Sept 30^th – A rarity at last!!! A nice Pechora Pipit was discovered in the Kenaby tattie rig. Another Common Rosefinch was also seen and the Richard’s Pipit showed well.

Pechora Pipit Photograph by Deryk Shaw

 

Sept 29^th – A Short-eared Owl and a Pintail are new and the Richard’s Pipit remains. Best however was a Common Rosefinch at Schoolton, trapped later that evening at the Obs.

 

Sept 28^th - Three Redwings and three Common Redpolls were new in today as were two ‘female’ Tufted Ducks whilst Snow Buntings now exceed 40.

 

Sept 27^th – Geese have been the main focus of the past few days with over 1400 Pink-footed counted on the isle at once today as birds head south for the winter. Smaller numbers of Greylags have been with them and two Barnacles and two Whooper Swans today. A small influx of Chaffinches has begun with 16 counted.

 

A ‘dark-rumped Petrel’ was reported from the Good Shepherd just a few miles north of the isle. The given description seems to fit Bulwers Petrel better than Swinhoes!!!

 

Sept 25^th – The weather remains the same, as does the birding. A Sooty Shearwater was spotted from South Light and 14 Whooper Swans alighted for a while as did a male Tufted Duck.

 

Sept 24^th – The strong, but mild, WSW’ly wind continues. Nothing exciting was noted but one or two new things included an abietinus Chiffchaff, a ‘northwestern’ Redpoll and six Linnets. Also new was a Robin at the Mast – where the Warden this time last year found a Brown Flycatcher!! The Richard’s Pipit was seen again at Quoy and possibly another was at Utra.

 

Sept 23^rd – The Richard’s Pipit was seen at Quoy. A Chaffinch was new and a few more Lapland & Snow Buntings were noted.

 

Sept 22^nd – Yet another strong SW’ly-wind-filled day. A Song Thrush was new at the Obs whilst 2 Sand Martins somehow battled to get here. Pink-footed Geese totalled 265 and the sea produced 3 Red-throated Diver and a Manx Shearwater.

 

Sept 21^st – The Richard’s Pipit is still present whilst a new (unringed) Little Bunting was found at the Havens. Parties of Pink-footed Geese began to pass through from the afternoon, flying into a strong SW’ly wind.

 

Sept 20^th – Very quiet today with just a handful of common warblers and a Richard’s Pipit to report.

 

Sept 19^th – Little movement again today, though a new Little Bunting was trapped in Vaadal and a nice Lapland Bunting was tape-lured and netted at Chalet.

 

Sept 18^th – Much the same again today plus a Richard’s Pipit.

 

Sept 17^th – The Arctic Warbler was at Kenaby and Busta. Single Yellow-browed Warbler and Common Rosefinch were also seen plus a handful of common warblers and a couple of Whinchats.

 

Arctic Warbler Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Yellow-browed Warbler Photograph by Deryk Shaw

Sept 16^th – A brisk NW’ly wind didn’t prevent birds from arriving! An Arctic Warbler at Burkle first thing was followed an hour later by a Yellow-browed Warbler at Shirva. By the end of the day, Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike, 2+ Barred Warblers and Common Rosefinch had all been logged.

Sept 15th – Quiet again although the Little Bunting and was trapped and ringed. Barred Warbler and Common Rosefinch were also seen. Little Bunting Photograph by Deryk Shaw

 

Sept 14^th – A much better day! A light NNE’ly later moved round to SE. First off was a Little Bunting at Setter, followed shortly after by a Bluethroat at Schoolton and then a Red-backed Shrike at the Obs. By the end of the day at least one more Bluethroat had been found and a Common Rosefinch. Other arrivals and counts included 385 Meadow Pipit, 251 Skylark, 70 Wheatear, 24 Willow Warbler, 17 Grey Heron, 15 Cormorant, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Lapland Bunting, 2 Sand Martin and singles of Pied Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Dunnock, Linnet, Siskin and Reed Bunting.

 

Sept 13^th – A couple of new birds in today with a juvenile Dotterel over Ward Hill and a Marsh Harrier over Hoini. There were two Barred Warblers at Leogh and a Common Rosefinch at Meadow Burn. A Chiffchaff and six Pink-footed Geese were also new.

