After a noisy night of easterly gales and rain it dawned very windy but dry and remained so all day as the wind abated. A good start as a Grey-headed Wagtail was present on our lawn before relocating to Edwin's lawn. The East Isle circuit then produced further surprises in the form of a Common Sandpiper at the end of the horseshoe bay and a male Ring Ouzel on the northeastern point where a blue Fulmar was seen flying east. There had been a noticeable increase in Turnstone consorting with Purple Sandpipers and a couple of Dunlin. The Tufted Duck had overnighted on the pool and we met Chris and Mike who were watching a female Common Scoter in the harbour. We then found another presumed Blyth's Lesser Whitethroat along the walls at the Rocklea crop where a White Wagtail was on the lawn. We again met Chris and Mike who had just located a Little Bunting at Magnus's beach that we quickly saw. A Woodcock was then flushed from the iris beds and a Swallow was at Richard's croft. A total of 18 Herons were seen in flight over West Voe and a walk to Mioness accounted for most of the 15 Jack Snipe flushed today. The wall was alive with Song Thrushes and Redwings and there were a few Reed Buntings, Bramblings and Goldcrests and 2 Yellowhammers. A Ruff was accompanying 3 Dunlin near the geo and there were another 2 Common Sandpipers along the shore. There was a mixed flock of Greylags and Pinkfeet on the point. The walk back produced a Goldfinch at Richard's croft, 4 Wood Pigeons at Rocklea and a final walk around the harbour produced one last surprise in the form of a Scaup. A very enjoyable day's birding.
Pink-footed Goose 40
Greylag Goose 8
Teal 6
Tufted Duck 1
Scaup 1
Scoter 1
Red-breasted Merganser 1
blue Fulmar 1 east
Cormorant 7
Grey Heron 18+
Kestrel 1
Ringed Plover 6
Golden Plover 40
Lapwing 2
Purple Sandpiper 4
Dunlin 5
Ruff 1
Jack Snipe 15
Snipe 12
Woodcock 1
Common Sandpiper 3
Turnstone 40
Wood Pigeon 4
Goldcrest 3
Skylark 15
Swallow 1+
Chiffchaff 1
Blackcap 5
Blyth's Lesser Whitethroat 1
Wren 2
Ring Ouzel 1 male
Blackbird 12
Fieldfare 1
Song Thrush 250+
Redwing 150+
Robin 5
Whinchat 3
Wheatear 15
Dunnock 1
Grey-headed Wagtail 1
White Wagtail 1
Meadow Pipit 75
Chaffinch 2
Brambling 50
Goldfinch 1
Siskin 3
Yellowhammer 2
Little Bunting 1
Reed Bunting 12
Grey-headed Wagtail on Out Skerries
View looking towards the marsh from East Isle hill
Blyth's Lesser Whitethroat at Rocklea
A very short-winged individual. Brown crown and upperparts, sullied underparts, wholly white outer tail feathers.
Little Bunting at Magnus's beach
Jack Snipes on Out Skerries
Yellowhammer along the Long Wall
Ruff on Mioness
Pinkfeet over Mioness
Song Thrush near Mioness
the Long Wall on Out Skerries
Goldcrest along the Long Wall
the walk back from the Long Wall
Wood Pigeon at Rocklea
Siskins on Out Skerries
Whinchat at the pool on Out Skerries
Scaup in the harbour on Out Skerries
