A very noticeable clear-out of migrants from the day before, which gave the island a rather quiet feel. Despite this there were still some great birds present on the island, including the first Merlin and Common Redstart of the autumn.
Other sightings of note on this lovely yet breezy day include: a Teal, 2 southbound Cormorant, the Grey Heron, a Kestrel, just 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, singles of Sedge Warbler and Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 4 fly-over Tree Pipit, just 1 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, a single Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtails (plus 5 fly-over alba types), 184 Meadow Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 15 Goldfinch and 28 Linnet.
A reasonably settled and dry evening allowed for another Storm Petrel ringing session on the North End too. Here the team managed to catch a total of 39 petrels, 15 of which were either a re-traps or controls.
August 28th
A driech aul day with thick mist and downpours for much of the morning up until 14:00 at least. Sightings of note include the Grey Heron, 7 Woodpigeon, a fly-over Ringed Plover, 2 Willow Warbler, singles of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Goldcrest, a single Pied Wagtail, a fly-over Tree Pipit, 65 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinch, 23 Goldfinch and 120 Linnet.
August 29th
A very windy day throughout, though a pleasantly warm dry day. Birds of note include a Ringed Plover over the church in the afternoon, a Water Rail calling outside Paradise Row, single Swift, 2 Sand Martin, a House Martin, 7 Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap and a single Goldcrest.
August 30th
With the winds picking up again overnight, all attention in the morning was focused out at sea. Here a super 2,538 Manx Shearwater were recorded passing Rat Island within 2 hours of observations, along with small numbers of Gannet (63), Razorbill (2), Guillemot (1) and Fulmar (2). The highlight from the morning sea-watch however came in the form of a stunning Sooty Shearwater which passed Rat Island within a flock of Manx at 08:21.
The undisputed bird of the day though had to be the reappearance of the male Black-headed Bunting, this time feeding along the track bordering Brick and Tillage Fields. Found at around 13:35, the bird stuck around for a least an hour and a half, allowing some superb close-up views before disappearing into Tillage Field and out of sight.
Other sightings of note include a fly-over Ringed Plover, the Grey Heron again munching on diving beetles in Quarter Wall Pond, a single male Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Goldcrest and a lone Stonechat on the Terrace.
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| The Black-headed Bunting reappeared close to Brick & Tillage Fields, 30 Aug © Dean Jones |
Report composed of observations from Zoë Barton, Dean Jones, Patrick Keith, Rebecca Taylor, Richard Taylor and Tony Taylor.
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