2006 - AUGUST SIGHTINGS

August 31^st: The Melodious Warbler has returned, perhaps from a holiday in the bottom of a Rosa bush. There are still several interesting birds around, as well as a few new arrivals. Birds seen included  2 Red-backed Shrike, 2 Barred Warbler, Wryneck and 2 Common Rosefinch; while there were also 6 Grey Heron, Peregrine, Kestrel, 13 Golden Plover, 7 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 136 Meadow Pipit, 2 Robin, Black Redstart, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler, 20 Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. A sea-watch also produced good views of at least 6 Risso’s Dolphin and 15 White-beaked Dolphin off the North Light.

Melodious Warbler Photo Paul Baxter

August 30^th: Highlight of the day was yet another Basking Shark, seen off North Light with at least 5 Harbour Porpoise. 5 Sooty and a Manx Shearwater were also recorded. Scarce birds seen included 5 Common Rosefinch and 3 Barred Warbler while census also produced 20 Teal, 4 Wigeon, , Merlin, Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, 34 Turnstone, Collared Dove, 2 Whinchat, 5 Garden Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher.

August 29^th: A strong westerly wind has set in on the Island, and coupled with the fact that it was a quiet census today, we expect it to be a quiet few days. There are still several exciting migrants around, but there was no sign of last week’s star birds. Still present is the flock of 5 Common Rosefinch, 3 Barred Warbler, a Wryneck and the Red-backed Shrike. Other migrants included 10 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 9 Ringed Plover, 3 Purple Sandpiper, 19 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat and single Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler and only 6 Willow Warbler. Seawatches resulted in 4 Sooty Shearwater off the south and east coast.

Barred Warbler Photos Paul Baxter

August 28^th: Despite being a day of few arrivals, there was still plenty to see around the Island. The highlight was the Melodious Warbler, still present in the rigs around Setter. There was no sign of the Greenish Warbler, but there were still 5 Barred Warbler, 5 Common Rosefinch, a Marsh Warbler and a Red-backed Shrike providing entertainment. There was a mini raptor-fest with Common Buzzard, Merlin, Kestrel and Peregrine, while there was also a Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Redstart, Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat.

August 27^th: Optimism was rewarded with a MELODIOUS WARBLER at Setter mid-afternoon. Although a common bird on Portland, it is a rare bird up here and is the 15^th Island record and first since August 2002. The Greenish Warbler is also still around, showing wonderfully (and calling!) around the new plantation at Stackhoull. The supporting cast was also impressive with a Wryneck, 2 Marsh Warbler, 5 Barred Warbler, 4 Wood Warbler, 2 Red-backed Shrike and 6 Common Rosefinch. Other birds seen today included 8 Teal, 2 Peregrine, Kestrel, 9 Golden Plover, Ruff, Greenshank, 2 Tree Pipit, Robin, Redstart, Reed Warbler, 12 Garden Warbler and 2 Pied Flycatcher.

Greenish Warbler	Photos Paul Baxter	Melodious Warbler
Melodious Warbler		Wood Warbler

August 25^th: A brilliant day from start to finish. The omens were good from morning traps, when the only birds caught were a Wryneck and a Common Rosefinch. By the end of the day, 4 more Wryneck had been seen, while 3 more Rosefinches were trapped! The day also ended very well, with the autumn’s second GREENISH WARBLER found at Lower Stoneybreck. Morning census also turned up some corking birds, with a year tick in the form of a Corncrake, 3 Wood Warbler, 6 Barred Warbler, Marsh Warbler and a Red-backed Shrike. Other birds of note included the Peregrine, Kestrel, 4 Knot, 23 Curlew, 2 Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and 3 Cormorant. Passerines included 46 Willow Warbler, 21 Garden Warbler, 2 Whinchat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Pied Flycatcher and single Redstart and Reed Warbler. Despite the amazing variety of scarce migrants, the highlight for some people was the cetaceans seen late afternoon and into the evening. The Island’s seventh BASKING SHARK (4^th of the year) was seen down the east side, shortly before a pod of 15+ Risso’s Dolphins was seen close inshore, with several tiny calves visible. At least 10 more Risso’s were seen on an evening cetacean watch, with over 25 Harbour Porpoise. The conditions were so good that 4 Storm Petrels were also seen at very long range. And finally…a Sooty Shearwater approached a local fishing boat earlier in the day, taking scraps from the surprised Islander!

