NORTH RONALDSAY - 31st October

Calm again first thing but the southerly wind steadily picked up through the day becoming breezy by the evening and maybe moving into the east a little bit; some increased coverage produced some increased numbers with hints of a few new bits still on the move, perhaps indicating the autumn is not quite over yet!   Birds seen through the day included 10 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great-northern Divers, a bit of movement over the sea with a Sooty Shearwater, 4 Common Scoter, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, 5 Little Auks and 3 Puffins, 8 Herons, 312 Wigeon, 8 Pintail, 112 Teal, a massive influx of 104 Tufted Ducks – the second highest island count, probably involving a roaming flock from Sanday rather than actual migrants, 31 Long-tailed Ducks (highest count of the autumn), 3 Hen Harriers, 4 Merlin, 3 Woodcock, 28 Rock Pipits, 14 Robins, the Holland Ring Ouzel still, 8 Song Thrush, 145 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs (new birds, caught in Holland), 3 Brambling, 66 Siskin and 7 Snow Buntings.