14th August

The first real fall of the autumn took place in miserable weather during the morning, strong winds and rain grounding passerines of various kinds on the island, particularly on the north and west coasts. The day's highlight was a Greenish Warbler that was found around the derelict croft at Westness in the afternoon. For a bird that is almost an expected feature of Northern Isles Augusts, it is surprising to find that this is only the seventh record of the species for the observatory.

Greenish Warbler

A Citrine Wagtail on the west coast was assumed to be the bird from a couple of days earlier. The autumn's first Red-backed Shrike was ringed at Holland House in the evening, and 4 Barred Warblers provided further scarcity interest throughout the day. Other warblers included 3 Wood Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, 13 Garden Warblers and 42 Willow Warblers; a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, 4 Pied Flycatchers and 4 White Wagtails were among the other passerine sightings. A count of 19 Whimbrels was a notable increase, 10 Common Sandpipers was only just shy of the species' highest ever day-total, a couple of Swifts were seen and 4 Grey Herons arrived from the south.

Wood Warbler