Awoke to near calm conditions with a light southeasterly breeze with some fog over the hills that came and went. On opening the front door a Redwing was on the lawn. A Swallow and 3 House Martins were sat along the fence near the cliff. As I headed for Holsens Road a Collared Dove flew through being the first I've seen for a good few days. Skaw produced another 3 Swallows and a Willow Warbler but Lamba Ness was very foggy. Norwick was clear producing Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and a skulking Acro that eventually showed a bit better and looked a Reed Warbler. A tour of the Baltasound sites produced a Blackcap and 2 Tree Sparrows at Setters Hill, 2 Mealy Redpolls at Halligarth where a flock of 18 Woodpigeons flew over high heading south.
Millfield
Swallow 1
House Martin 3
Redwing 1
Three House Martins and a Swallow at Millfield
House Martin at Millfield
In showing grey-sullied underparts and dark markings to its undertail coverts it is showing plumage characters oft-quoted for Asian House Martin but structurally the deeply forked tail is typical for House Martin
Skaw
Swallow 3
Willow Warbler 1
Arctic Terns at Skaw
Norwick
Collared Dove 1
Pied Wagtail 1
Reed Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Common Whitethroat 1
Chiffchaff 3
Siskin 2
Reed Warbler at Norwick
School
Chiffchaff 2
Setters Hill
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 1
Tree Sparrow 2
Halligarth
Woodpigeon 18 S
Mealy Redpoll 2
Burrafirth
Bonxie c.200
Swallow 2
Chiffchaff 1
Bonxies at Loch of Cliff, Burrafirth
Whooper Swan
