I spent the first 3 hours of the morning completing the Black Guillemot survey that took me to places that I rarely otherwise visit with Inner Skaw producing my first Lapland Bunting of the year that proved to be the highlight of my day. Black Guillemot numbers were higher than the count a couple of weeks ago and were joined my many other Auks sat on the sea that now included good numbers of Puffins. There was also a thin scatter of Robins and Willow Warblers in the geos. I then covered Skaw, Lamba Ness, Norwick, NorthDale and Haroldswick. Totals of other migrants that I saw today were 4 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, a Whimbrel on Lamba Ness, 5 Dunlin on Haroldswick beach, 2 Long-eared Owls, 4 Woodpigeons, 2 Swallows, 4 White Wagtails, 7 Tree Pipits, 48 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, 5 Common Redstarts, a Whinchat, c.50 Wheatears, 13 Song Thrushes, a Redwing, 3 Ring Ouzels, a Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 39 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, 2 female Pied Flycatchers, 9 Reed Buntings, the female Yellowhammer, 2 Siskins, a Chaffinch and 11 Bramblings.
Black Guillemot off Inner Skaw
I could hear them whistling as it was so calm this morning
Female Lapland Bunting at Inner Skaw
Common Sandpiper at Norwick
Female Pied Flycatcher at NorthDale
Male Ring Ouzel at Haroldswick
Female Yellowhammer at Haroldswick
Willow Warbler at Haroldswick
Red-throated Diver on sea off Haroldswick
