9th - 11th June

On 9th the Glossy Ibis was seen once again at Westness before vanishing to the north, replaced later there by a Short-eared Owl . The male and female Crossbill were still in Ancum Willows, and an evening drive produced a Cuckoo at Cursitter.

The 10th started with the reappearance of the Little Gull on the Links. Curlew Sandpiper were at Sandar, Ancum Willows, and the Links. A long-awaited year tick of Quail was flushed from Senness, later to be seen at Sangar. The ever-elusive Eastern Subalpine Warbler was trapped again at the obs.

A morning of wader surveys on 11th produced just a Snow Bunting at Kirbest of note, with a Siskin trapped in Holland during a nets session. Proceeding an afternoon of rain, an American Wigeon was briefly on Garso but didn't hang around, and a Red-necked Phalarope was on Ancum. Bird of the day went to a second-calendar-year Bonaparte's Gull. Originally seen in flight in pouring rain a few days ago, without pics it couldn't be nailed as the island's first record. Thankfully it reappeared on Bewan giving good views, associating with two Black-headed Gulls (perhaps the same two it was seen with previously!).

Bonaparte's Gull - Maddy Hine

Bonaparte's Gull - Maddy Hine