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