August 24^th: Several scarce birds are still present, as there was little migrant movement both in and out. Census produced 3 Wryneck, 2 Common Rosefinch and a Wood Warbler amongst 48 Willow Warbler, 23 Garden Warbler, 12 White Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Tree Pipit and single Black Redstart, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. Other migrants included 3 Grey Heron, 2 Swift and single Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and Peregrine. Before the wind picked up, the calm seas enabled over 20 Harbour Porpoise to be seen, along with a Minke Whale and a single Dolphin sp.   

Wryneck Photos Deryk Shaw

August 23^rd: Another good day’s birding, with several typical early autumn scarcities. This included 2 Wryneck, 3 Common Rosefinch, 4 Wood Warbler and a Barred Warbler. Non-passerines of note included a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, 5 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, Ruff, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and 2 Swift. While there was also a Black Redstart, Redstart, 3 Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 16 Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, 50 Willow Warbler, 6 Pied Flycatcher and a flyover Redpoll sp.

August 21st: The northerly wind and breaks in the cloud heralded a partial clear out of the previous week’s migrants. However, there was still plenty to be seen, with several scarce migrants at various points around the Isle. This included 2 Barred Warbler, Wryneck, Common Rosefinch, Wood Warbler and the female Red-backed Shrike. Commoner passerines were thinned out, but there were still over 100 Willow Warbler and 30 Garden Warbler as well as 12 White Wagtail, 4 Whinchat, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Linnet, 2 Pied Flycatcher and single Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit and Redstart. Non-passerines of note included 88 Oystercatcher, 5 Grey Heron, 5 Teal, 2 Sanderling, 3 Swift and single Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Common Tern and Peregrine. 

August 20^th: Foggy weather grounded migrants for the day, meaning there were few departures and few arrivals. The Woodchat Shrike remains elusive around Pund, as do 2 Wryneck, 3 Barred Warbler, 2 Red-backed Shrike and 7 Wood Warbler. A scattering of commoner migrants included 2 Tree Pipit, 10 White Wagtail, 2 Redstart, 9 Whinchat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Pied Flycatcher and 2 Linnet mixed in with 60 Garden Warbler and 120 Willow Warblers. Other birds of note included a Kestrel, an island record flock of 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper.  

Wryneck

Photos James Bradley

Barred Warbler

August 19^th: Yesterday’s birds remain, (except the Greenish Warbler) and were added to by another wave of migrants. The Woodchat Shrike was only seen once, flushed out of the Pund nettles. Before the weather closed in there were several more scarce birds found, including a Red-breasted Flycatcher in South Naversgill, 2 Wryneck, 5 Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and 7 Wood Warbler. Commoner migrants were also greatly increased, with 160 Willow Warbler, 75 Garden Warbler, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Whinchat and singles of Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Redstart and Tree Pipit. Non-passerines of note included the Peregrine and Short-eared Owl, while waders included 17 Lapwing, 3 Knot, 7 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper. The South Raeva Robin is still present and alarm calling, while the loitering Rook is still around the Obs!

August 18^th: Morning census was deathly quiet, but just after lunch it was clear that a fall of migrants was on – classic Fair Isle! A full census was only resumed after a GREENISH WARBLER was found at Field. It is the first record since 2002. Shortly after, a WOODCHAT SHRIKE was located at Gorson’s Geo and promptly moved up to the base of Hoini. It is the first since 1992 and constitutes the 27^th island record. Census continued into the evening and turned up 4 Barred Warbler, Wood Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and a Grasshopper Warbler in amongst over 100 Willow Warbler and 25 Garden Warbler. Other new birds included a Green Sandpiper, 2 Whinchat and an increase in Northern Wheatear to over 200. Lingering birds included 4 Grey Heron, 8 Purple Sandpiper, Black Redstart, Greenshank, Short-eared Owl and at least one Peregrine.

Woodchat Shrike Photo Deryk Shaw

Woodchat Shrike Photo Paul Baxter Greenish warbler  Photo Paul Baxter

August 17^th: There were several competitors for the days best bird, with a Barred Warbler still present, a Cuckoo, 3 Wood Warbler and the year’s first Sooty Shearwater from the Good Shepherd IV. Other migrants of note included 9 Greylag Geese, 4 Grey Heron, 31 Golden Plover, 12 Redshank, 5 Garden Warbler, 15 Willow Warbler and a large influx of over 200 Twite. Last night over 140 Storm Petrels were trapped at South Light.

Barred-Warbler at Pund Photos Paul Baxter

Wood Warbler

LATE REPORT FROM YESTERDAY: BASKING SHARK seen by a local fisherman around South Light. 

August 16^th: Today’s star birds were 2 Barred Warbler seen at Pund and Utra, while other interesting migrants consisted of the lingering Peregrine, Short-eared Owl, Woodcock and Grey Heron. New in were 2 Greenshank and 5 Purple Sandpiper, while passerines included 99 Northern Wheatear, 2 Garden Warbler, 13 Willow Warbler and 49 Twite.

