1st September - 13th September

September began with a limited number of more common migrants. A Garden Warbler was at Lochend, a Pied Flycatcher was in Holland garden, and two Curlew Sandpiper were at Trolla. Scarcities consisted of a Rosefinch at Meadowpow and the American Golden Plover, the latter of which is still present and was joined by a second bird later in the week.

A Pomarine Skua was the best from a sea watch on 2nd, and land bird numbers remained low. Highlights were a Lesser Whitethroat at Milldam, two Tree Pipit at Meadowpow, and a Whinchat at Longar. A Red-backed Shrike in Holland in the evening became the second bird from North Ronaldsay to join the Afro-European Shrike Project. 

Sea watching dominated in 3rd, with two Cory's Shearwater and six Great Shearwater cruising north past the sea watch hide throughout the day.

The 4th was a better day on the land, with a first-calendar-year Mediterranean Gull in Nouster, a Spotted Flycatcher at the school, a Buzzard at the post office, Red-backed Shrike at Holland, a Curlew Sandpiper at Ancum and 233 Black-tailed Godwit at Cauldhaim.

The Med gull remained into 5th, and a Great Shearwater was seen going north past the sea watch hide.

The 6th saw the return of the Long-billed Dowitcher to the island for its fifth autumn, after also being present this spring. Elsewhere, a Black Redstart was at Westness, a Curlew Sandpiper was at Sandsheen, and a Whinchat was at Ancum.

A Little Gull flyby at West Beach was a good start to the day on 7th, during which a Stonechat, two Med Gulls, a Buzzard, a Black Redstart and a Great Shearwater were also seen.

Two Red-backed Shrike were present on 8th, with the colour-ringed bird relocating to Ancum and an unringed bird in Holland. A Goldcrest was in Ancum Willows, and the second Lapland Bunting of the year was at the sea watch hide.

The first Grey Plover of the autumn was at Haskie on 9th, and a Pomarine Skua north was the best from a sea watch. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Sandsheen along with the Long-billed Dowitcher, and the second Hobby of the year frequented the Beacon.

The first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn made their appearance on 10th, with nearly 100 passing through the island during the day. Two Whooper Swan also made an early appearance on Gretchen, and a Barnacle Goose headed south with Pinkies. Bird of the day went to the first Buff-breasted Sandpiper of the year which was seen briefly on the Links before relocating to Tor Ness where is spent the rest of the day.

On 11th things remained very much the same as the previous couple of days, with Whooper Swan numbers increasing to three, Lapland Bunting numbers increasing to eight, and the Hobby was seen again at Trolla. The only new birds were a Rosefinch on the Links and a Great Shearwater north past the sea watch hide.

The 12th was very much a carbon copy of 11th.

Things improved slightly on 13th with the first Robins of the autumn arriving on island. Presumably a second Buff-breasted Sandpiper was with Golden Plovers near the Old Kirk, given that the original bird was seen again at Tor Ness. Two Lapland Buntings were present on the island, as was the Hobby still and the Long-billed Dowitcher. A Grey Phalarope on Trolla took top spot for bird of the day and was an addition to the year list.

Grey Phalarope - Maddy Hine

Great Shearwater - Maddy Hine