17th - 20th October

 A mixed bag in terms of weather over the last few days but it the Easterlies have been lingering on the horizon and today saw them take effect in full force but ultimately fail to produce the Autumn mega we're holding out for, not worry for now though as they're set in over next few days and things look promising. 

As mentioned in the previous post things did look to have moved into an easterly based air flow on 17th and the day wasn't without birds. A Kestrel passed over the obs in the morning while a male Sparrowhawk hung around the traps. A Stonechat at East Loch Park and a Whinchat at Hooking were joined on the day list by the Grey Phalarope still occupying Gretchen with four Long-tailed Duck and a Lesser Redpoll was caught at Holland. The bird of the day went to a Little Bunting seen briefly at Haskie. 

The 18th also had migrants, a Barred Warbler was trapped in Holland in the morning while two Greenfinch around the obs were a welcome surprise. A Yellow-browed Warbler appeared around T5 in the afternoon, a Black Redstart was at Upper Linnay and a late Willow Warbler was at Veracott. Our 7th island record of Red-necked Grebe was the outstanding bird of the day as it passed Dennishead in the late afternoon.

A quieter day followed on 19th with the Barred Warbler re-locating to the Surgery and a scattering of common migrants around the island such as Blackcaps and Chiffchaff lead us nicely into overnight Easterlies with rain in the morning!

The 20th wasn't perhaps as good as we'd been daydreaming about but it was certainly a start if nothing else! Good counts of Robin, Goldcrest and Blackcap propped up some scarcer migrants, Woodcocks were seen at Holland, Longar and near Kirbest while two Short-eared Owls were in Gue Park and a Long-eared Owl was present around Bewan. A Little Bunting, possibly the Haskie bird from a few days ago was at the school but disappeared into a cow field around Cauldhaim. The North end produced an unlikely highlight in the form of the islands 8th record of Firecrest, seen initially near Iris Taing it re-located to Rue (or there was possibly two birds, it's difficult to judge!) to end what was a good day in the field.

The next few days look exciting so we'll just have to see what the Easterly birding gods produce! 

Blackcap - GG

Robin - GG

Yellow-browed Warbler - GG