1st October
The rain had only just finished as nets were lowered and it seemed to have been a tough night for the birds as House Sparrows and Starlings flocked to the food in the garden. A couple of captured Robins seemed to have moved in very recently and Chris noticed a few newly arrived Yellow-browed Warblers in the garden sycamores. As the morning progressed he worked out their usual routes around the garden and two additional nets went up. One at the back of the house where the building would provide some respite from winds coming from the south and another over by the vegetable plot. By the time we packed up at 11am, we had colour ringed our first Yellow-browed Warbler as well as 39 other birds, albeit mainly Starlings and Sparrows.
Adult YBW
O,O V,M
There were two Whooper Swans on the local loch that morning. We were just leaving as the news of a Siberian Blue Robin at Hillwell broke. There were warnings about the area being sensitive with regard to parking and everyone would be trying for that one, so ended up having to walk in from the church. Sadly, that walk cost us the bird. We were already in the garden when the bird was seen near the house under a hedge, but a shrub was blocking our view, and that was the last time it was seen.
Siberian Blue Robin juvenile male
The image is by Hugh Harrop. We missed the bird, 5th record for the U.K. and only 7th for Europe, but did spend a lot of time looking at that grass mulch and some tyres that also featured heavily in subsequent images.
Chris walked back to the car and we hadn't gone far when news of a Two-barred Greenish Warbler at Quendale Mill, a short distance from the Sib Robin garden came out. We had already seen one of those before so declined to return somewhere with a lot of people and very little parking.
Over the course of the day at Hestingott and Hoswick there was a good smattering of passerines. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher, YBW, Blackcap, Barred Warbler, Robin, Redpoll, Brambling and Chaffinch were all seen. A flock of C30 Twite flew over and there were also a few Redwing and Song Thrush.
2nd October
We had the nets down again, getting only 13 new birds. But two were Yellow-broweds, sadly there was only a colour-ring combination for one of them. Chris encouraged a Hooded Crow into the net.
We had the nets down again, getting only 13 new birds. But two were Yellow-broweds, sadly there was only a colour-ring combination for one of them. Chris encouraged a Hooded Crow into the net.
Hooded Crow
YBW 2, R,R V,M
Second Yellow-browed Warbler, juvenile
Third YBW ringed this trip. No colour code sadly.
There was a Wheatear by the voeside as we went out prospecting for birds. On the rocky shore numbers of Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Ringed Plover numbers were up.
At Strand there were Redwing, Starlings, Chaffinches and Brambling feeding up on berries until a Sparrowhawk went through and disturbed them all. At Hoswick, we were able to find a Barred Warbler that had been reported and find a Willow Warbler and YBW. There was a Grey Wagtail near the Orca hotel. We went to Levenwick where a Stonechat had been showing, and saw that along with a single remaining Swallow.
Finishing with Loch Spiggie, the light wasn't good, looking from the hide. Some Whooper family groups had come in to join the Shovelor, Wigeon and Teal already there. Scaup and Slavonian Grebe were also present.
One of c30 Snipe seen.
Snipe
3rd October
I got the nets down by 6:30am, having to wait until the last of the rain had passed through. Chris went out to check the surrounding vegetation once light enough, and there were definitely newcomers in the trees. Chris saw three Yellow-broweds and I confirmed a field sighting of the YBW we had colour ringed on the 1st of October. There was a spindly Willow near the net around the back and birds often spend a good deal of time there picking at the foliage. This, all viewable from a downstairs window. A Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat that were seen later found their way into the nets amongst the 17 new birds ringed that day. There were 2 new Robins, with another three recaptured, showing that the birds ringed over the previous two days were still about.
I got the nets down by 6:30am, having to wait until the last of the rain had passed through. Chris went out to check the surrounding vegetation once light enough, and there were definitely newcomers in the trees. Chris saw three Yellow-broweds and I confirmed a field sighting of the YBW we had colour ringed on the 1st of October. There was a spindly Willow near the net around the back and birds often spend a good deal of time there picking at the foliage. This, all viewable from a downstairs window. A Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat that were seen later found their way into the nets amongst the 17 new birds ringed that day. There were 2 new Robins, with another three recaptured, showing that the birds ringed over the previous two days were still about.
Lesser Whitethroat
The rest of the day was another run around, punctuated with YBWs and increasing numbers of Brambling, Siskin and Redwing. Chris surprised a Polecat while checking a small stand of trees.
4th October
Very strong winds, heavy rain and ringing was not possible. We didn't even bother looking for birds as most had taken cover and there wasn't really anything much to see. We got a field observation of one of the YBWs through a rear window.
Very strong winds, heavy rain and ringing was not possible. We didn't even bother looking for birds as most had taken cover and there wasn't really anything much to see. We got a field observation of one of the YBWs through a rear window.
5th October
Pied Fly, Upper Kergord
Too windy for ringing, and with sporadic heavy showers, we decided to head north and check out Kergord for birds forced down by the bad weather.
At upper Kergord we found a Pied Flycatcher, several Robins, Goldcrest and heard a Yellow-browed Warbler. Redwings stopped off in the tall trees while we were there.
At Kergord the list comprised of Blackbird, Redwing, Robin, YBW, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest and we finished up there during a heavy shower.
Managed to see a Red-breasted Flycatcher in a hotel garden at Busta.
We continued to a site where an Arctic Warbler had been reported. The bird didn't show while we were there, braving the showers.
There were rainbows seen on several days.