A nice calm morning with an early autumnal feel. There had been a mass exodus of waders from Skaw with just a handful of Turnstone and Sanderling remaining on the beach. I saw at least 3 juvenile Merlins on Lamba Ness. Whilst walking towards Valyie I heard the loud Phylloc-like call of a Common Rosefinch that I soon tracked down at times being mobbed by the only Willow Warbler that I saw all day. I also saw the albino 2cy Great Northern Diver, the 2cy Bonaparte's Gull, 2 Sand Martins, 8 Swallows, a Chiffchaff and heard a flyover Redpoll. A visit to Burrafirth added another Sand Martin.
Common Rosefinch at Valyie
