After a clear night it was perhaps no surprise that there had been something of a clear out of migrants.
Norwick: Long-tailed Duck, Jack Snipe, House Martin, Swallow, Grey Wagtail, first-winter Citrine Wagtail, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 2 Siskin, c.80 Brambling & c.50 Chaffinch.
Lamba Ness: Bar-tailed Godwit.
Skaw: Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap & Spotted Flycatcher.
Overcast skies all too soon produced steady rain that persisted for most of the day although at least it was virtually calm.
Norwick: 7 Grey Herons flew over heading south, Kestrel, first-winter Citrine Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, Robin, Common Redstart, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Common Whitethroat, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, Pied Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Siskin h, 28 Brambling & Little Bunting.
Skaw: Jack Snipe, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Siskin.
The wind remained persistently strong all day. Scott found a Booted Warbler at Skaw and Tim found a Citrine Wagtail on the beach at Norwick.
Norwick: Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Robin, 2 Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, 3 Song Thrush, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Brambling & c.80 Chaffinches.
Haroldswick: Kestrel, Robin, 3 Song Thrush, Blackcap, Willow Warbler & c.30 Chaffinches.
Grim wet and windy conditions arrived early morning and persisted for the rest of the day. I didn't venture far!
Norwick: Robin, Blackcap, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff & c.50 Chaffinch.
Today was pretty much all about finding my first American landbird in the UK at Valyie... the rest has pretty much been a blur!!
Norwick: Robin, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler & first-winter male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Skaw: Common Whitethroat.
Early morning rain soon cleared but the wind remained persistently strong all day so yet more very challenging weather to be out birding! I saw my first 'interesting' Common Redpoll of the Autumn being large, frosty with a heavily-streaked whitish rump - presumably a 'Northwestern'. Later, another 3 frosty Common Redpolls momentarily touched-down on our lawn before flying off into the strong wind - such feisty birds! With many thanks to Robbie for giving us a head's-up that Orcas were heading south from Skaw, we saw them hugging the south cliffs of Lamba Ness into Norwick until just off the Taing from where they passed us heading off towards Haroldswick.
Norwick: Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Song Thrush, c.35 Chaffinches, 2 Siskins & 4 Common Redpolls.
A pre-dawn hailstorm and near-gale force winds set the scene for some atrocious weather today with the temperature failing to make double figures! Sea-watching seemed the only option but failing to see anything of interest at all from 7am to 8am was enough of that! The hostile weather persisted whilst I visited Skaw and Valyie but seemed to brighten almost as soon as I arrived home. A power cut this afternoon added to the gloom but the wind dropped late afternoon so I took a quick look around Norwick.
Lamba Ness: Common Rosefinch.
Skaw: Dunnock.
Holsens road: Kestrel.
Norwick: Tree Pipit, Common Redstart, Robin, 2 Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Siskin, c.50 Chaffinches, Common Rosefinch & Reed Bunting.
Yet another day of challenging weather conditions with a brief period of calmer weather and warm sunshine soon replaced by light rain and freshening winds from early in the morning. The only highlight was seeing my first Lapland Bunting of the Autumn at Skaw.
Skaw: Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat & Lapland Bunting.
Norwick: juvenile Little Stint, Robin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, c.40 Chaffinch & Common Rosefinch.
A windy and overcast start to the day that only worsened after lunchtime - the 'equinox gales' are right on time!
Skaw: 2 Dunnocks, Common Whitethroat, 15 Siskin & Brambling.
Norwick: juvenile Little Stint, Song Thrush, 2 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Siskin, Brambling & c.50 Chaffinches.
Burrafirth: Blackcap & Chaffinch.
Haroldswick: 7 Chaffinches.
Clear at dawn but with a breeze soon picking up and by midday the forecast cloud arrived as did the strong southwesterly wind. The Little Stint was still on the beach and that set the scene for me seeing little in the way of new arrivals at Norwick with the exception of Duncan, Iain and friends that it was good to catch-up with. I saw pretty much exactly the same selection of species as in recent days too at Skaw and Lamba Ness albeit also my first Snow Bunting of the autumn. It was great to see the familiar face of Dave P among the gathering watching the Pectoral Sandpiper and enjoyable having a thought-provoking Gallinago discussion with him. During the afternoon the weather deteriorated so much that I had to abandon my attempt at mowing the lawn!
Norwick: Sparrowhawk, juvenile Little Stint, 2 Robins, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, c.6 Siskins, Brambling & c.50 Chaffinch
Skaw: 2 Kestrels, Dunnock, Whinchat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat & 3 Siskin.
The morning was more pleasant than forecast but drizzly rain persisted for much of the afternoon. A juvenile Little Stint on Norwick beach proved the early highlight of the day. My first flock of Pinkfeet of the Autumn flew south over Skaw quite early this morning so it was then a surprise that no more followed them.
Norwick: Kestrel, juvenile Little Stint, Robin, Willow Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Brambling & c.50 Chaffinch.
Skaw: 25 Pinkfeet, Swallow, Dunnock, Whinchat & Common Whitethroat.
This strangest of Autumn continues as overnight rain combined with a strong southeasterly airflow replaced by virtually calm dry conditions from dawn seemed about as good as you could possibly hope for... but, during a walk around Skaw and out to the headland I saw 2 Grey Herons arriving from the north and heard just a single overflying Siskin! Lamba Ness was still playing host to the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper but otherwise I only saw 2 Siskins there. A return along Holsens road then produced a surprise flock of 11 Chaffinches - the first I've seen this Autumn. Valyie had retained its Yellow-browed Warbler and whilst walking out a flock of 27 Chaffinches appeared. Next stop was NorthDale that produced my first Dunnock of the Autumn and a flock of 40 Chaffinches. With the weather window for passerine migrants soon set to close for a while perhaps they'll all arrive - I have my doubts, but we'll see...!
Skaw: 2 Grey Heron & Siskin heard.
Lamba Ness: juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper & 2 Siskin.
Holsens road: 11 Chaffinches.
Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow-browed Warbler, Willow Warbler, 27 Chaffinches & 3 Siskin.
NorthDale: Dunnock, Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 40 Chaffinches & 4 Mealy Redpolls.
Burrafirth: Wigeon, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinches.
A windy day made for challenging conditions at times. Given the wind direction it was disappointing the near-complete lack of common migrants continues with a Grey Plover, a Common Whitethroat and a Brambling the best.
Skaw: Siskin heard, Brambling.
Lamba Ness: juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper.
Holsen's road: Pied Flycatcher.
