8th-10th June

 With the Spring winding down slowly and more unsettled weather around the birding has definitely been much quieter on the migrant front. Warm days and slack winds have produced fine birding weather but filling them good migrant birds hasn't been so easy! 

Small groups of Redpoll have been dotted around the island over the past three days with birds seen at Holland, the Old Kirk, Bewan and Senness, wether any of these will decide to breed is yet to be seen but I'm sure all will be revealed in the next month or so. The 2 Grey-headed Wagtails are also still in situ near Westness often seen feeding around the iris beds. A trio of Collared Doves are also hanging around the Southern end of the island and have often been seen around the Observatory in the mornings. Other migrants have included a Greenshank on Ancum, a Little Stint at Gretchen on the 9th, a Curlew Sandpiper on the 10th, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaff. The standout bird has been a rather illusive Marsh Warbler last seen on the 8th in Ancum Willows, while heard to be singing in short snippets seeing it has been another matter altogether! 

                                   Arctic Tern with a Sandeel

                                   Redpoll