2008 - OCTOBER SIGHTINGS

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31^st October: The final day of October produced very little change with just a female Goldeneye, 5 Woodcock, 1 Waxwing, the tristis Chiffchaff, 2 Greenfinch and an islandica Common Redpoll.

29^th October: A much calmer day with a NNE’ly wind, which made birding much more pleasant. Best arrival was a group of three Waxwing seen a few times during the morning. A Goldeneye was on Golden Water briefly. There was a good count of Turnstone with at least 260 around the Isle. There was a first-year Glaucous Gull around the north with an adult through the Havens.  Other arrivals included 7 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff (including at least three eastern birds), 24 Goldcrest, the first Greenfinch of the autumn, 3 Common Redpolls (probably all islandica) and a female Yellowhammer.

28^th October: With a stiff north-westerly wind blowing and heavy hail and sleet showers few people ventured out. The only sightings of note were a Grey Phalarope in South Harbour and an adult Glaucous Gull in Furse.

27^th October: The wind had switched to a very cold north-westerly but stayed a similar strength. Again fairly few birds seen. One Grey Phalarope was still present in the Havens, but there was what seemed to be a different bird in South Harbour during the afternoon and another flew through later on. A second-year Glaucous Gull was present at the Obs first thing before disappearing into Maver's Geo. Very quiet otherwise.

26^th October: Still quiet apart from the howling wind! The 2 Grey Phalaropes were still in the havens first thing but one was later seen flying past Chalet. Very little else with similar numbers of Swans, geese, ducks and waders. 15 Golden Plover and 27 Lapwing were slight increases. Two Linnets were the only passerines of note.

25^th October: The wind just gets stronger – over 90mph SW’ly today! There were three Pink-footed and two Greenland White-fronted Geese with the Greylag flock near Upper Stoneybreck. There were obviously more waders today with 2 Knot, 13 Sanderling, 17 Purple Sandpiper, 8 Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit. The two Grey Phalarope were still in the Havens.

24^th October: The two Grey Phalaropes were still present in the Havens but best new bird was a Corncrake flushed a couple of times near Furse in the evening. A few new arrivals included singles of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Rook and Linnet.

23^rd October: Star bird today was a Little Grebe in Furse with a Great Northern Diver also there. There were again two Grey Phalarope in the Havens with the second bird looking like a new individual. There was the first sizeable movement of thrushes with an estimate of 1,000 Fieldfare along with 1,300 Redwing logged.

22^nd October: A calmer day early on unfortunately didn't encourage many new birds out. A Bluethroat in the Vaadal in the morning was also present the previous evening but views then were not sufficient to identify it. There were over 700 Greylag Geese with 4 Pink-footed and 14 Barnacle. 455 Redwing were seen around the isle today with a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 4 'North-western' Redpoll and 2 Lapland Bunting being the only other birds of note.

21^st October: One possibly two Little Auk in North Haven was a nice, if not fairly expected, addition to the year list. The Grey Phalarope was still in South Haven. There were 26 Whooper Swan and 8 Pink-footed Geese. There were now 6 White-fronted Geese with an increase to 615 Greylag Goose. 63 Kittiwakes passed Buness during a seawatch. A Chiffchaff, ‘north-western’ Common Redpoll and a Reed Bunting were the only notable passerines.

20^th October: There were at least three Glaucous Gulls seen during the day (2 Adults and a 2^nd year) an overdue first for the autumn. A Greenland White-fronted Goose had joined the 314 Greylag Geese and there were 20 Whooper Swan around the Isle. One Grey Phalarope remained in South Haven. There was a Moorhen at Chalet and 2 'North-western' Redpolls which were new birds in. There were 64 Redwing, some of which were obviously exhausted, being very approachable. Hopefully the gale force winds will ease soon.

19^th October: The Grey Phalarope remain. 12 Whooper Swan were seen on a seawatch late morning and there was an increase in Greylag Geese to around 400. A Goldeneye was new in, seen briefly flying over Sprittery Hole. The strong wind and rain made birding on land very difficult with just 3 Woodcock, 2 Brambling, 2 Mealy Redpoll and a Reed Bunting of any note.

18^th October: The two Grey Phalaropes remain in South Haven and another passed south light in the afternoon. Seawatching during the day also produced 4 Long-tailed Duck (with 4 more in the Havens), 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Cormorant, 71 Kittiwake and 10 Guillemot. Again quiet on land with just 22 Woodcock, 3 Tree Pipit and 1 Common Whitethroat of note.

17^th October: Both Grey Phalaropes were back in South Haven all day. There were 6 Long-tailed Ducks including an adult male in North Haven with the female but wildfowl highlight was a male Gadwall in with a flock (6) of Red-breasted Merganser in Furse. A Barred Warbler was trapped in the Plantation and the Common Rosefinch was still present in the south. New birds were 1 Woodcock, 2 Tree Pipit, a Common Whitethroat and 3 Linnet.

Of greater interest was 2 Orca past Buness.

