A day of very nice weather ideal for fieldwork. In addition I covered Skaw, Norwick and North Dale and quickly checked a couple of sites whilst visiting the shop in Baltasound. The highlights were my first 3 returning Whimbrel of the year and a female Hawfinch in our garden. Totals of other migrants today were 3 Shoveler being the first I've seen this year, a Sparrowhawk, an adult Moorhen in the burn at Skaw, a Long-eared Owl, a Collared Dove, 2 Sand Martins, 7 Swallows, a Redwing, 6 Wheatears, 18 Robins, a Dunnock, 2 Pied Wagtails, 34 Chiffchaffs, a Siskin, 10 Bramblings and 2 Chaffinches.
Female Hawfinch at Millfield
It's always fun seeing birds out of context - here's a Hawfinch sat on the windscreen wipers of my car!
Female Sparrowhawk at Norwick
Whimbrel
Drake Shoveler at Baltasound
The trio of Shoveler were first seen by Brydon on the 17th.
