NORTH RONALDSAY - 12th October

Lovely and calm through the day with the bright conditions making it a joy to be out in the field, not big arrival weather but still a good selection of common migrants with enough of a turnover of birds to keep your enthusiasm going.   Totals included 4 Herons, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlins, a Jack Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, the Shorelark again on the beach at Howar, 110 Meadow Pipits, 44 Robins, 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 5 Wheatears, 11 Fieldfare, 38 Song Thrush, 185 Redwing, the Eastern Lesser Whitethroat still, 3 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, the Great Grey Shrike still roving the south of the island, 3 Chaffinches, 11 Brambling, 2 Siskin, still 180 Linnets, 6 Common Redpolls, a Lesser Redpoll trapped in Holland (the first of the autumn), a Lapland Bunting and 79 Snow Buntings.

Merlin

Rock Pipit

Reed Bunting

Goldeneye