25th May - 8th June

To say the weather has been a mixed bag is prehaps an understatement. We've quickly jumped from light breezes and un-broken sunshine to pouring rain and gale force winds, the latter of which wouldn't be out of place in mid-March. It's also been a very busy period at the observatory, hence the big gap between posts and the brevity of this post, which I apologise for, but needs must! Birding has been very poor in the grand scheme of things, we've gone a May without a Pied Flycatcher, Green Sandpiper and a general lack of any of the expected spring fare, however a few scarcities have kept staff motivated and on their toes. It looks as though there may be something in the winds in the next few days, but we'll wait and see!

25th May

A Little Tern flew south down the Links. The Cuckoo was present around Holland House in the morning while a Spotted Flycatcher was at Rue. The afternoon saw the rain from the morning clear up a little and the first bird after the rain was a rather soggy Short-eared Owl. A Common Sandpiper was on Gretchen, a late Redwing was at Cursitter and the Pink-footed Goose remained at Ancum.

 26th May 

Two Goosander were seen from Westness and later on off the Links. A Flava Yellow Wagtail was flushed from Garso while a Grey Wagtail was at Stennabreck.

27th May

The Cuckoo remained around Holland and a Sparrowhawk was seen from the Pier.

28th May

A male Red-necked Phalarope was on Ancum while a summer plumaged Grey Plover was also in situ. The Cuckoo found its way into a mist net at Holland and the Grey Wagtail was at Brides.

Grey Wagtail-GG

29th May 

The Red-necked Phalarope remained at Ancum and a Tree Pipit was at Rue.

30th May

A Male Crossbill was in Ancum Willows in the morning followed by a Reed Warbler at Burray. The bird of the day went to a Common Rosefinch at Rue/Bewan. 

31st May 

A roosting Long-eared Owl was flushed from Holland in the morning. The Rosefinch remained at Rue but was joined by a Whinchat, a new species for the year, it was quickly topped by a Temminck's Stint seen briefly on Bewan. Three Siskin flew south over Gravity, another Rosefinch was at Mildam and Crossbills were present at the Surgery and again at Ancum Willows. A new Cuckoo was trapped around the obs and a Sylvia warbler was briefly around T1 but with obs staff busy with a wake it couldn't be re-located. It would later (6 days later!) turn out to be an Eastern Subalpine Warbler that we assume went on feeding quietly in the masses of Rosa-Rugosa, staying low in the week of high winds that about to arrive.

Crossbill - GG

1st June

A male Nightjar was around Holland House in the morning eventually being caught in the mist nets. The Temminck's Stint was reported again by a visiting birder but couldn't be re-located. 

2nd June

A Little Gull was with a Red-necked Phalarope at Ancum before the Long-eared Owl, flushed from Holland, joined both birds in the area. A Spotted Flycatcher was also in Ancum Willows. Two House Martin were around Rosefinch Dyke and the/another Glossy Ibis made a very brief appearance as it flew over Southness.

Long-eared Owl - MEH

3rd June

Red-necked Phalarope numbers increased to two birds overnight, with a new female present alongside the male. The Little Gull had moved to Bewan where it was in the company of a Sabine's Gull, seen for a short period before vanishing over the back of Bewan never to be seen again. 

4th June

The Little Gull had now moved to Laird's Park where it bullied Arctic Terns. An adult White-tailed Eagle was seen around Brides and a third Red-necked Phalarope had joined the pair on Ancum.

Little Gull - GG

5th June

The long-staying Long-eared Owl re-appeared in Holland. Our first Hobby of the year was seen going over Cruesbreck and the evening produced a Curlew Sandpiper at Westness.

6th June

A Snow Bunting was at the Old Mill, a Swift was over Barrenha' while a second was at Bewan in the evening. An Eastern Subalpine Warbler was the bird of the day (previously mentioned) when it was trapped at the obs, it was in pretty condition with fat score of four and weighing over 10g. It subsequently vanished and in what appears to be typical fashion hasn't been seen since! 

Eastern Subalpine Warbler - GG

7th June

A Common Sandpiper was in Inglais Geo, two Redpoll and two Crossbill were in Ancum Willows with the latter being trapped and ringed. 

8th June

Possibly the day of the spring on paper! The Glossy Ibis re-appeared at Westness for the third time this year, at least three Curlew Sandpipers were present between Ancum and Westness. A Little Stint was also at Ancum in the afternoon. Holland held a Long-eared Owl, a Blackcap and a Sparrowhawk. The Eastern Subalpine Warbler made and extremely brief re-appearance as shot between vegetation near T1 before vanishing once again. A Cuckoo joined the two Crossbill in Ancum. 

Glossy Ibis - MEH