The start of things to come (touch wood)?

The wind was indeed from the east on Saturday and so it was a very excited wardening team that set off on census. Although there weren’t a huge number of migrants in, there was definitely a certain promise in the air. The first Sedge Warbler of the autumn was backed up by 4 each of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 2 Swift, 8 Grey Heron, 5 Shelduck, 2 Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. There were four Porpoise seen in the mirror calm seas off Buness and a Sooty Shearwater and a few Storm Petrels were noted from the Good Shepherd crossing. The most admired seabird of the day though was a juvenile Puffin that flew into the Obs garden during the afternoon before getting stuck behind a fence. It was rescued, ringed and boxed up before being released in North Haven after last orders.

Bird of the day also pitched up in the Obs garden in the afternoon, when a Wood Warbler was found and went on to show brilliantly a few feet from the window before disappearing for a while, then turning up in the Gully trap. Not the rarest of migrants, but a real privilege to get views like that of such a little stunner.

The day finished with clear skies enabling a few of us to go out and watch the Perseids. A few shooting stars have been duly wished upon and if Fair Isle gets the Birdguides ‘red exclamation marks’ tomorrow, you’ll know what we asked for!