Opened the door to a heavily overcast and murky morning with a fresh southerly wind but was greeted by a Redwing in our garden that is the first we've seen since being here. The East Isle circuit produced a Brambling flying high heading eastwards and the promise of a clearance in the weather arriving from the south that duly arrived by 9am. The iris beds held a handful of both Redwings and Bramblings and two new Yellow-browed Warblers were present. There was no sign of yesterday's Black-headed Bunting but the Bluethroat was still present. A single Lapwing arrived from the north and joined the Golden Plovers near Magnus's Watch. The afternoon proved quiet in a strengthening southerly wind apart from a noticeable increase in the number of Starlings on the island. Then, at 5pm, we chanced upon a small flock of Reed Buntings that included a new Little Bunting although it later transpired the other birders on the island had seen two there.
Heron 4
Ringed Plover 8
Golden Plover 40
Lapwing 1
Snipe 5
Black-headed Gull 3
Goldcrest 1
Skylark 2
Yellow-browed Warbler 2
Willow Warbler 2
Blackcap 5
Starling 300
Blackbird 5
Redwing 7
Bluethroat 1
Whinchat 3
Wheatear 6
Dunnock 3
alba Wagtail sp. 3 fvo
Meadow Pipit 20
Chaffinch 1
Brambling 1E, 6
Little Bunting 1
Reed Bunting 6
Clearance on its way - it presumably cleared earlier on North Ronaldsay
Golden Plover numbers continue to increase
House Sparrows soon found the birdseed put out for the Black-headed Bunting
These two also enjoyed the birdseed!
Our first Redwings of the Autumn
Our first Yellow-browed Warbler of the morning
the second Yellow-browed Warbler
Too windy for one of these so Needletails are safe here!
Two of the three new houses built since our last visit are visible here
JFC's Great Snipe field
Reed Bunting on Out Skerries
Little Bunting on Out Skerries
