An awesome day, the day to
make all the waiting through the westerlies of the last month worth it, SE
winds, low cloud, mist and murk for once made the west coast the prime
location, heavy rain moved in from mid-afternoon making it unpleasant to be out
and about but it was clear that birds were arriving throughout the day. Walked up the west coast in the morning and
a bit more in the afternoon until the rain moved in, my highlights included a
bright Little Bunting which eventually showed well at Trebb and the
first Long-eared Owl of the autumn along the wall between Trebb and
Gue Park.
I had just got back to the Obs at lunchtime when we
dashed up to Senness to get brilliant views of a very smart and distinctive BLACK-EARED
WHEATEAR on the tumbledown wall
around the croft, it gave prolonged views letting us get great detail on the
tail pattern and overall pale ground colouration – the first for North Ron and
Orkney.
My migrant totals up the coast and round the Obs
comprised 7 Robins, 60 Redwing, 13 Fieldfares, 3 Song Thrush, 6 Wheatears, a
Swallow, 22 Rock Pipits, my first 5 Goldcrest of the autumn, 2 Blackcap,
a Willow Warblers, 13+ Brambling, 30+ Blackbirds, 36+ Snow Buntings, a Merlin
and a Hen Harrier – not a huge amount but truly wonderful after the dreadful
autumn so far!
Black-eared Wheatear record shots
Little Bunting
Long-eared Owl
Goldcrest
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