16^th October: Two Greenland White-fronted Geese had joined the 165 Greylag Geese. One of the Grey Phalaropes remained in South Haven where a Purple Sandpiper had joined the Turnstones. A Storm Petrel and an Arctic Tern passed South Light. Very quiet elsewhere with very few Redwing remaining (only 44), there was a Mealy Redpoll at the Plantation and the Common Rosefinch was still in the south.

Long-tailed Duck Photograph by Mark Breaks		Long-tailed Duck Photograph by Mark Breaks
Grey Phalarope Photograph by Mark Breaks		Grey Phalarope Photograph by Mark Breaks

15^th October: A rather pleasant surprise mid morning came in the form of two Grey Phalarope in South Haven. They were present for the whole day putting on a great show close inshore. The main feature of the day however was the passage of Redwing witnessed during the day with an estimate of 1440 birds counted. Otherwise the only new arrivals were a Moorhen, two Yellow-browed Warbler and a new Reed Warbler. Birds still present were the Scaup, the Long-tailed Duck in North Haven, the Common Redpoll, a Common Crossbill and the Common Rosefinch.

14^th October: There was no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper, but the female Bluethroat was still present and the Common Rosefinch was rediscovered on the beach in South Harbour. A few more ducks today included three Long-tailed Duck, plus a Scaup with the two Tufted Duck in Furse, where there was also a Red-breasted Merganser. Very little in the way of migrants with just 1 Woodcock, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff (including the eastern bird still), 1 Common Redpoll (North-western), 1 Crossbill and 4 Lapland Bunting.

13th October: The south-westerlies still blow and it remains fairly quiet. A rather unexpected report came in the form of a Quail near Setter. The Pectoral Sandpiper was still around Field and the female Bluethroat was in South Haven. Numbers were made up by a Great Northern Diver past Buness, 1 Whinchat, 107 Redwing (including a number of Icelandic birds), 1 Reed Warbler, a Redpoll (probably North-western) and 4 Lapland Bunting. Eastern Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita abietinus

Photograph by Rebecca Nason

12^th October: Birds still remaining were the Pectoral Sandpiper near Setter with another flying over. The female Bluethroat is still in the Havens, the Stonechat is still in the north and the Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the Plantation. There was a Water Rail and a Reed Warbler in Schoolton Ditch with 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Tree Pipit, 72 Redwing, 27 Brambling, 1 Mealy Redpoll and 5 Lapland Bunting being the pick of the rest.

11^th October: There was no sign of the White-fronted Goose but there was a new arrival in the form of a Grey Phalarope briefly in Klingers Geo before flying north. Fairly quiet otherwise with the Pectoral Sandpiper (Parks then Setter) Bluethroat (Havens) and Rosefinch (Haa) still present. An Arctic Tern in North Haven, Stonechat (Peat cuttings) and Yellow-browed Warbler (Lower Stoneybreck) were all new. Numbers were made up of 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff (including 1 abietinus still) and 2 Lapland Bunting.

10^th October: A new bird and a year tick came in the form of a Greenland White-fronted Goose which had joined the Greylag Geese commuting between Chalet and Sukka Mire. A Pectoral Sandpiper on Da Water much of the day was presumably the bird from 8^th. The only other birds of any note were a Long-tailed Duck (Finniquoy), Richards Pipit (Field), the Bluethroat (Havens), Yellow-browed Warbler (Plantation) and a Common Rosefinch (South Harbour).

9^th October: Another quiet day. A few wildfowl again with 3 Whooper Swan, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Common Scoter and a Long-tailed Duck (Finniquoy). The Havens Bluethroat is still present and there was a Yellow-browed Warbler at Bulls Park and 2 Common Rosefinch. The only obvious new arrivals were 4 Mealy Redpolls and another bird showing characteristics of a 'North-western' bird.

The small variety of other migrants seen included 1 Woodcock, 2 Grey Wagtail, 6 Blackbird, 50 Redwing, 1 Garden Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff (including at least 1 Eastern bird), 56 Brambling, 7 Linnet, 4 Lapland Bunting, a Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting.

8th October: A calmer day with no rain seemed to encourage birds out at last. Highlight was our THIRD WHITE'S THRUSH of the autumn! Initially at Quoy, it soon moved to Houll crop where it put on a brilliant show for part of the morning. No sign of any Richard's Pipits but the 3 Bluethroat were still present and there are now 3 Common Rosefinch. A Slavonian Grebe, 1 Ring Ouzel, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Yellowhammer were the pick of the new arrivals.There were obviously fewer geese with only 82 Greylag Goose, 18 Barnacle Geese and 1 Pink-footed Goose. Thrushes were again fairly well represented with 12 Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare, 70 Song Thrush and 570 Redwing. Other migrants included 2 Short-eared Owl, 5 Whinchat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 17 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 32 Brambling, 1 Linnet, 1 Crossbill, 4 Lapland Bunting and 60 Snow Bunting.

