NORTH RONALDSAY - 29th October

A gorgeous day, bright and sunny with a feather-light NNE wind, a joy to be wandering around in the field after struggling so long in the strong winds; after the strong winds there was always going to be a movement over the sea and so it proved as totals included 17 Red-throated Divers, 9 Great-northern Divers, 10 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Manx Shearwaters, 24 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, a good 61 Little Auks and 18 Puffins (I only caught the end of the seawatching, adding a few Little Auks and a Sooty Shearwater to the total).   There was a nice selection across the land as well without being amazing with birds of note comprising 4 Herons, the Green-winged Teal still, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, 23 Robins, 9 Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 116 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, a Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, a bit of an arrival 6 Siberian Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, 3 Brambling, a Siskin, 36 Twite, 9 Common Redpoll and a Snow Bunting.

Water Rails

NORTH RONALDSAY - 28th October

Lighter winds than yesterday, brighter as well, not bad all-in-all; birds seen through the day included 3 Herons, 4 Whooper Swans, 279 Wigeon, the Green-winged Teal still, 17 Shoveler, 9 Long-tailed Ducks, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Hen Harriers, 3 Merlin, a Grey Plover, 72 Purple Sandpipers, a Jack Snipe, 21 Robins, a Ring Ouzel at Holland, 10 Song Thrush, 221 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs – Obs and Scotsha, the first Rook of the autumn by Scottigar, 11 Brambling, 18 Siskin, 72 Twite, 16 Common Redpolls, the male Hawfinch again round the Obs and 2 Snow Buntings.

Siberian Chiffchaff

NORTH RONALDSAY - 27th October

Windy again from the north bringing a succession of nasty showers sweeping through; there were some good highlights on offer though with an adult White-billed Diver past the seawatch hide, a 1cy Glaucous Gull also at the top end, a very late Swallow seen belting south ahead of a squall and a Siberian Chiffchaff in Bewan garden (I saw none of all that!).   Other bits included a single Whooper Swan, 3 Hen Harriers, single Merlin and Peregrine, 203 Redwings, 2 Common Redpolls and 13 Snow Buntings.

Twite

Hen Harrier on the Heligoland trap

NORTH RONALDSAY - 26th October

A nicer day, bright with much lighter winds but after the annual Harvest Home dinner and dance, observations were again limited (excuses, excuses!); birds included a Merlin, 16 Robins, 10 Song Thrush, 225 Redwing, 20 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 100 Linnets, 40 Twite, 5 Common Redpolls, the male Hawfinch still around the Obs and 3 Snow Buntings.

Shoveler

Snipe

NORTH RONALDSAY - 25th October

Largely dry but a blazing, gale force southerly wind was pretty restricting and observations were limited but birds seen did include 4 Whooper Swans, 11 Long-tailed Ducks, 17 Red-breasted Mergansers, single Grey Plover, Knot, Jack Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit, a late Arctic Skua chasing Common Gulls off The Links, 145 Redwing, 3 Siskins, a Common Redpoll and 3 Snow Buntings.

Whooper Swans - from yesterday

NORTH RONALDSAY - 24th October

We kept the very strong southerly wind but it remained bright and sunny throughout; a bit more effort in the field produced a few birds but little new as totals included 4 Great-northern Divers, 15 Whooper Swans (including three juveniles), 254 Wigeon, the Green-winged Teal still on Gretchen, 11 Long-tailed Ducks, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Hen Harriers, a Merlin, a Woodcock, 17 Rock Pipits, a Dunnock, 40 Robins, 19 Song Thrush, 525 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 43 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 6 Common Redpoll, the female Hawfinch still around the Obs, munching her way through the Rosa and 6 Snow Buntings.

Hawfinch

Ring Ouzel

Siskin

NORTH RONALDSAY - 23rd October

Still very wet and windy through the morning keeping folks indoors but there was a weather window of a few hours from early lunchtime before rain came back in late afternoon; coverage was limited but birds of note did include 3 Whooper Swans in off at Westness, a Merlin, a 1cy Glaucous Gull off Senness (first of the autumn), still 20+ Robins and 590+ Redwing, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskins and a Snow Bunting.   Also of note was a freshly dead Storm Petrel at Nouster Pier.

Snow Buntings (judging by the sunshine, probably not taken today!)

NORTH RONALDSAY - 22nd October

A horrible day with strong SSW winds and driving rain pretty much throughout; the limited observations suggested another arrival of Redwings, especially at the north end of the island with c1,160 counted in the fields.   Other birds seen comprised a Grey Plover, 2 Jack Snipe, a few Robins still, 2 Blackcaps and the male Hawfinch still around the Obs.

Woodcock

NORTH RONALDSAY - 21st October

Still windy, although from the SSW this time; there were limited new arrivals as totals included 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, 51 Dunlin, a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock, a single Little Auk past the Lighthouse, 51 Robins, a Ring Ouzel, 108 Song Thrush, 641 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, the Siberian Chiffchaff still at Holland, 3 Goldcrest, 14 Brambling, a further increase to 22 Common Redpolls, 2 Hawfinches still roaming between Holland and the Obs, 35 Snow Buntings and a Yellowhammer still.