 

Sept 12^th – Still quiet with highlights of a Ruff, a Sand Martin, two Lesser Whitethroats plus a Common Whitethroat.

 

Sept 11^th – Fairly quiet yet again with highlights confined to a Merlin and reported Lesser Whitethroat with single Snow and Lapland Buntings also present.

 

Sept 10^th – Little new again today although there are now two Snow Buntings on Hoini but just one Lapland Bunting put in an appearance. A handful of Willow Warblers, single Blackcap and Barred Warbler and two Common Rosefinch was the best the south had to offer.

 

Sept 9^th – The wind had abated somewhat and a rush up to the Obs site found it all still intact. On the bird front, the first Snow Bunting of the autumn was the highlight whilst the two Lapland Buntings were seen again and 34 Teal, a Common Redstart and 4 Whinchat were also seen.

 

Sept 8^th – Near gale force SW’ly winds meant that birds were keeping their heads down. The ringed Barred Warbler remains whilst a Greylag Goose and the first Lapland Buntings (2) of the autumn arrived. The wind moved round to the west later and picked up to Force 9, raising fears for the new Obs!!

 

Sept 7^th – A breezy day with a strong but warm SW’ly wind. Not much change in birds with 2 Barred Warblers still and 2 Common Rosefinch the best.

 

Sept 6^th – Highlights today were 3 Barred Warblers, 3 Common Rosefinch, an Icterine Warbler and a Wryneck. Counts included 33 Willow Warbler, 7 Garden Warbler, 3 Tree Pipit and 4 Common Crossbill.

 

Sept 5^th – Little new in today though still a fair few Willow Warblers around and a scattering of other common warblers. A Spotted Flycatcher was at North Light and still 9 Sanderling on North Haven beach. The Barred Warbler remains in Bulls Park.

 

4th– A flock of 17 Teal, a single Sooty Shearwater and Cormorant, 4 Grey Herons, 17 Ringed Plovers, a single Golden Plover and Knot, 11 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 27 Snipe, 2 Curlews, 2 Ruff, 18 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 15 Turnstone, 7 Black-Headed Gulls, 4 Wrynecks, 3 Swallows, 3 Tree Pipits, 265 Meadow Pipits, 16 White Wagtails, 7 Redstarts, 7 Whinchats, 2 Sedge Warblers, Barred Warbler, 10 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat, 44 Willow Warbler, 3 Pied Flycatchers and 6 Crossbill. Wryneck Photograph by Jack Ashton-Booth

3rd– Highlight of the day was a Greenish Warbler, trapped in the Plantation by the Warden, which was a nice ringing tick for Assistant Warden, Simon Davies. However, lowlight of the day (for the Warden anyway) was the 2nd year Pomarine Skua (found at the mast by said AW) that moved on moments before the unlucky warden arrived at the airstrip!! Aaaargh! Elsewhere were; 2 Wigeon, a Teal, 5 Pintail, a Cormorant, 3 Ringed Plovers, a Golden Plover, 2 Lapwings, 4 Whimbrel, 19 Redshank, a Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 12 Turnstone, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Whinchat, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Barred Warbler, 13 Willow Warblers, Pied Flycatcher, 5 Crossbill.

Greenish Warbler Photograph by Deryk Shaw

2nd– Two Corncrakes were reported from Bull’s Park, 6 Ringed Plovers, 18 Golden Plovers, 3 Lapwings, a lonesome Knot, 15 Dunlin, 4 Curlews, 35 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 6 Black-Headed Gulls, 3 Sand Martins, 8 White Wagtails, 3 Whinchats, 6 Garden Warbler, a single Sedge Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler and Whitethroat, 12 Willow Warbler and 10 Crossbills. Barred warbler Photograph by Jack Ashton-Booth

 

1st– A single Wigeon, 13 Teal, 2 Manx Shearwaters, a Peregrine, 9 Ringed Plovers, 13 Golden Plovers, 3 Knot, 11 Dunlin, 24 Redshank, 10 Turnstone were the big stuff. Passerines consisted of 3 Sand Martins, 9 Swallows, 26 White Wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Whinchats, a single Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler and 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 23 Willow Warblers and 15 Crossbills.