White's Thrush Photo by Rebecca Nason

7^th October: Heavy rain and wind was again hindering birding and there were again fairly few birds seen. However there are now three Richards Pipit, with two at the Raevas and the one still near Hesswalls. Also still present were the two Bluethroat and the Common Rosefinch. There were a few new thrushes on the Isle, 5 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 15 Song Thrush and 290 Redwing. The only other migrants from today were 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff (including one abietinus), 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 15 Brambling, 1 Crossbill and 23 Snow Bunting.

6^th October: The wind had gone round to the south-east but birding was still made difficult by the strength of it! The highlight was a reported first-year Citrine Wagtail seen briefly in the south in the morning, unfortunately it proved elusive the rest of the day. The Richards Pipit was seen again, today in the Field/Bull's Park area. There were 2 Bluethroat (Schoolton and Havens), 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (Skerryholm) and a Common Rosefinch (Wester Lother). Variety was added with; 1 Woodcock, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Linnet, 1 Crossbill, 2 Lapland Bunting and 108 Snow Bunting.

5th October: There was a Richards Pipit around Pund and Field at lunchtime. The Bluethroat was still in the Havens and the ringed Common Rosefinch was still at Field. Wildfowl were again much in evidence today, with the highlight of 2 Gadwall (a good bird on Fair Isle) 36 Pink-footed Goose, 510 Greylag Geese, 58 Barnacle Geese, 1 Scaup, 13 Tufted Duck, 5 Red-breasted Merganser. Seawatching today produced 2 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 25 Kittiwake, 22 Guillemot and 3 Razorbill. Some birds braved the wind including; 2 Whinchat, 12 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet, 3 Mealy Redpoll, 1 ‘North-western’ Redpoll, 2 Lapland Bunting and 70 Snow Bunting.

4^th October: Another good day for wildfowl movement with 3 Whooper Swan, 29 Pink-footed Goose, 370 Greylag Goose, 270 Barnacle Geese, 43 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Scaup, 27 Tufted Duck and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. 4 Sooty Shearwater were seen on seawatches.

In the howling wind smaller birds were quite difficult to come across but 1 Woodcock, 1 Swallow, 1 Bluethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Brambling, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Crossbill, the Rosefinch, 45 Snow Buntings, the Little Bunting and 2 Lapland Bunting were all seen.

3^rd October: The first Richards Pipit of the autumn was seen coming in off the sea at and landing near Auld Haa during the morning but seemed to disappear fairly quickly. There was still a single Bluethroat and a Rosefinch present. It was a good day for wildfowl, which started off with at least 320 Greylag Goose flying around the isle, briefly joined by 34 Pink-footed Geese. Ducks consisted of 3 Pintail, 5 Scaup, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Long-tailed Duck and 11 Red-breasted Merganser with the majority on seawatches.  A couple of Bar-tailed Godwits were new arrivals and there were 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Brambling, 2 Siskin, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 3 Lapland Bunting and at least 70 Snow Bunting making up the passerine migrants.

2^nd October: It was very much back to normal today. The Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was still present roaming most of the south. Also still holding on were 2 Bluethroat, 1 Barred Warbler (Schoolton), 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Rosefinch and the Little Bunting. A bit more movement with the northerlies consisted of 145 Greylag Geese flying south in the evening, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Jack Snipe, 2 Woodcock, 1 Brambling and at least 60 Snow Bunting. Of the common passerines there was only 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Whinchat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 2 Mealy Redpoll and 1 Lapland Bunting.

1^st October: With a strong northerly wind blowing most of the day expectations seemed low. Well, it turned into a day of definite quality over quantity. It started off with a not completely unexpected HORNEMANN'S ARCTIC REDPOLL near Pund. A stunning bird that put on a good show most of the day moving to Field later in the day. A short while after breakfast, three lucky observers witnessed a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flying down the middle of the isle, before heading west towards Hjukni Geo, never to be seen again – only the fifth island record. But then, mid-morning a big surprise came in the form of an extremely obliging PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER near Walli Burn. This bird also put on a good show, for much of the day. Our second of the autumn! Things got even better….. After a report during the morning from one of the islanders of a possible WHITE'S THRUSH at Schoolton, just before lunch it was seen again briefly. It proved to be very elusive before finally being refound in Swartzi Geo – at exactly the same time that ANOTHER was seen in Sma Trinket Geo. This latter bird disppeared into Hesswalls and could not be found, so everyone descended on Swartzi Geo where all had great flight views of this magnificent thrush. It then made its way across the island before ending up at Malcolm's Head. Other birds encouraged by the northerly wind included 13 Whooper Swans, 15 Jack Snipe and 340 Redwing. Even though much of the day was taken up looking at rarities, other sightings were made including 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Bluethroat, 1 Redstart, 8 Whinchat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Barred Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Common Rosefinch, 1 Lapland Bunting, 5 Snow Bunting and the Little Bunting.

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll		Photograph by Mark Breaks
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler (above and above right) Whites Thrush (right) Photographs by Mark Breaks

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll Photographs by Deryk Shaw
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Photographs by Deryk Shaw