NORTH RONALDSAY - 7th September

Heavy rain overnight finally petered out by mid-morning with a Barred Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher around the Obs.   I finally went out around the northern census route at midday and literally the first bird I saw was a cracking GREENISH WARBLER in Bewan House garden, flitting around and feeding actively but it disappeared just before anyone else arrived and it took some time but I eventually re-found it in front of Rue.   There was a nice range of migrants elsewhere but it was really heaving as totals included a Spotted Flycatcher at Rue and a Whinchat at Scottigar (both firsts for the autumn), 5 Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kestrels, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and a Heron which came in off the sea from the north.

                I then went out and opened the nets at Ancum Willows early evening and had just finished opening when I saw another Phyllosc near the road which was clearly an awesome ARCTIC WARBLER!   I soon caught it along with a Common Rosefinch and a Reed Warbler but had to close the nets soon after as more rain moved in – a brilliant afternoon!

Greenish Warbler

Arctic Warbler

Common Rosefinch

Whinchat

Willow Warbler

NORTH RONALDSAY - 7th September

A decent morning with a light southerly breeze and birds around the middle census route included a/the Marsh Harrier quartering Ancum, 2 Whinchats, a Willow Warbler, 9 Herons, 62 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 21 Wigeon and 4 Black-tailed Godwits.   Rain moved in by lunchtime and lingered on and off for the rest of the afternoon which brought the day’s highlight as a cracking ARCTIC WARBLER was trapped in T1 early evening – an awesome ringing tick!

Arctic Warbler

and to compare, the Greenish Warbler from last month