20th-23rd July

The Skua-fest continued over the last four days with the total number of birds rising to eleven by the 23rd including two adults. Most the birds are surprisingly variable, we'll do a full round up of all the birds eventually. 

Otherwise things have been relatively quiet on the land, a steady but small passage of Swifts have kept our eyes to the skies but they haven't produced much more. A Storm Petrel session on the 21st produced 33 birds including a British and Danish (likely Faroese) control and a rather smart Leach's Petrel. The following night we decided to make an attempt ringing adult Arctic Terns, this proved partially successful with 15 birds caught of varying ages along with 13 Turnstone and singles of Storm Petrel, Redshank and Dunlin. We were also briefly buzzed by another Leach's Petrel. Other passerines have included 4 Common Redpoll on the 20th, a Redwing at Ancum and a Stonechat still by the school on the 21st, 2 Collared Dove on the 22nd one at the obs and then one later further up the island. Waders such Knot, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits and Redshank have been gathering in the fields but the turnover seems high so we're almost certainly missing a few numbers.  The final bird of the post was a Short-eared Owl seen late on the 23rd near Purtabrek.

                                   Adult Long-tailed Skua                                                        GG

                                   Knot                                                                                      GG