1st-3rd November
November has had a slightly better start than we'd anticipated despite unfavourable weather conditions but here we sit, three days in having had some decent migrants, some decent totals of lingerers and even a year tick!
The 1st was a dreich and damp day but did have its merits, a late Redstart was on the beach near Nouster feeding among the Turnstone and Sanderling. A Short-eared Owl was seen quartering the fields beyond Ancum Willows in the morning while a large mixed flock of Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls spent the day around Bewan with 5 Tufted Ducks, 7 Pintail, 3 Shoveler and a flock of around 100 Wigeon. The bird of the day was a Crossbill flushed from Holland before heading South.
The 2nd was a bit quieter and littered with heavy showers in the afternoon but was otherwise a pleasant day in the field. The 3 Barnacle Geese from last week were still in the fields between Greenwall and Howar while 11 Whooper Swans were on Brides before 6 departed in the direction of Sanday. A flock of 22 Long-tailed Ducks spent the afternoon in the bay at Linklet and lingering Blackcaps were in Holland and around Cruesbrek, as were 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs and at least 7 Robins were on the island adding to the counts.
The 3rd started with a bit of a bang! The islands 7th record of Woodlark was found in the Funny Park before relocating briefly to the rough ground between the Pier and the County Park before heading back into the Funny Park where it spent the rest of the day. Elsewhere the day was quiet, the Black Redstart from Southness had seemingly re-located itself to the sea-wall at Hooking and a Siberian Chiffchaff was skulking around the entrance to Holland with a lingering Goldcrest.
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