April 2007

2007 - APRIL SIGHTINGS

April 30^th: Bird of the day was not found until the evening - a smart Little Bunting at Barkland. A probable rubicola male Stonechat toured the south end and spent some time in the company of a male Whinchat. A Grasshopper warbler remains at the Obs and a Black-tailed Godwit near the shop. Three Lesser Whitethroats and a male Blackcap arrived with the first Goldcrest for a fortnight.
A long-dead Minke Whale (c5m long) floated into South Harbour.

Little Bunting Photo by Mark Breaks

Little Bunting Photo by Paul Baxter

Grasshopper Warbler Photo by Paul Baxter

April 29^th: A quiet day with a light but cool ESE wind. Highlight was the male Whinchat in Field Ditch whilst three Grasshopper Warblers included at least one new. A couple of Ring Ouzels were seen.

Grasshopper Warbler
Photo by Paul Baxter

April 28^th: A Short-eared Owl was new in and of two Iceland Gulls, at least one was a new bird. Three Grasshopper Warblers were spotted whilst Wheatears reached 190! Three (of six) Siskins were trapped.

April 27^th: Another Grasshopper Warbler was trapped, the two Goldfinch remain. A total of 175 Wheatear were counted, with many leucorhoa race noted. A count of four Peregrines (three together) is impressive, as was a flock of 45 Swallows with a few House Martins and at least one Sand Martin. A Linnet was new whilst the Siberian Chiffchaff remains.

Grasshopper Warbler
Photo Mark Breaks

Siberian Chiffchaff Photo by Mark Breaks
Siberian Chiffchaff Photo by Mark Breaks

April 26^th: Three year ticks today; a Sedge Warbler and Goldfinch were trapped first thing. Another Goldfinch arrived in the afternoon, when a Grasshopper Warbler was found at Charlie’s trees! A Shelduck flying south was the best of the rest.

April 25^th: A quiet day but the Garganey was seen again, in Boini Mire.

April 24^th: A male Garganey narrowly missed being caught in the Gully trap. An influx of hirundines saw 24 Swallows, 14 House Martin and a Sand Martin logged. Wheatears topped 100, including several of the larger leucorhoa race. A handful of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs (including a cracking Siberian Chiffchaff), Ring Ouzel and Iceland Gull were other highlights.	Siberian Chiffchaff Photo Deryk Shaw
Siberian Chiffchaff Photo by Mark Breaks	Siberian Chiffchaff Photo Deryk Shaw

April 23^rd: A cracking days birding in a (predominantly) light south easterly and near blue skies. Pride of place goes to the 1stW female Black-throated Thrush near Linni Geo – our 11^th record but only 2^nd in Spring. A cracking summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe frequented Hesti Geo. Several other firsts for the year put in an appearance with single Sand Martin, Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap plus a good count of three Sandwich Tern also.

Black-throated Thrush	Photos Mark Breaks
	Slavonian Grebe Photo Deryk Shaw

April 22^nd: A Common Sandpiper in South harbour was new for the year, whilst Fieldfares topped the 100 mark.

April 21^st: Morning census produced very little but the Little Gull was still present – at Lower Leogh. However, an arrival of thrushes in the afternoon brought in the first Ring Ouzels of the year – a total of 18 were seen, including an amazing flock of 16 in the Kirn o’ Scroo!

April 20^th: A 1^st S Little Gull was in Furse in the morning and South Harbour in the afternoon. This is the 20^th individual to visit the isle and the first since one in October 2004. Elsewhere, an adult Whooper Swan arrived and four species of geese remain.

April 17^th: The first Arctic Skua – a dark morph – in the morning was followed by the second – a light morph – in the evening. Two Barnacle Geese were flushed from Suka Mire and re-settled by Walli Burn. There was little else of note, but the first Guillemot egg was found – predated!

April 16^th: The first Willow Warbler on the early morning trapround was followed with 2 cracking
Black-tailed Godwits before lunch.

Black-tailed Godwits (16th) Photo Mark Breaks

Black-tailed Godwits Photo Mark Breaks

Black-tailed Godwit Photo Mark Breaks

April 15^th: New birds today were Greenshank, Whimbrel and House Martin. Long-stayers include Greenland Whitefronted & Pink-footed Geese, Shoveler and 2 Iceland Gulls.

Greenland Whitefronted Goose Photo Mark Breaks

April 14^t^h: A lone Whooper swan flew through whilst Bar-tailed Godwit was added to the year list. Bonxies have risen to 26 and Wheatears to over 30. Two Swallows were seen and the female Sparrowhawk and Jackdaw remain. A cracking male Lapland Bunting frequented Eas Brecks.

Sparrowhawk Photo Mark Breaks

April 13^th: A Green Sandpiper was flushed from Easter Lother. Two Collared Doves, 20 Wheatears, a Rook, 2 Linnet, Siskin and Yellowhammer also arrived.
April 12^th: Three Shelduck flew past early morning. A small fall was noted with 200 Skylark, 12 Wheatear, 20 Golden Plover, 25 Black-headed Gull, up to 10 Bonxies and an increase in thrushes. Single female Sparrowhawk and male Merlin were also new. Best of all though was the first Swallow, past the Obs at teatime! Our first French-ringed Chiffchaff was trapped at Barkland.

Wheatear Photo Mark Breaks

April 11^th: Now 3 Brambling at the Obs plus the Jackdaw and 50 Redwing plus a male Snow Bunting. Iceland Gulls increased to 3 amid an arrival of 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

April 10^th: A male Sparrowhawk is new and 2 Brambling at the Obs. A lone Bonxie frequents the North.

April 9^th: The same birds as yesterday plus a Reed Bunting and an influx of Redwings (150).

April 8^th: At last – our first Wheatear has arrived! A Jackdaw is new whilst Great Tit, Iceland Gull and Grey Wagtail remain.

Snow bunting Photo Mark Breaks

Iceland Gull Photo Mark Breaks

April 7^th: Three Great Northern Divers are in Hesswalls. The Lapland Bunting lingers.

April 6^th: Great Tit still here. The male Lapland Bunting was trapped at Barkland. Some arrivals included a 1^st W Glaucous Gull, 14 Raven, 2 Rook, 4 Chaffinch and 3 Brambling.

April 5^th: Great Tit still at the Obs. A Great Northern Diver in Hesswalls was the only new bird.

April 4^th: The Great Tit remains at the Obs and a Lapland Bunting at Springfield may be different. Two Grey Wagtails, 3 Snow Bunting and one of the Iceland Gulls were also seen.

April 3^rd: The female Great Tit remained in the Obs garden and was joined there in the afternoon by a female Brambling and a male Lapland Bunting. A ringtail Hen Harrier floated around but other than that there appeared to be little new.

Lapland Bunting

photo by Mark Breaks

April 2^nd: Of two male Stonechats present today, one was trapped in Single Dyke – a less than annual occurrence!

Stonechat
photo by Deryk Shaw

April 1^st: Yet another day of virtually no wind!!! The female Great Tit had migrated to the Obs, whereupon it was trapped. The traps had a good day with a Grey Wagtail and a Black Redstart also caught. Three Bonxies were seen in the North, along with a Kestrel and a Woodcock. Elsewhere, a Lapland Bunting, 6 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest and a Reed Bunting were logged. In the evening, 120 Puffins had gathered in Finniequoy – the first birds ashore must be imminent!

Great Tit
photo by Deryk Shaw

Grey Wagtail
photo by Deryk Shaw

Black Redstart
photo by Deryk Shaw

Deryk Shaw

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