2007 - MAY SIGHTINGS

May 31st: A light to moderate easterly with hazy low cloud resulted in the best day of the spring….so far! Although no official BBRC rares were in evidence, a fair scattering of scarce migrants made up for it. It started with an Icterine Warbler in the Havens. Two more were later found (at Leogh & Hesti Geo). An Osprey flew over at North Light (and was flushed from the cliffs there in the afternoon). A Common Rosefinch at Pund was followed by another at Haa. The Walli Burn produced a Marsh Warbler and, moments later, a male Rustic Bunting. The Marsh Warbler was seen to be sporting a ring and efforts were therefore made to trap it. It had been ringed in Norway! A male Red-backed Shrike shared the fences at Midway with the Lesser Grey Shrike. As everyone arrived back at the Obs for lunch, a Golden Oriole flew into the Obs Plantation! A thin scattering of common migrants (Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Sedge, Garden & Willow Warbler) was noted. One Sedge Warbler was trapped bearing a French ring! The afternoon produced a Cruiseship carrying 120 Americans, but no new ornithological migrants!		Rustic Bunting Photos by Mark Breaks
		Golden Oriole Photo by Mark Breaks

May 30^th: The wind finally switched from NE’ly to E’ly mid-afternoon, with instant results……a few migrants were caught in the traps and this spurred everyone to get out there. As the wind swung round to SE’ly and picked up to near gale force, birding became difficult and most birds were sheltering down the cliffs. Nevertheless some good totals (for this spring!!) were made. Three each of Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrike were supported by totals of 14 Spotted Flycatcher, 10 Garden Warbler, 7 Willow Warbler, 4 Redstart, 3 Tree Pipit plus a Grey-headed Wagtail and a Stonechat. The Lesser Grey Shrike was seen again and a Peregrine, 3 Tufted Duck and a Common Scoter.

Icterine Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks

Icterine Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks

May 29th: Another quiet day although the Lesser Grey Shrike remains and showed very well. New in were a Garden Warbler and a Whinchat. The Saker Falcon was seen briefly as was the Turtle Dove.  May 28th: The Lesser Grey Shrike remains and a first-summer Rosy Starling was found at Wirvie. Also new in are a couple of Barnacle Geese, three Golden Plover and a Black Redstart. Arctic Terns have risen back to 100. Single Turtle Dove and Ring Ouzel are still present. A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen.		Rosy Starling Photo by Mark Breaks
Lesser Grey Shrike Photo Mark Breaks		Lesser Grey Shrike Photo by Paul Baxter
Lesser Grey Shrike Photo by Mark Breaks		Lesser Grey Shrike Photo by Paul Baxter

May 27^th: New in were a Grey Heron, two Swift, 50 Swallows, two Whitethroat and a mealy Common Redpoll but pride of place went to a superb LESSER GREY SHRIKE. Initially at the Chalet, it was very mobile and wandered as far as Hill Dyke and Houll.

Red-backed Shrike Photo Mark Breaks

Red-backed Shrike Photo Mark Breaks

May 26^th: A Peregrine was present but a much larger raptor, thought to be a Saker was also seen briefly. A female Bluethroat was seen in the Parks whilst a fine male was trapped in Vaadal. The female Red-backed Shrike, female Ring Ouzel and Turtle Dove all remain. Counts included just 26 Arctic Tern, 41 Lesser Black-backed Gull and nine Sedge Warbler.  

May 25th: Another quiet day with virtually nothing new although some nice birds were still to be seen. The Surf Scoter, Red-backed Shrike, Bluethroat and Turtle Dove all remain. A Sparrowhawk, Swift and Ring Ouzel were the only other things of note. The first brood of Meadow Pipits were ringed. May 24th: All of yesterday’s birds remain plus a smart male Bluethroat near Bullock Holes.

Bluethroat Photo by Mark Breaks

		Bluethroat Photos by Mark Breaks
Siskin Photo by Paul Baxter		Turtle Dove Photo by Paul Baxter

May 23^rd: Much the same birds as yesterday with the Surf Scoter in North Haven, Red-backed Shrike at Midway and the three escaped Bar-headed Geese near Shirva. However, new birds in included a Turtle Dove at Barkland, a Grey-headed (Yellow) Wagtail at Springfield and a Subalpine Warbler at Schoolton.

Subalpine Warbler Photo by Paul Baxter		Subalpine Warbler Photo by Paul Baxter
Subalpine Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks		Grey-headed Wagtail Photo by Mark Breaks

Surf Scoter  Photos by Mark Breaks

May 22nd: Hooray! Our first Red-backed Shrike of the year – a female trapped in the Vaadal!! Also, a Swift was new for the year, a Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape was nice as were the three escaped Bar-headed Geese at the same place! A count of 15 Sedge Warblers was good plus a few Tree Pipits, two Ring Ouzels and an unidentified large falcon thought to possibly be a Saker! The female Surf Scoter was showing well in North Haven  Red-backed Shrike Photo by Mark Breaks

May 21^st: A pretty quiet day was brightened up enormously by the discovery of a female Surf Scoter in Furse – the first confirmed record for the isle!! At least one Grasshopper Warbler was seen and ten Sedge Warblers. Hirundines were in evidence with 80 Swallows, 25 House Martins and two Sand Martins logged. The two Bar-headed Geese have increased to three!

Surf Scoter

Photos by Mark Breaks

May 20^th: The male Common Scoter had relocated from Swartz Geo to South harbour. A handful of common warblers were noted and single Spotted Flycatcher and Black Redstart. The pair of Snow Buntings remain. We were visited by two Bar-headed Geese in the evening!

