Latest Sightings.

The latest sightings as summarised by Jason:

This Snow Bunting is one of the small group hanging around North Light.

25th September 2011
Highlight today was the arrival of a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, dropping in at around 1pm from high above the Obs. The bird visited the feeder briefly and then bombed off with other Starlings, roaming the island widely from then on. The Citrine Wagtail remains at Barkland, as does the Melodious Warbler at Shirva.
Twelve Greylag Geese flew south and the first Long-tailed Duck of the autumn was seen in South Harbour. The Quail at Taft was seen again, while 3 Red-throated Divers flew south. Two Grey Herons were present, while raptors included a female Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrels, 1 Merlin and a Peregrine. The first Water Rail of the autumn dropped onto Buness, while waders included a 15 Golden Plovers, the lingering Curlew Sandpiper still on Meoness, 8 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Dunlins and 4 Jack Snipe. Twelve Kittiwakes were recorded passing the island.
The lingering Short-eared Owl remains in the Pund area, while 8 Swallows were logged across the island. A small but noticeable arrival occurred in fairly blustery, though short range south-easterlies, with new birds and good counts including 8 Whinchats, 37 Wheatears, 4 Redwings, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Barred Warblers, at the Reevas and Setter, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 lingering Yellow-browed Warblers, 10 Willow Warblers, the lingering Great Grey Shrike, 2 Bramblings, 6 Siskins, 1 Linnet, 2 Common Rosefinches still and 34 Lapland Buntings.

The Rose-coloured Starling has abandoned the Starling flock and is by itself up at North Light.

26th September 2011
The Melodious Warbler, Citrine Wagtail and Rose-coloured Starling all remained.
The lingering Quail remains, while Grey Heron numbers increased to 4. Raptors included 5 Kestrels, 2 Merlins and the lingering Peregrine, while a Water Rail was seen on Da Water. Our first Stock Dove of the year was seen flying south over the Kirk, while the Short-eared Owl is still present at Pund. A Short-toed Lark, discovered in the same location as out previous lingering bird, at the Sheep Cru near the Plantation, may have been new bird, with 5 days since its last sighting. Six Swallows were present on the island.
Passerine counts included a Tree Pipit, 243 Meadow Pipits, the lingering Dunnock, 1 Redstart, 8 Whinchats, 31 Wheatears, 2 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes, 4 Redwings, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 lingering Barred Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers still, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 1 Goldcrest, an influx of 5 Spotted Flycatchers, the lingering Great Grey Shrike, 9 Siskins, 9 Lesser Redpolls (a notable influx), 3 Mealy Redpolls, 37 Lapland Buntings, 4 Snow Buntings and what is presumably the Little Bunting back for more after an absence of a couple of days, at Utra and the Haa.

The Great Grey Shrike is still roaming the south of the island, where even the sheep think its worth a look.

27th September 2011
The Rose-coloured Starling, Citrine Wagtail and Melodious Warbler remain.
A few skeins of Pink-footed Geese, adding up to 95 birds, passed south over the island, as did 16 Greylag Geese. Eight Wigeon and 5 Teal were present, as was a Red-breasted Merganser in the Havens. Kestrel numbers increased to 7, joining the resident Merlins and Peregrine.
The Short-eared Owl remains, while small migrant numbers included 305 Meadow Pipits, 2 Dunnocks, 1 Robin, 3 Redstarts, 9 Whinchats, 2 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes, 4 Redwings, a Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 16 Blackcaps, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, 5 Goldcrests, the Great Grey Shrike still, 9 Siskins, 3 Linnets, 6 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Mealy Redpolls, 32 Lapland Buntings and 11 Snow Buntings.

Pink-feet are on the move, this skein decided to have a brief rest on Malcolm's Head.