A foggy start to the day although it had partially cleared by 8am. A walk around Norwick produced the Bonaparte's Gull, 6 Snipe, 3 Swallows, my first 2 Sand Martins of the Autumn and the Chiffchaff. Haroldswick added a Merlin. I'd just returned home for lunch when Robbie chanced upon a female Honey Buzzard sat on a roadside fencepost!! It had subsequently flown c.100m towards the Heogs but had landed on the ground. We soon joined Rob where we were treated to views of it sat on the ground and in flight - many thanks Robbie! On seeing the missing tail feather I wondered if it might be the female that has recently spent around a fortnight on Fair Isle and a quick check of some online images confirmed it. It transpired that it had been seen yesterday by a resident of Baliasta sat in a field near to their house.
Sand Martin at Norwick
Female Honey Buzzard at Hagdale
