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