NORTH RONALDSAY - 15th September

Still super windy, with the blazing westerly wind dominating everyone’s conversations and making any trip out into the field a bit of a mission; there were some birds though as totals included 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great-northern Divers, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, a good count of 645 Pink-footed Geese with a big grounded flock at Brides, a Red-breasted Merganser, single Hen Harrier and Peregrine, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, single Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua, a Sand Martin, 25 Wheatears and 2 Lapland Buntings on The Links.

Tired Swallow

Turnstone

NORTH RONALDSAY - 14th September

A horrible day as we kept the blazing force 7-8 westerly wind but had almost constant driving rain thrown in to the mix; unsurprisingly there were few birding highlights for the day with a total of 380 Pink-footed Geese seen with quite a few grounded flocks in the awful weather, single Red-throated and Great-northern Divers, 2 Mute Swans (the first ones since the end of July – possibly the breeding pair returning after their summer holidays) and 2 Sand Martins of note.

Turnstone

NORTH RONALDSAY - 13th September

The blasting westerly wind picked up again a touch making life difficult in the field; the main feature of the day was a decent movement of 431 Pink-footed Geese, generally in small flocks.   The other highlights were offshore as well with a Red-throated Diver, 2 Blue Fulmars amongst the steady stream of Fulmars, 34 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters, a Common Scoter (the first one since the spring), an Arctic Skua and 26 Bonxies.   Other little bits included a Heron, 92 Wigeon, single Merlin and Peregrine, 13 Black-tailed Godwits and single Willow Warbler and Pied Flycatcher.

Merlin

Sanderling

NORTH RONALDSAY - 12th September

Rough still, although the WSW / W wind was slightly less than yesterday, it remained difficult in the field especially with the sometimes-heavy squalls which swept through in the morning; the Little Bunting popped up again in Funny Park and showed well at times while other lingering passerines included a Tree Sparrow at Hooking (the second of the autumn) and single Lesser Whitethroat and Pied Flycatcher.   Other birds included 2 Herons, a total of 96 Pink-footed Geese south (in several flocks), influxes of 87 Wigeon and 50 Teal, the first Red-breasted Merganser since July, a Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrels, a Merlin, 119 Ringed Plover, 497 Golden Plover, single Ruff and Whimbrel, 160 Redshank, a small influx of 12 Black-headed Gulls and 30 Common Gulls, 7 Sand Martins, 51 Wheatears and 2 Lapland Buntings – Westbeach and Westness.

Pied Flycatcher

Bonxie

NORTH RONALDSAY - 11th September

Inevitably, just as we experienced our best day of the autumn so far, the wind switches into the WSW and picks up to an uncomfortable force 7-8 thus putting an end to our eastern dreams for the time being!  It was very difficult birding conditions in the strong wind and the small passerine totals consisted of lingering birds with the Red-backed Shrike still at Cursiter, 8 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest and a Pied Flycatcher.   Other birds dug out included 2 Herons, a Merlin, an increase to 1,050 Golden Plover, 35 Knot, a Ruff, 4 Whimbrel, the juvenile Common Tern with 3 Arctic Terns lingering in Nouster and 6 Sand Martins.

Common Tern

Bonxie

Rock Pipit

NORTH RONALDSAY - 10th September

A good start to the day with a light SSE wind and plenty of birds but after mid-afternoon the wind rapidly picked up to a very strong southerly wind bringing rain by dusk; the long list of scarcities across the island included a Common Buzzard high south (the first of the year), a Marsh Warbler trapped at Holland House, 3 Barred Warblers – Funny Park, Antabreck and the Sandback bird still, the Red-backed Shrike still at Cursiter, 2 Common Rosefinches – Funny Park and Scottigar and the first Little Bunting of the year going between the Obs and Funny Park.   Other totals comprised a Kestrel, 2 Merlins, 39 Knot, single Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit, a juvenile Common Tern on Nouster Pier, a Sand Martin, 2 Rock Pipit, a flava Wagtail in flight by The Mill, 9 Whinchat, a Reed Warbler, a Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Garden Warblers, 4 Blackcap, 15 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest and 3 Pied Flycatchers.

Barred Warbler

Common Rosefinch

Pied Flycatcher

Shorelark

NORTH RONALDSAY - 9th September

Another nice day with a moderate NW breeze which eased off slightly towards the evening; a decent spread of migrants across the island showed some small increases in numbers including the first 3 Rock Pipits of the autumn, 4 Whinchats, yesterday’s Barred Warbler still at Sandback, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Garden Warblers, 10 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrest and 5 Pied Flycatchers.   Other birds of note comprised 3 Herons, a Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, a Grey Plover, 2 Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit and the Shorelark still at Trolla.

Golden Plover

Willow Warbler

Pied Flycatcher

NORTH RONALDSAY - 8th September

Bright and sunny throughout but the southerly wind increased steadily, rapidly becoming a hinderance in the field even though it was clear there were some good birds to be found; migrants comprised 5 Whinchats, 110+ Wheatears, a Barred Warbler at Sandback (the second of the year), 16 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, 4 Pied Flycatchers and a Common Rosefinch at Senness (the first of the autumn).   Other little bits included 87 Teal, single Hen Harrier and Peregrine, a Black-tailed Godwit and the Shorelark still around the Lighthouse.

Kittiwake

NORTH RONALDSAY - 7th September

Bright and dry throughout the day with a brisk NW dominating until the evening when the wind dropped off to practically nothing producing a stunning picture-postcard evening; there was a nice spread of new migrants across the island, perhaps hinting at things to come, with a Short-eared Owl, 6 Sand Martins, 65 alba Wagtails, 3 Whinchats, 73 Wheatears, a Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Willow Warblers, a Pied Flycatcher and a Lapland Bunting.   There was still some action offshore including 9 Red-throated Divers, 3,165 Fulmars, 31 Sooty Shearwaters and 10 Manx Shearwaters while other birds of note comprised a Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrines and 21 Knot.

Wheatear

NORTH RONALDSAY - 6th September

After a few squalls swept through early morning it was a dry and bright day with a brisk westerly breeze moving into the north by the evening; todays seawatching totals comprised 7 Red-throated Divers, 1,044 Fulmars, 37 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Manx Shearwaters and 185 Auk sp.   Other birds included single Merlin and Peregrine, 108 Ringed Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, 26 Sand Martins, 2 Whinchats, 97 Wheatears, a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler.

Merlin

NORTH RONALDSAY - 5th September

A nice day only marred by a few light showers on the moderate westerly wind until some very heavy rain arrived at dusk; seawatching totals comprised 3 Red-throated Divers, 2,069 Fulmars, 97 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Manx Shearwaters, a Storm Petrel and 14 Bonxies.   Also unearthed today were 4 Herons, 79 Teal, 750 Golden Plover, a Grey Plover, 52 Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, the Shorelark back up at Trolla, 29 Sand Martins, 110 Swallows, 100 Wheatears and a slight increase in passerines with a Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat and 12 Willow Warblers.

Ravens