in the Bridesness pund. Other highlights included a Tree Pipit along the Rosefinch dyke and a pair of Brent Geese at Bewan.
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Curlew Sandpiper GG
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Ruff GG
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