7th and 8th September

A decent morning on the 7^th with a light southerly breeze but a long spell of drizzly rain moved in at lunchtime which probably produced the bird of the day as an ARCTIC WARBLER was trapped at the Obs in the early evening – a real island blocker being only the 6^th record and the first since 2003.  Other land migrants comprised a Marsh Harrier (probably a different individual to the one last week), 2 Sparrowhawks, single Merlin and Peregrine, 12 Sand Martins, 78 Swallows, 3 Rock Pipits, the same flava Wagtail again, 2 Whinchats, a Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers and 3 Lapland Buntings.

                29 Sooty Shearwaters passed offshore while another influx of ducks included 81 Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 112 Teal and a Pintail; a nice selection of waders were highlighted by a notable arrival of 83 Black-tailed Godwits along with 129 Ringed Plover, 205 Lapwings, a single Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Ruff and 2 Wood Sandpipers again.

Arctic Warbler,  photo Simon Davies

                A weather reversal on the 8^th as after some morning drizzle moved through it was an incredible warm, sunny, almost flat calm day; the Arctic Warbler remained around the Obs while the rest of the day’s grounded migrants largely consisted of lingering birds in the fine weather but there was a large, obvious arrival of 250+ Wheatears and a new Redstart and 2 Goldcrests along with 7 Lapland Buntings, a Pied Flycatcher, 8 Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat and the flava Wagtail still.

                A single Sooty Shearwater and a Great-northern Diver were offshore while a Fulmar ‘stranding’ in the traditional field at Brides resulted in 77 being ringed (plus one ringed as a chick in 2014).  Single Kestrels and Peregrine bombed around while 14 Herons and 28 Ruff were much improved counts along with 35 Black-tailed Godwits and a Curlew Sandpiper.

Merlin,  photo George Gay

Curlew Sandpiper,  photo George Gay

Sanderling,  photo Simon Davies