13th-17th July

A bit of longer period than intended between posts but often things get in the way this time of year! 

The 13th saw a rather disgusting day of wet and windy weather which meant we couldn't do a lot of the outdoor jobs or ringing that we wanted to get done. The birding wasn't exactly spectacular either although the Pectoral Sandpiper did make another appearance, this time on the dyke in front of Scottsha' before disappearing into thick cover, it would however re-appear and show well on the deck some two days later in the fields opposite school before being flushed by a Great Black-backed Gull. 

The Great White Egret was still on Hooking where it remained until the 15th, a Juvenile Crossbill was in the Funny Park and the Adult Little Gull has been seen nearly everyday over Garso.

The weather on the 14th was a much more settled affair and seemed to bring in a flurry of migrants, a Redwing was in Ancum Willows in the morning, the Stonechat that's been around the school made another appearance as did 2 Swifts in the North of the island. A female Crossbill was at Sangar and up to 11 Common Redpoll were on the island. 

The night of the 14th saw ideal conditions allowing us to do our second Storm Petrel ringing session of the year which yet again produced a singing Leach's Petrel but a failure to land it in a mist net! A more exciting moment was a 02:30am Common Sandpiper heard calling as it went over the nets in the twilight. The following morning was far less pleasant than the day that preceded it and when dawn broke about an hour and half after the Common Sandpiper's fleeting visit a drizzly fog had enveloped the isle. This didn't stop the first record of Long-tailed Skua for the year as a 2CY bird was chased around Gretchen by angry Common Gulls, the awful weather making viewing the bird hard. It was however photographed but forgotten about until the next day when it was found on Torness sat with up to 13 Arctic Skuas, the bird this time showed superbly and gave the obs staff chance to see an age that is seldom seen around British waters. 

Finally the 17th, a day dominated by Punding, Sheep Shearing, Tystie chick ringing and fish and chip night meant opportunities for birding were left to the time between deliveries of the aforementioned fish and chips. However a sub-adult Little near Scottigar and 2 juvenile Crossbills were ample reward for a few hours of deliveries! 

2CY Long-tailed Skua                                                         GG 

Pectoral Sandpiper making a hasty retreat!                        GG

Common Redpoll                                                                 GG