2004 - SEPTEMBER SIGHTINGS  

29^th September, late evening update: An adult Red-flanked Bluetail is in Gunnawark! At least three Yellow-browed Warblers, three Common Rosefinch and a Little Bunting have also been seen. The Corncrake and Dotterel remain. A scattering of common migrants included a handful of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and a couple of Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers. Lapland Buntings reached 16!

28^th September: A day of light winds and a Fair Isle rarity in the form of a Black-throated Diver that flew over the Obs early morning. A Dotterel was on Ward Hill and a ringed Common Rosefinch was in Klingers Geo. Otherwise, the Slavonian Grebe, 15 Cormorants, Common Sandpiper, 4 Whinchats, 2 Redwing, 7 Goldcrests, 7 Common Redpolls and 12 Lapland Buntings were seen.

25^th – 27^th September: Much the same, weather and bird wise! Geese and ducks are still trickling through in small numbers, with highlights being 8 Red-breasted Mergansers on 26^th. A Slavonian Grebe was in North Haven (26^th – 27^th) and the Corncrake is still in Gilsetter. Skylarks peaked at 330 birds (27^th) and single Robins were seen on 25^th and 27^th, with Stonechat, 2 Blackbirds and 5 Redwing on the latter date. Another Common Rosefinch was trapped on 26^th and the following day 10 Lapland Buntings were seen along with 145 Snow Buntings.

Slavonian Grebe Photo Alan Bull

24^th September: A slightly busier day with autumn/winter migrants including 140 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Tufted Ducks, Water Rail, Jack Snipe, Mealy Redpoll, 4 Lapland Buntings and 110 Snow Buntings. Two Common Rosefinches and 3 Blackcaps were also new.

23^rd September: Another quiet day. A Whooper Swan and Whimbrel flew over the Obs, the Corncrake was re-trapped in the Gully, the Short-eared Owl was at Pund and 85 Snow Buntings were in the north.

21^st – 22^nd September: Much the same. A trickle of geese and ducks passed through, a Sooty Shearwater was off South Light (22^nd) and 6 Cormorants were in South Harbour (21^st). The Dotterel was last seen on 21^st and a Sanderling was new on 22^nd. The Short-eared Owl re-appeared at Pund. A Sedge and Willow Warbler were both new on 21^st as was a Pied Flycatcher. Nine Lapland Buntings and 220 Snow Buntings were found on 21^st with 6 Lapland and 180 Snow the following day.

20^th September: New arrivals included 200 Pink-footed Geese, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk and a Whimbrel. Other counts included 23 Dunlin, 63 Wheatears, Fieldfare, Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, a Redpoll, 8 Lapland Buntings and 130 Snow Buntings. A Common Rosefinch, the Corncrake and Dotterel all remain.

18^th September: More of the same weather! A Curlew Sandpiper at the Puffinn and a Glaucous Gull were the two highlights. The Dotterel and 2 Common Rosefinches are still present. Counts included the Barnacle Goose (trapped in the evening), 38 Wigeon, Water Rail, Little Stint, 14 Purple Sandpipers, Ruff, 2 Jack Snipe, 65 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 110 Turnstone, 160 Skylark, 5 Lapland Buntings and 75 Snow Buntings. A morning sea-watch produced a Red-throated Diver, a Diver sp, 2 ‘blue’ Fulmars, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 36 Guillemots and 2 Razorbills.

17^th September: Windy again! A Corncrake was seen and then trapped in Field Ditch. The Dotterel re-appeared on Ward Hill and a Common Rosefinch and Barred Warbler were seen. Counts included 10 Pink-footed Geese, Barnacle Goose, Water Rail, 9 Goldcrests, 5 Lapland Buntings and 49 Snow Buntings. Sea-watches from land and from the Good Shepherd produced Red-throated and Great Northern Diver, a Diver sp. 7 Sooty Shearwaters, Manx Shearwater, 20 Storm Petrels, Pomarine Skua and 4 Puffins.

