3rd - 10th July
There's certainly been a slowing to the pace of birding in the last few days and that has seen us set our sights towards the essential breeding bird work that needs doing. That said we have still seen our fair share of migrants.
Pectoral Sandpiper - GG
Curlew Sandpiper with a Dunlin - GG
'The great escape pt. 2' - escaped Snow Goose - GG
The Red-backed Shrike was still present on 3rd and remained faithful to its usual haunt around Ancum for the remainder of the week. Red-necked Phalaropes have also been present between Ancum and Gretchen, often with just two males being seen. An adult Roseate Tern was seen briefly at Trinley on 3rd before vanishing off into Garso Wick and was not seen subsequently, this is perhaps a little earlier in July than we'd have expected, but nonetheless a welcome year-list addition. The 4th saw the re-appearace of the Mediterranean Gull near the Lighthouse, it was seen again in the same spot six days later on 9th. Another re-appearance of sorts came after a phone call from one of the residents about a 'white goose at Garso', as it transpired it was seemingly one of the German escapees returning to moult; while late in the day on 4th two Curlew Sandpipers were present on Gretchen.
A singing Redwing was at Sangar on 5th while two Whimbrel were seen heading South.
One of the biggest surprises arrived on 8th, while showing around one of the new staff members we re-discovered the Pacific Golden Plover at Westness, which hadn't been seen in a week despite extensive searches of it favoured haunts. It was all very brief however with the bird choosing to vanish as we went off to collect others who hadn't seen it yet!
The 9th bought about showers and a chilly breeze but as it happened Gretchen was the place to be, initially pleased with a Curlew Sandpiper, two Red-necked Phalarope and a Knot this was to be topped as a Pectoral Sandpiper dropped in out of the clouds and showed very well around the edge of the loch, it was also present the next day and was joined by a Greenshank for a brief spell.
Pectoral Sandpiper - GG
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