May 19^th: The most notable (only) increase was that of Swallows, with a count of 71 plus a single Sand Martin. A number of birds from previous days were seen including Green Sandpiper and Iceland Gull but new in were a male Common Scoter, Grasshopper Warbler and a Goldfinch.

May 15th - May 18th: Very few migrants even with southeasterly winds for the last couple of days. Highlights for the 15th were the ringed Icterine Warbler, which reappeared in Sma' Trinket Geo and a Spotted Flycatcher. New in on the 16th were a flyover of 3 redhead Goosanders and a Mealy Redpoll. A Barnacle Goose was seen flying around on the 18th, also present Green Sandpiper, 2 Grey Wagtails and Dunlin increased to 6. The Stock Dove remained until the 16th.

Snow Bunting Photo Mark Breaks

A pod of five Orcas showed well off North Lighthouse on the 17th.

May 14^th: Much quieter than yesterday but there were now 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Pied Flycatchers and at least 3 Cuckoos present. Also seen were a Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Terns and 2 Ring Ouzels.

Icterine Warbler Photo Mark Breaks

Thrush Nightingale Photo Mark Breaks

May 13^th: The best day of the spring so far, with no less than seven year ticks…..A Spotted Flycatcher and Common Whitethroat outside the Obs first thing was a good sign. An Icterine Warbler was trapped in Double Dyke on the way out to census after breakfast. Two more each of Spotted Flycatcher and Common Whitethroat were seen. Redstarts on the west cliffs and at Setter were followed with a Stock Dove at Barkland and a Wood Warbler at Klingers Geo. The bird of the day was then discovered at North Shirva – a classic-looking, but elusive Thrush Nightingale. It gave only brief views as it ranged between Shirva and Lower Stoneybrek. The last addition to the year list was an Osprey that flew north in the evening!

Census also produced a pair of Peregrines, three Sanderling, three Dunlin, ten Whimbrel, two Common Tern, 180 Arctic Tern, three Tree Pipit, six Whinchat, 195 Wheatear, ten Willow Warbler, five Chiffchaff, two mealy Redpoll and two Snow Bunting plus single Pied Flycatcher, Grasshopper Warbler and Garden Warbler. A good day!!!

A Small Tortoisehell butterfly was also seen.

May 12th: New in today were a Knot, 4 Tree Pipit and a male Pintail. An Icterine Warbler was also seen near the Planation in the afternoon and another (very tired individual) was found at Schoolton Ditch in the evening. These were eclipsed by a superb pod of five Orca which hugged the shores of Buness at lunchtime before heading north. May 11th: The Brent Goose and Iceland Gull remain. A Red-throated Diver flew past as did a couple of Cormorant. New in were a Common Sandpiper, 4 Teal and an increased number (65) of Arctic Terns. Two Orca cruised past. Orca photographs by Mark Breaks

May 8th – 10th: The dark-bellied Brent Goose and Iceland Gull remain. The Corncrake was seen again on 8th. A Common Scoter, also on 8th was a  first for the year. The 9th was a quiet apart from a Great Northern Diver in Furse and a new Goldfinch in the Plantation. A cool easterly wind on 10th brought in a Cuckoo, a Ring Ouzel, a late Snow Bunting and a Green Sandpiper, which was a rare capture - in the Vaadal. Green Sandpiper Photo by Mark Breaks

May 7^th: A Corncrake ran across the road in front of the Obs van at Leogh. A Wryneck was discovered near the Puffinn. A dark-bellied Brent Goose joined the six lingering Greylags. An early Garden Warbler was spotted near South Harbour. A 1^st summer Iceland Gull lingers and just a handful of common warblers.

Best of all though had to be the pod of five Orcas seen at various points around the coastline during the afternoon and evening!!

Orcas

Photos by Mark Breaks

May 6^th: A generally wet and blustery day resulting in a few resorting to seawatching! This proved surprisingly effective with a Manx Shearwater and up to four Common Terns logged – both species new for the year!

May 5^th: A Sanderling was new for the year whilst the blue-headed Yellow Wagtail, a Grasshopper Warbler and Pied Flycatcher were all likely to be from previous days. A mealy Common Redpoll was caught on the early trapround and a couple of Siskins were seen.

May 4^th: Two more year ticks today – a male flava Yellow Wagtail and a Pied Flycatcher. A female Hen Harrier and a Green Sandpiper were new. Pretty quiet otherwise; a total of seven thrushes of four species, a couple each of Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff and the lingering Whooper Swan.

Two Minke Whales were seen.

May 3^rd: The first Cuckoos (2) of the Spring arrived today! The only other sightings of note were cetaceans in the very calm sea…….

A total of five Minke Whales (a three and two singles) were spotted but best of all were the two Pilot Whales (female and calf) seen from a boat half a mile off North Lighthouse.

Minke whale Photo by Mark Breaks

May 2^nd: The fine dry spell of weather continues and although migrants were still thin on the ground, a nice Wryneck was found in South Raeva during morning census and a smart male Hawfinch entertained children in the playpark for a while before relocating to Barkland. Two Short-eared Owls, a Tree Pipit and the rubicola Common Stonechat were the best of the rest.

Hawfinch Photo by Mark Breaks	Hawfinch Photo by Mark Breaks
Wryneck Photo by Mark Breaks	Wryneck Photo by Mark Breaks
Hawfinch Photo by Deryk Shaw	Hawfinch Photo by Deryk Shaw

The dead Minke Whale was towed out to sea and sunk!

Quail Photos by Paul Baxter

May 1^st: The month opened with a Quail at Chalet & Barkland and a pair of Tufted Duck on Easter Lother. Black-tailed Godwit, rubicola Stonechat and Whinchat remain.

Two live Minke Whales were spotted off Hjukni Geo!