31st October - 9th November
It's been a very busy ten days for us in the field and elsewhere, it's seen two mega rarities and perhaps more significantly two new hides built by Gilleard's at Gretchen and Ancum replacing the two lost to bad weather and wear and tear! There's an end of season feeling to things at the moment, but the birds don't seem to be in agreement, and keep throwing us curveballs! I'll try and keep this brief and get onto the good stuff!
The final day in October had very little to write home about, but the following day saw November kick off with a Lapland Bunting over Greenspot, Glaucous Gulls at Torness and Trolla, a Brent Goose at Bewan and the first of what would be a run of Great Shearwaters passed the sea-watch hide; while a Yellow-browed Warbler remained in Ancum Willows. The 2nd was dominated by a star-studded sea-watch, A Fea's-type Petrel passing at 11:55 would be followed by a Pomarine Skua, a Great Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater. The next day was swung into motion by a message from David Roche on the Orkney Sea-watch Whatsapp, saying he'd had a good movement of Great Sherwaters passed Papa Westray heading west. Keen to get in on the action Maddy headed up to Trinley, familiar to long time report and blog readers as the site chosen for Long-tailed Skua passage in the spring, by 1300 she had seen 26 birds pass, but that was nothing on David's astonishing 77 birds past Papay but still incredible all the same! Another ten Great Shear's followed on 4th while there was a Firecrest at Barrenha' and the Long-billed Dowitcher remained on the island. A big fall of thrushes would come next, with flocks dropping in all day and the nets at Holland bagged over 120 Blackbird. A late Arctic Skua was on Sandsheen and the Brent Goose from Bewan seemed to leave the isle via the Broch, who doesn't love a bit a history? Wednesday 6th saw another Lapland Bunting at Scottsha' and a/the Firecrest was at Ancum.
Hide day was now upon us and with the builders here it was a bit of distraction from birding, however all this was chucked into disarray around lunchtime when Craig, ever the lover of orange thrushes, found a very smart Eyebrowed Thrush at the Shooting Gallery! It seemed very out of left field but it was very welcome, it also pushed the yearlist ahead of last years incredible total once you subtract the Redpoll's now lost to the powers that be! The bird stayed around for the day before seemingly or vanishing... or not! The 8th began with another mega rarity and not one on the cards, a Brown Booby was seen as it cleared the Seal Skerry in the early morning, I haven't recovered yet, and might not for a while! The day wasn't done there, as a Red-throated Pipit was discovered near Nether Linnay marking our second of the year and second consecutive year with a November bird! The 9th was quieter but still a good volume of Thrushes moved through the island, the Eyebrowed Thrush re-appeared at Lenswick after being absent on 8th and the Firecrest remained in Ancum Willows. Most importantly the hides are finished and look superb, we look forward to getting proper use out of them for many seasons to come!
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