28th-30th August

 Another spell of good weather followed by some migrants on the 30th was more than welcomed as the obs has began to fill up with birding guests. A more than welcome supply of extra eyes has been a good addition! 

Friday morning broke and the 3 Common Rosefinches from the previous day had hung around and were still present on the 30th in and around the gardens at Holland. The gardens also played host to 2 Barred Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers and the first Wood Warbler of the Autumn. A Pied Flycatcher was around the obs veg patch in the evening and a lone Curlew Sandpiper was on Bewan with 13 Black-tailed Godwits.

The following day was a much quieter affair with the only real birds of note being a Pintail seen flying south down the links and a the Rosefinches on an otherwise unremarkable day, the next day however was somewhat more productive.

Early signs were good as the nets saw the a Rosefinch and a Barred Warbler re-trapped while the two other Rosefinches and another Barred Warbler stayed away from the nets. The Curlew Sandpiper was at Bewan again while a Green Sandpiper flew south from Westness. A Common Buzzard spent the afternoon being harassed by Ravens at the North end before eventually joining a Hen Harrier near the observatory in the evening. The two major highlights of the day came within minutes of one another! A Fea's/Desertas Petrel was tracking North to the delight of the assembled sea-watchers between 13:40 and 13:45. This was interrupted by news of a Subalpine Warbler at the obs. Initially seen in the morning the bird was eventually pinned down in the afternoon before being trapped in T3 much to the delight of the onlookers. We believe it to be an Eastern Subalpine Warbler but, and I've typed this a lot this year, we'll hang on for the DNA to be analysed by the good folk at Aberdeen Uni. 

Subalpine Warbler                                                                GG

Willow Warbler                                                                     GG