Snipe and Jack Snipe

NORTH RONALDSAY - 20th October

A difficult day in the field with a moderately strong and pretty cold northerly wind cutting through you after a few hours stomping around; there were still birds to be had though despite coverage being slightly down on the last few days, totals included 2 Sooty Shearwaters and a Bonxie off the Lighthouse, 9 Herons, 173 Wigeon, an increase in duck off The Links with 11 Long-tailed Duck, a Common Scoter and 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, single Merlin and Peregrine, 2 Grey Plover, 56 Robins, 2 Redstart still, a Wheatear, a Ring Ouzel, 48 Song Thrush, 205 Redwing, a good 7 Mistle Thrush, 7 Chiffchaff, 36 Brambling, 2 Siskin, an increased 19 Common Redpolls, 2 Hawfinches still, 3 Lapland Bunting, 33 Snow Bunting and a Yellowhammer still.

Brambling flock

NORTH RONALDSAY - 19th October

A different kind of day with an increasing cold, brisk northerly wind dominating proceedings bringing some nasty little showers sweeping across the island from mid-afternoon.   There were limited new arrivals but still plenty of birds scattered throughout making it worthwhile to spend time in the field; totals included 6 Great-northern Divers, single Manx Shearwater and Arctic Skua off the Lighthouse, 10 Herons, the Green-winged Teal on Gretchen, 2 Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Merlin, 2 Grey Plover, single Knot, Woodcock and Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 91 Robins, 3 Redstarts, a Whinchat, a Ring Ouzel, 95 Song Thrush, 410 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 8 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaffs, 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Holland and Ancum, 5 Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 86 Brambling, 3 Siskin, 2 Common Redpoll, the 2 Hawfinch still, 12 Snow Buntings and a new Yellowhammer.

Twite and Brambling

Grey Plover

Merlin

NORTH RONALDSAY - 18th October

Still good, pleasant conditions with the ENE wind slightly increased and picking up towards the evening; numbers of common migrants were again reduced as the clear conditions overnight encouraged lots of birds to head off.   There were some new things to be found but we’re still feeling a bit hard-done-by with our lack of a bit of quality in our log; totals included 11 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great-northern Divers, 6 Long-tailed Ducks, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Hen Harriers, 3 Merlin, a big female Peregrine, a Woodcock, 2 alba Wagtails, 91 Robins, a Black Redstart, a Redstart, 2 Wheatears, 27 Fieldfare, 110 Song Thrush, 700 Redwings, a Mistle Thrush, yet another Eastern Lesser Whitethroat caught in Holland (that’s eight we’ve caught now this autumn!), 11 Blackcap, 18 Chiffchaff, yesterday’s Siberian Chiffchaff still, 7 Goldcrest, 73 Brambling, 9 Siskin, 7 Common Redpoll, the Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll re-trapped at roost in Holland, now 2 Hawfinches (the long-staying male and a new female at the Obs), 7 Snow Buntings and 1-2 Yellowhammers with birds seen at Ancum and Nether Linney – new for the year.

Eastern Lesser Whitethroat

NORTH RONALDSAY - 17th October

A gorgeous day, very calm, bright and sunny with plenty of birds still across the island but slightly reduced numbers from yesterday’s big arrival; still fun in the field with the fine conditions and birds round every corner making it great to be out with totals including the Green-winged Teal still, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, single Jack Snipe and Black-tailed Godwits, a Short-eared Owl, 3 late Swallows, 205 Robins, 2 Ring Ouzels, 106 Blackbird, 58 Fieldfare, 236 Song Thrush, 2,250 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, yesterday’s Reed Warbler, another Eastern Lesser Whitethroat trapped at Holland, a Garden Warbler, 22 Blackcap, 31 Chiffchaff, a Siberian Chiffchaff trapped at Ancum, 13 Goldcrest, 93 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 10 Common Redpoll, the Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll still, the Hawfinch still around Holland and 6 Snow Buntings.

Robin

Woodcock

Blackbird

NORTH RONALDSAY - 16th October

A fantastic day with birds everywhere, massive flocks of Thrushes moving across the island throughout the day; the huge rolling flocks of Redwings filling every field, coming in off the sea and dropping vertically out of the sky was something else!   No real rarities were unearthed but it didn’t matter one jot with everyone just revelling in the spectacle unfolding in front of them; totals (largely underestimates) comprised 11 Herons, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, 3 Jack Snipe, 283 Snipe, 13 Woodcock, 5 Short-eared Owls, 320 Robins, 2 Black Redstarts, 3 Redstarts, a Wheatear, 11 Ring Ouzels, 315 Blackbirds, 257 Fieldfare, 1,197 Song Thrush, 10,977 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrushes, single late Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler, 43 Blackcap, 38 Chiffchaff, 39 Goldcrest, 133 Brambling, 17 Siskin, 7 Common Redpoll, the Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll popping back up at Nether Linney, a Hawfinch flying around and eventually caught in Holland, 14 Snow Buntings and 8 Reed Buntings.    It was a brilliant day for the ringers as a total of 381 birds were processed through the day – an excellent total for the island.

Hawfinch

Ring Ouzel

Common Redpoll