NORTH RONALDSAY - 26th September

An awesome day with the moderate SE wind still blazing across the island; I got a few nets open first thing and on the first-round I caught a cracking BLYTH’S REED WARBLER, followed by an ‘Eastern’ Lesser Whitethroat presumably a blythi bird along with a Redstart, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Redwings, a Chaffinch, single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and a Swallow.   I was then about to head up to the northern census route but we quickly went over to the northern edge of the airstrip to have fantastic views of a stunning SIBERIAN STONECHAT showing brilliantly on the wall.

                I finally got up to the northern census route where the highlights were a smart Little Bunting in the fields behind Rue and an equally smart Red-breasted Flycatcher at Garso; other birds included single Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Robin, 7 Song Thrushes, 6 Redwings and a Kestrel in off the sea at Trolla.    Nets in the evening produced a Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 2 Song Thrushes, a Chaffinch and a Brambling.

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Siberian Stonechat

Eastern Lesser Whitethroat

Red-breasted Flycatcher