14th - 27th September
As far as things go the last the couple of weeks have been about as good as we could have hoped for given the prevailing westerlies and wet weather! It's possibly the wettest September I can remember since I arrived way back in 2015.
We start all the way back on 14th, more Pink-footed Geese continued to move south, an Otter was a surprise sighting from Trolla, we know they're here, we just don't see them very often! singles of Lapland Bunting were on the Links, at the sea-watch hide and Burray. The two American Golden Plovers remained at Sandar and the Long-billed Dowitcher also remained on the Links. The 15th saw the arrival of a Common Whitethroat at Cursitter and a Spotted Flycatcher at Bewan, while a Buff-breasted Sandpiper remained just south of Holland House. The American Goldies and Long-billed Dowitcher continued to entertain on 16th while the Black Redstart from Westness had moved around to Poor Man's Corner. Another two Lapland Bunting were in the Twingness Pund and a Garden Warbler was with a Willow Warbler in the garden at North Gravity. The 'big' news of the day was the arrival of the first Yellow-browed Warbler of the year, appearing in a net at Holland House.
The 17th was far quieter with just three Lapland Buntings and the Spotted Flycatcher in Bewan being reported. Two Buzzards on the posts near Ancum would kick the 18th off while another Buff-breasted Sandpiper (one of probably four we've had on the island this autumn) was in the cow fields at the back of Greenspot. The second Yellow-browed Warbler of the year was at Holland, easy to tell apart when they aren't sporting colour rings! A Pectoral Sandpiper joined the Long-billed Dowitcher at Cauldhaim, which has now become quite flooded and created a sort of wader paradise, often holding over 200 Black-tailed Godwits along with other waterfowl and wading birds.
The 19th and 20th were awful days of rain and wind with the only bird of note being one of the two Buzzards at Milldam.
The 21st fared a little better, The Long-billed Dowitcher had now moved to Scottigar while two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were present and new for the year on the other side of the sea wall. Both Buzzards remained, one now a sporting a BTO ring as it was trapped in Ancum Willows. Another Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found by a visiting Heatherlea group by the sea-watch hide to round off the day.
The 22nd turned into a bit of an American wader fest, the Long-billed Dowitcher was at Scottigar again, as were the two Brent Geese, then a White-rumped Sandpiper was flushed off of Cauldhaim before being quickly followed by a Baird's Sandpiper on the links just ten minutes later! Thankfully the Baird's stayed put giving good views all day. It was joined on the links by what we assume was the previous days Buff-breasted Sandpiper, however it was largely ignored in favour of the Baird's. The only easterly based highlight was a Rosefinch near the cattle grid.
The 23rd was much of the same but most of the waders had departed leaving just the Buff-breasted Sand and the Long-billed Dowitcher. A Greenland Redpoll was also present at Bewan.
The pick of the birds arrived on the 24th in the shape of a Buff-bellied Pipit at Trinley. I refuse to call it an American Pipit, so you'll have to deal with it being Buff-bellied! The Pipit didn't play ball however, probably not helped by strong winds and island's sheep tearing about on the coast! We looked for well over two hours over two searches and left feeling rather deflated! The other noteworthy bird was a 1st winter Little Gull that has spent it's time between Sandsheen and Gretchen and was still present on 27th.
A Stonechat on the obs track was the first highlight on 25th while one of the Buzzards remained around Kirbest and Snow Bunting was on the Links. Two Lapland Buntings were at the Broch before the re-appearance of the Buff-bellied Pipit pulled everyone away from what they doing. This time it did play ball and showed well on the rocks below Poor Man's Corner.
The 26th saw the arrival of a second Baird's Sandpiper, in almost exactly the same place as the first, however a bit of photo comparison has confirmed they are indeed different birds. The Pipit remained in the same spot and the first Goldfinch of the autumn was seen between Cursitter and Holland.
The 27th was a day for getting out in the morning. The afternoon being a near wash-out, something we're becoming accustomed to this autumn. Tree Pipits were at Kirbest and Burray, while a Robin was on the coast with the Buff-bellied Pipit. The Little Gull and at least one Buzzard still remain on the island.
I'd tell you about my hopes for next week as I'm being told about the weather on a near constant basis at the moment, but in the spirit of not jinxing things, I'm refusing to look and we'll just see what the weather and birding gods have in store.
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Buff-bellied Pipit - GG
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