14th-16th August

The last few days has been a fairly mixed bag when it comes down to weather, while the 14th was a much cooler and more settled day the 15th treated us (or hindered us with) blazing sunshine that saw most of the staff out in shorts! A rare site up here anytime of the year. The 16th saw what was supposed to be a dry day plagued with a wet drizzly fog that lingered for most of the day and made for reduced visibility. 

The 14th saw a few new birds mixed in with lingerers from the previous days, both Barred Warblers were present at Holland and Senness. Our first Lesser Whitethroat of the Autumn was at Veracott and similarly the first Autumnal Tree Pipit was flushed from behind Dennishill. A new juvenile Red-backed Shrike was at Bewan House, the first Rock Pipit was back on the West side and an Icelandic Redwing has spent the last three days in Ancum Willows. The sea produced a few goods on the 14th too, the highlight would have been the two large Shearwaters that passed a distant fishing with a large flock of Manx Shearwater had they been identifiable, going on whats in the North Sea at the moment and the jizz of the two birds they were Cory's but at that range it's not worth putting a name to them. So the highlight had to go to a pod of 6 White-beaked Dolphins seen from the North end.

A slightly quieter day on the 15th saw a new un-ringed Barred Warbler appear in gardens at Holland along with a juvenile Willow Warbler. The Wood Sandpiper from the 13th made a cameo around the fields North of Ancum again and the juvenile male Peregrine another fleeting and terrifying (if you're a Kittiwake) visit to the island. With Arctic Terns gathering ready to make the long trip South its only natural you get a few other species thrown in, a Common Tern spent much of the 15th below the Funny Park on the rocks while up to 4 Sandwich Terns were present the day after including a Juvenile at Bridesness. 

A soggy 16th didn't produce much at all, Barred Warblers remained in Holland and Senness the former was joined by a Garden Warbler that did end up in a mist net in the morning. 5 Willow Warblers were dotted around the island while 3 Ruff fed near Kirbist. 

Red-backed Shrike                                                                                            GG

                         Barred Warbler                                                                                          GG