August 15^th: New in today were a Grasshopper Warbler and a Short-eared Owl, while there were autumnal high counts of 9 Curlew and 44 Snipe. Elsewhere there were the lingering Teal, Grey Heron, Greenshank, Peregrine, 10 Lapwing, 3 Knot, Sanderling, 10 Dunlin and the Woodcock. The only passerines of note were a few warblers, reduced from last week to 17 Willow Warbler and 2 Garden Warbler. Last night 41 Storm Petrels were caught at 2 different sites, 6 were also seen from the Good Shepherd IV along with 3 Harbour Porpoise.

August 14^th: The day’s best bird turned up late –  a Wood Warbler caught on evening trap round. It certainly gives hope for the next few days as there was also a slight increase in the number of commoner warblers, with 25 Willow and 6 Garden. The Barred and Sedge Warbler are also still present. Also recorded were a Teal, Grey Heron, Sanderling, 19 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot and a Harbour Porpoise off the South end. A Robin was also seen loafing down in South Raeva, 2½ months after it was first seen there!

August 13^th: A far busier day today, with a good mixture of species. Highlight was the Barred Warbler, still skulking in the Busta crop. There were a few other warblers, with singles of Sedge and Reed and autumnal high counts of Garden (4) and Willow Warbler (21). Other migrants were typical of the time of year and included single Grey Heron, Greenshank, Sanderling, Whimbrel and Purple Sandpiper, with additional counts of 18 Ringed Plover, 2 Teal and 2 Peregrine Falcon.

August 12^th: The first Common Rosefinch of the autumn was the day’s best bird, with only a few new arrivals in. Waders were up though, with 15 Golden Plover, 17 Redshank, 38 Turnstone and a Greenshank. Census also went on to produce 20 Willow Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler and 64 Twite. The long-staying Rook is also still here. Perhaps we should give it a name, as our last “pet” bird, Edwina the duck, was found dead recently. She will be missed!

August 10^th: A year tick in the form of a Ruff was the days highlight, on another wet and windy day. Other migrants included a Teal, Whimbrel, 102 Oystercatcher, 43 Common Gull, 51 Twite and 2 Willow Warbler. Elsewhere the Short-eared Owl was seen again, while the early Woodcock was caught on morning traps.

August 9^th: The unseasonal grim weather meant census was severely restricted. The only birds of note were a Short-eared Owl at Pund, 72 Oystercatcher, 22 Golden Plover and 11 Lapwing. 

August 8^th: The highlight of the day was a very early Woodcock, flushed out of the Vaadal on morning census. Elsewhere there were a few migrants in, though the horrendous afternoon and evening weather ended hopes of a late census following a strong south-easterly. Waders included 42 Golden Plover, 24 Turnstone and 3 Grey Heron. The only other birds of note were 4 Willow Warbler and 5 Swallow. An hour’s cetacean watch in the morning produced 6+ Harbour Porpoise off the east side of Buness.

August 7^th: A quiet day with only a few new birds in. There were high counts for the week of 140 Oystercatcher, 22 Redshank and 3 Knot. A Whimbrel and a Collared Dove were new, while the Garden Warbler remains from last week.

August 4^th – 6^th: A single Leach’s Petrel (5^th) caught during a productive Storm Petrel session was the most notable record.  The Peregrine remains as does the Green Sandpiper and Garden Warbler, while Willow Warbler numbers increased to a peak of 6 (6^th).  Waders included a Common Sandpiper (6^th) as well as peaks of 1-5 each of Golden Plover,  Sanderling, Whimbrel, Redshank, Turnstone, Grey Heron.  Other sightings included a Common Tern seen at the South Harbour (4^th) while the Robin remains in South Raeva and the Rook remains outside the Observatory! A cetacean watch from Buness (4^th) produced 2 Harbour Porpoise.

August 3^rd: Autumn has still to get underway with a handful of waders (5 each of Knot & Sanderling, a Green Sandpiper and a Whimbrel) plus Wood Pigeon a couple of Willow Warblers and a Garden Warbler the only migrants of any note.

August 1^st – 2nd: A quiet few days, with 2 fly-by Velvet Scoter being the undoubted highlight. Unfortunately they were only seen by Roy Dennis! With this addition to the year-list, we stand at 174 species, with 3 full months of the season to go. Only 42 more species to beat the record!

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Last modified: 15 August, 2008   Further information about Fair Isle at: www.fairisle.org.uk