21st-24th August
Following the spell of easterly winds, we've had an enjoyable few days with plenty of birds lingering around and a few new bits moving through. 21st started with a new Icterine Warbler discovered at Neven. A Wryneck on the Links near South Gravity was the only other new scarcity discovered, with the Red-backed Shrike and Great Spotted Woodpecker still present around Nether Linnay, Presumably the same Booted Warbler made a reappearance at Haskie Thistles, discovered in the mid afternoon. Common migrant totals were down on the previous day, although there were still reasonable numbers around with 7 Whinchats, 39 Willow Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Pied Flycatchers and 2 Redstarts. The Robin reappeared around the Obs and a Crossbill was trapped and ringed at Holland. On the wader front, 70 Whimbrel passed through the island and Knot numbers started to climb with 139 logged. 2 Common Sandipipers were also seen. Large numbers of Swallows were still present with 339 counted.
22nd was a similar story with the Great Spotted Woodpeckers still lingering about - potentially a new bird was also seen around North Gravity. In addition to this, a Barred Warbler was discovered perched on the washing lines at Lurand and a juvenile Rosefinch was at Senness. A respectable 143 Swifts were counted, with many birds moving south through the island. Passerine migrant totals generally remained the same as the previous day although 8 Whinchats, 4 Redstarts, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Garden Warblers and 2 Spotted Flycatchers were all increases. The Red-backed Shrike was seen again at Gue Park and the Icterine Warbler present at Holland a couple of days previously was retrapped. Wader numbers continued to climb with 318 Redshank, 258 Knot, 209 Curlews, 421 Turnstone and 33 Black-tailed Godwits.
Highlights on 23rd included a Goldcrest at Sangar, a Redstart around the Obs, a Short-eared Owl, a Pied Flycatcher, 5 Whinchats and a Garden Warbler, although totals for most passerine migrants were generally much lower than previous days. 9 Ruff were the highlight of the wader counts and 210 Teal was a notable increase.
Rain and light easterlies on 24th saw an Arctic Warbler discovered at Ancum Willows in the afternoon. This will be the 16th island record pending acceptance and the first since 2021 after a blank year in 2022. The Icterine Warbler was still at Neven, a juvenile Stonechat was at Howar and a Great spotted Woodpecker was at Garso. Common migrant totals were similar to the previous day with 28 Willow Warblers, 4 Whinchats and 3 Pied Flycatchers. Swifts were again seen in good numbers with 63 logged. A Crossbill was at Ancum Willows and 4 Common Terns were seen throughout the day at Nouster.
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