Oct 31^st – Another Long-eared Owl was trapped. Lots of thrushes and over 100 Woodcock again. A couple of Barred Warblers and a Common Rosefinch were a good sign. The Woodlark and Shorelark both remain.

Oct 30^th – Yet more thrushes (over 3,000 in total) and a further influx of Woodcock with 119 flushed (so the actual number on the isle must be much, much more). A Long-eared Owl (trapped), Red-breasted Merganser and Yellowhammer were all new whilst the Woodlark and Shorelark both remain.

Oct 29^th – FOG!

Oct 28^th – Even more thrushes (eg 1,500 Fieldfare, 800 Redwing and 600 Blackbird), the Woodlark still whilst a Shorelark at Wester Lother was new.

Oct 27^th – Pretty much as yesterday!

Oct 26^th – Much calmer and drier with a cool, light N’ly breeze. Lots of thrushes (500 Redwing, 400 Fieldfare, 320 Blackbird, 30 Song Thrush and a lone Ring Ouzel) dominated but 15 Woodcock, 30 Robin, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 4 Grey Wagtail and 6 Reed Bunting were also logged. The Woodlark remains at Neder Taft.

Oct 24^th/25^th – A return to SE/E’ly gales and rain! Horrible conditions for birding and hence no significant counts were made and no real finds although a small influx of Reed Buntings was noted with at least six birds seen.

Oct 23^rd – Slightly calmer today! A Woodlark at Neder Taft was the best find but Shelduck, Stock Dove and Richard’s Pipit were also new in. Otherwise it was lots of thrushes (eg 1,000 each of Redwing & Fieldfare), many Woodcock (37+) and now ten Jackdaw. Yesterday’s bunting was indeed a Yellowhammer!

Oct 22^nd – The gale force SE’ly continues but with rain too! Thrushes again dominated census but a few Woodcock, a Jackdaw and a brief bunting (probably Yellowhammer) were seen.

Oct 21^st – Gale force SE’ly winds made birding very difficult but other than thrushes there wasn’t much of note but a Firecrest at Gunnawark provided a spark!

Oct 20^th – More thrushes arrived today with 2,000+ Redwings logged plus a few hundred Song Thrush, Blackbird an Fieldfare and 6+ Ring Ouzel. Yesterday evenings warbler was confirmed as just a Reed Warbler.

Oct 18^th/19^th – Much quieter with a few Chiffchaffs being the highlight and an acrocephalus warbler, probably Reed spotted at dusk in Neder Taft crop.

Oct 17^th – The Lesser Whitehroat was still present at Burkle and it was trapped. Plumage and measurements put it closest to Sylvia curruca minula – Desert Lesser Whitethroat! One Yellow-browed Warbler was also present but thrush numbers have dropped and around a dozen ‘eastern’ Chiffchaffs were logged.

Oct 16^th – The Blackpoll Warbler wasn’t in the Plantation but it was eventually re-found at Skerryholm and later the South Harbour beach. Many of the highlights of last few days also remain. As the light was fast fading an interesting Lesser Whitethroat was discovered at Burkle – very small and pale and obviously of the Central Asian group.

Blackpoll Warbler Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Oct 15^th – Just one bird worth mentioning today – a BLACKPOLL WARBLER, trapped in Vaadal late afternoon. Superb! After ringing it was released into the Plantation, in the hope it will stay.

Blackpoll Warbler & Ythan
Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Rustic Bunting Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Short-toed Lark Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Oct 14^th – A couple of nice arrivals today; a Short-toed Lark on Meoness and a Rustic Bunting at Stoneybrake. Two Bluethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler were also seen.

Oct 13^th – Lots of thrushes and a scattering of Robins, Dunnocks and Bramblings dominated counts. The River Warbler showed briefly as did a Yellow-browed Warbler and also a Siberian Stonechat - to just two lucky souls.

Oct 12^th – The River Warbler and at least 2 Little Buntings and two Yellow-browed Warblers and two Bluethroats were the highlights. Three owls (two Short-eared, one Long-eared) were all roosting together in long grass near the School. An influx of eastern Chiffchaffs was noteworthy with 13 counted.

Oct 11^th – Thrushes once again dominated the scene. The White’s Thrush was reported near the mast and 2,300 Redwing, 170 Song Thrush, 170 Blackbird, 30 Fieldfare and 16 Ring Ouzel were logged. The River Warbler was also seen and now three Little Bunting, two Grasshopper Warbler, Bluethroat and Yellow-browed Warbler were added to the mix.
Little Bunting - Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Oct 10^th – A large influx of thrushes! Redwings were very dominant with 4,600 logged but there were also 770 Song Thrush, 46 Blackbird, 37 Fieldfare, 15 Ring Ouzel and all topped off with a nice White’s Thrush! The River Warbler, Richard’s Pipit and Little Bunting were all still present and three Bluethroats were found.

Oct 8^th – Very quiet! Little Bunting, Richard’s Pipit and Barred Warbler all linger.

Oct 7^th – The River Warbler was seen again briefly. There are now two Little Buntings (North Haven & Taft) and two Bluethroats (Obs/Havens) arrived. A Barred Warbler at Leogh was also new and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Easter Lother.

Oct 6^th – Thrushes, in particular Redwings have arrived! Over 2,000 were logged with 200 Song Thrush, 50 Blackbird and five Ring Ouzel too! Bramblings too came in with 90 counted, including a flock of 60 at Quoy which was also harbouring a Common Rosefinch. Yesterday’s Little Bunting was confirmed at North Haven. Finally, a Yellow-browed Warbler was at Klingers Geo.

Oct 5^th – Bird of the day was a Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Lower Stoneybrake, that was until a River Warbler hopped up onto the wall. It was characteristically elusive however and disappeared almost as quick as it appeared. The Blyth’s Reed Warbler however was trapped and ringed. Reports of a Citrine Wagtail over Taft, Little Bunting at North Haven and a possible Great Snipe at Houll made for an exciting but frustrating day!

Oct 2^nd – 4^th: Fairly quiet but a few thrushes began to arrive bringing with them a couple of Bluethroats. An Arctic Redpoll was reported by one islander but could not be refound. All changed on 4^th when a large unstreaked Locustella warbler was found in Da Water. It was very flighty so only distant views were possible but from upperpart colouration it appeared to be a River Warbler, but no breast streaking could be seen and the all-important undertail coverts were kept hidden! . Photographs examined later seemed to suggest it may be an eastern Savis Warbler.

Oct 1^st – The month started cold with a chilly Northerly breeze. Highlight of the day was the Pechora Pipit in the Warden’s garden at Burkle where it was trapped. The Richard’s Pipit and two Common Rosefinch were also there. A Barred Warbler was also trapped. Elsewhere there were at least six Jack Snipe and single Blackbird, Song Thrush and Redwing.

Pechora Pipit Photographs by Deryk Shaw