NORTH RONALDSAY - 22nd October

A horrible day with strong SSW winds and driving rain pretty much throughout; the limited observations suggested another arrival of Redwings, especially at the north end of the island with c1,160 counted in the fields.   Other birds seen comprised a Grey Plover, 2 Jack Snipe, a few Robins still, 2 Blackcaps and the male Hawfinch still around the Obs.

Woodcock

NORTH RONALDSAY - 21st October

Still windy, although from the SSW this time; there were limited new arrivals as totals included 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, 51 Dunlin, a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock, a single Little Auk past the Lighthouse, 51 Robins, a Ring Ouzel, 108 Song Thrush, 641 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, the Siberian Chiffchaff still at Holland, 3 Goldcrest, 14 Brambling, a further increase to 22 Common Redpolls, 2 Hawfinches still roaming between Holland and the Obs, 35 Snow Buntings and a Yellowhammer still.

Snipe and Jack Snipe

NORTH RONALDSAY - 20th October

A difficult day in the field with a moderately strong and pretty cold northerly wind cutting through you after a few hours stomping around; there were still birds to be had though despite coverage being slightly down on the last few days, totals included 2 Sooty Shearwaters and a Bonxie off the Lighthouse, 9 Herons, 173 Wigeon, an increase in duck off The Links with 11 Long-tailed Duck, a Common Scoter and 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, single Merlin and Peregrine, 2 Grey Plover, 56 Robins, 2 Redstart still, a Wheatear, a Ring Ouzel, 48 Song Thrush, 205 Redwing, a good 7 Mistle Thrush, 7 Chiffchaff, 36 Brambling, 2 Siskin, an increased 19 Common Redpolls, 2 Hawfinches still, 3 Lapland Bunting, 33 Snow Bunting and a Yellowhammer still.

Brambling flock

NORTH RONALDSAY - 19th October

A different kind of day with an increasing cold, brisk northerly wind dominating proceedings bringing some nasty little showers sweeping across the island from mid-afternoon.   There were limited new arrivals but still plenty of birds scattered throughout making it worthwhile to spend time in the field; totals included 6 Great-northern Divers, single Manx Shearwater and Arctic Skua off the Lighthouse, 10 Herons, the Green-winged Teal on Gretchen, 2 Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Merlin, 2 Grey Plover, single Knot, Woodcock and Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 91 Robins, 3 Redstarts, a Whinchat, a Ring Ouzel, 95 Song Thrush, 410 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 8 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaffs, 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Holland and Ancum, 5 Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, 86 Brambling, 3 Siskin, 2 Common Redpoll, the 2 Hawfinch still, 12 Snow Buntings and a new Yellowhammer.

Twite and Brambling

Grey Plover

Merlin

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

NORTH RONALDSAY - 17th October

A gorgeous day, very calm, bright and sunny with plenty of birds still across the island but slightly reduced numbers from yesterday’s big arrival; still fun in the field with the fine conditions and birds round every corner making it great to be out with totals including the Green-winged Teal still, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, single Jack Snipe and Black-tailed Godwits, a Short-eared Owl, 3 late Swallows, 205 Robins, 2 Ring Ouzels, 106 Blackbird, 58 Fieldfare, 236 Song Thrush, 2,250 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, yesterday’s Reed Warbler, another Eastern Lesser Whitethroat trapped at Holland, a Garden Warbler, 22 Blackcap, 31 Chiffchaff, a Siberian Chiffchaff trapped at Ancum, 13 Goldcrest, 93 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 10 Common Redpoll, the Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll still, the Hawfinch still around Holland and 6 Snow Buntings.

Robin

Woodcock

Blackbird

NORTH RONALDSAY - 16th October

A fantastic day with birds everywhere, massive flocks of Thrushes moving across the island throughout the day; the huge rolling flocks of Redwings filling every field, coming in off the sea and dropping vertically out of the sky was something else!   No real rarities were unearthed but it didn’t matter one jot with everyone just revelling in the spectacle unfolding in front of them; totals (largely underestimates) comprised 11 Herons, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Merlin, 3 Jack Snipe, 283 Snipe, 13 Woodcock, 5 Short-eared Owls, 320 Robins, 2 Black Redstarts, 3 Redstarts, a Wheatear, 11 Ring Ouzels, 315 Blackbirds, 257 Fieldfare, 1,197 Song Thrush, 10,977 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrushes, single late Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler, 43 Blackcap, 38 Chiffchaff, 39 Goldcrest, 133 Brambling, 17 Siskin, 7 Common Redpoll, the Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll popping back up at Nether Linney, a Hawfinch flying around and eventually caught in Holland, 14 Snow Buntings and 8 Reed Buntings.    It was a brilliant day for the ringers as a total of 381 birds were processed through the day – an excellent total for the island.

Hawfinch

Ring Ouzel

Common Redpoll