4th May - 13th May

6th May

A Spotted Flycatcher on the cattle feeders in East Loch Park was a welcome addition to the year list. 

A Redstart was at Bewan and a Kestrel was at the Bothy.

Spotted Flycatcher - Maddy Hine

7th May

Three Rook flew south over North Gravity. A Ruff and a Kestrel were at Tor Ness, and an adult male Hen Harrier and summer plumaged Grey Plover brightened up Sandar. 

Mediterranean Gull was added to the year list when one was in the Upper Linnay stubble field late in the day. 

8th May

A Whitethroat was in the Surgery garden and a Redpoll was heard over the airfield. Garden Warbler was added to the year list at Lochend. A Spotted Flycatcher was by T4, and the second and third Tree Sparrow of the year were at the Beacon.

9th May

An early nets session at Holland produced three Sedge Warbler, two Chiffchaff, one Willow Warbler, one Song Thrush, one Lesser Whitethroat, and one Whitethroat.

Throughout the day the Tree Sparrow were seen again at the Beacon and eleven Woodpigeons were at Peckhole. 

A female Marsh Harrier over Ancum was a welcome addition to the year list. 

In the evening, a Short-eared Owl was at the airfield.

Marsh Harrier - Maddy Hine

10th May

An early nets session at Holland produced two Sedge Warbler, two Whitethroat, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Willow Warbler, one Spotted Flycatcher, one Blackcap and one Song Thrush.

The Marsh Harrier was seen again over Garso, and a Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were at Parkhouse. 

A White-tailed Eagle toured the island in the afternoon. 

A Wood Sandpiper was at Ancum in the evening.

Late news of a Long-eared Owl photographed by Bewan residents in the evening saw this species added to the year list.

11th May

Three Spotted Flycatcher were seen between the obs and Holland, the Wood Sandpiper remained at Ancum, a Grey Wagtail was at Howar, a Lesser Whitethroat was at Brigg, and a Greenshank flew south over Cursitter. 

Year list additions came in the form of Swift and Cuckoo, with two of the latter trapped and ringed, and a third bird also seen during the day. 

Bird of the day went to an American Golden Plover at Trolla.

American Golden Plover - Maddy Hine

Cuckoo - Maddy Hine

12th May

A fog bound island produced little of note, highlights included: a Lesser Whitethroat and Peregrine at Ancum, ten Whimbrel at Howar, six Woodpigeons at Kirbest, a Black Redstart at the Lighthouse, and three Collared Dove at Tor Ness.

The American Golden Plover remained.

Harbour Porpoise were seen from Sand Geo

13th May

A Lesser Whitethroat was at the Surgery.