26th-30th October

An interesting few days of birds that I'll sum up briefly.

The 26th was a very quiet day overall with 4 Greenfinch still around the obs and the probable Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat still around Bewan House. The following day was a little better with a duo of white-winged Gulls, a 3cy Iceland Gull was seen coming off while sea-watching and a 1cy Glaucous Gull was on Sandsheen in the afternoon. A Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was seen briefly at Cauldhaim, both the CALWH and Eastern Black Redstart were present up North again and a late high count of 103 Black-tailed Godwit were between the Lighthouse and Vincoin. 

The 28th started with a Summer plumaged White-billed Diver passing the Beacon. A/the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was around the observatory in the morning as was another unseasonal Stonechat. A Little Auk passed Tor Ness and the latter half of the day produced Glaucous Gulls on the Seal Skerry and at West Beach. The next day was the pick of the bunch in terms of rarities as a Hume's Leaf Warbler was discovered in the willows at Ancum and is only the third island record. The 30th was filled with good numbers of migrating Thrushes as they poured south through the island. Other migrants arriving included more Blackcaps, Robins, Chaffinches and Bramblings. The only thing missing was another rarity!

Hume's Leaf Warbler 

Eastern Black Redstart