16^th September: Another day of strong SW winds! Geese were on the move, with 46 Pink-footed, 11 Greylag and a Barnacle seen. Highlights included a Wryneck, Little Stint and a Common Rosefinch. Counts included 3 Knot, Ruff, Jack Snipe, the Short-eared Owl, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Garden Warblers, 7 Goldcrests, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Lapland Buntings and 26 Snow Buntings.

14^th September: Very little wind meant that conditions were ideal for finding migrants. The day had a very autumnal feel and the 6 Lapland Buntings and 40 Snow Buntings re-enforced that feeling. Counts included 22 Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red-throated Divers, Sooty Shearwater, Little Stint, 2 Collared Doves, Short-eared Owl, 2 Wrynecks, 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Whinchats, a new Barred Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Garden Warblers, 18 Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Common Rosefinches, the Reed Bunting and the 2 Canada Geese.

11^th September: A touch of SE wind brought the inevitable fog for the morning, which had cleared by lunch-time. Some rarity action was provided with 2 Curlew Sandpipers in Kirki Geo – a welcome year-tick! Otherwise the sea produced 3 Sooty Shearwaters and a Manx Shearwater and 15 Storm Petrels from the Good Shepherd. Census counts included 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Merlins, 60 Golden Plover, Tree Pipit, 450 Meadow Pipits, 2 Song Thrushes, Barred Warbler, 2 each of Garden Warbler and Blackcap, 3 Pied Flycatchers and 2 Lapland Buntings.

10^th September: Much the same with 2 Barred Warblers and 3 Common Rosefinches the highlight. A Red-breasted Merganser, Water Rail, Sparrowhawk and Redstart were all new. Otherwise, counts included 29 Golden Plovers, Common Sandpiper, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 8 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests, the 4 Lapland Buntings and the two Canada Geese.

9^th September: The 3 Barred Warblers and 2 Common Rosefinches remain. New birds included a Song Thrush and Reed Bunting. Otherwise, census counts included 15 Wigeon, 4 Merlins, the Short-eared Owl (from the 6^th), single Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler, 8 Willow Warblers, 4 Lapland Buntings and of course, the 2 Canada Geese.

7th September: The embarrassment of no rarities continues! However, scarce migrants included 3 Barred Warblers, 6 Common Rosefinches and an Icterine Warbler (sporting a ring on its left leg!). Common migrants included 4 Merlins, Peregrine, Sanderling, 320 Meadow Pipits, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, the Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warblers, Blackcap, 15 Willow Warblers, 8 Goldcrests, Pied Flycatcher, a Lapland Bunting and the now resident Canada Geese

Barred Warbler  Photo by Alan Bull

6^th September: Another sunny day, but the rarity drought continues. An increase of Common Rosefinches to 8 birds and the 3 Barred Warblers were the highlights. Otherwise, a Red-throated Diver, 2 Merlins, 4 Knot, Short-eared Owl, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Garden Warblers, 9 Willow Warblers and 6 Lapland Buntings were found.

A Dragonfly spp. was flushed from Da Water but could not be re-found – it is the third Fair Isle record of a dragonfly, all of which have been un-identified!

5^th September: Back to westerly winds (although light) and a cracking sunny, summer’s day! Very few birds though, with 3 Barred Warblers, 4 Common Rosefinches and 8 Lapland Buntings the main attractions. Other counts included 15 Teal, Pintail, Merlin (trapped), Peregrine, 54 Golden Plover, 18 Dunlin, 2 Tree Pipits, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Garden Warblers, 16 Willow Warblers and the 2 Canada Geese.

4th September: Today’s highlights were 3 Barred Warblers (Plantation, Chalet, Leogh) and 3 Common Rosefinches together at Quoy. Otherwise, census counts included a Little Stint, Swift, 3 Whinchats, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, 7 Garden Warblers and the two Canada Geese.

Tree Pipit Photos by Alan Bull

Willow-Warbler

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Last modified: 04 January, 2010   Further information about Fair Isle at: www.fairisle.org.uk