NORTH RONALDSAY - 24th September

Clearer in the morning but spitting rain moved in at lunchtime and then low cloud, then more drizzle creating a very wet afternoon but all the while the lovely, brisk ESE wind continued to sweep across the island.   Scarcities included 2 Red-breasted Flycatchers – the Holland bird still and another new one at Westness, a single Yellow-browed Warbler and the Barred Warbler again.   There were some much improved migrant totals from the day which comprised 21 Pink-footed Geese, 56 Barnacle Geese, 3 Sparrowhawks, 4 Kestrels, 8 Swallows, 221 Meadow Pipits, 7 Rock Pipits, 45 alba Wagtails, 8 Redstarts, 2 Whinchat, 45 Wheatears, a Fieldfare, 74 Song Thrush, 10 Redwing, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests, the first Chaffinch of the autumn, 5 Lapland Buntings and 2 Snow Buntings.

Merlin (not taken today!)

These Barnacle Geese give you a better snapshot of the day!