23rd September
Without doubt the highlight of this wet, drizzly day was the discovery of North Ronaldsay's second River Warbler; initially flushed several times from an Iris bed near Westness giving tantalisingly brief and infrequent views it took the combined efforts of all the staff, birding visitors, a mist net and several hours before it was finally trapped and confirmed. In the hand it had extremely high fat and muscle scores weighing in at a whopping 26.9g indicating that it had been present on the isle for at least a few days.
Other highlights for the island included a group of 5 Slavonian Grebes in Linklet Bay (a record island count!), now 4 Common Rosefinches dotted around, the first Goldcrest of the autumn trapped at Holland House, a single Yellow-browed Warbler at Sandar, the long staying Pectoral Sandpiper and Little Stint, a mere 240 Pink-footed Geese today and increased counts of 13 Red-throated Divers and 24 Tufted Ducks.
Other highlights for the island included a group of 5 Slavonian Grebes in Linklet Bay (a record island count!), now 4 Common Rosefinches dotted around, the first Goldcrest of the autumn trapped at Holland House, a single Yellow-browed Warbler at Sandar, the long staying Pectoral Sandpiper and Little Stint, a mere 240 Pink-footed Geese today and increased counts of 13 Red-throated Divers and 24 Tufted Ducks.
River Warbler
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