17th December

In very snowy conditions today there was a flock of 86 Snow Buntings and 6 Lapland Buntings in the stubble field near Nether Linnay, 37 Skylarks were feeding around the cattle feeders on Sandar and the Kirbest finch flock contained atleast 30 Twite, 7 Linnet and 3 Mealy Redpoll.

19th November

An unexpected for the time of year addition to the island list was found late on today when a Stone Curlew was flushed from near gretchen. A Stonechat was also seen and a few thrushes were also around.

Apologies for the poor quality imagies but it was nearly dark.

1st to the 9th November

A pretty quite period with the best being; a Grey Phalarope on the 1st, the Slavonian Grebe was on ancum to atleast the 9th, the Short-toed Lark was seen on the 1st and 3rd, a Firecrest on the 8th was only the 4th island record. Maximum counts of thrushes were 133 Fieldfare and 116 Redwing on the 2nd and 62 Blackbird on the 9th. 138 Snow Bunting on the 1st was the highest count and a Goldfinch was seen on the 9th.

29th to the 31st October

The highlights of this period were; a 1st winter Little Gull, 3 Little Auks and 45 Twite on the 29th. 2 Chiffchaff on the 30th and a Short-toed Lark, a Waxwing and 2 Blackcap on the 31st.

28th October

Todays sightings included; 3 Hen Harrier, single Merlin and Peregrine, 38 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Woodcock, 4 Waxwing, 1 Robin, 23 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 20 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Brambling and 5 Mealy Redpoll.

27th October

Torrential rain all day hampered sightings a bit but we did manage to see; a Sparrowhawk, a Water Rail, a Woodcock, 4 Waxwing, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 4 Mealy Redpoll.

26th October

A male Hen Harrier, 5 Waxwing, 2 Robin, 14 Blackbird, 12 Redwing, single Blackcap and Chiffchaff, a Goldfinch and 15 Mealy Redpoll were seen. On the non-avian front a Sea-lemon ( Archidoris pseudoargus ) was found.

25th October

2 pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen and good counts of 20 Gadwall and 19 Tufted Duck were returned. A single Black-tailed Godwit was quite late and 2 Little Auk flew past the north end. 81 Meadow and 16 Rock Pipit were counted, 15 Waxwing ( of which 11 were ringed ) and a Black Redstart were seen. 14 Lapland Bunting and 90 Snow Bunting ( 4 were trapped ) were seen.

24th October

A Peregrine was seen today along with a Waxwing, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and a Mealy and a Greenland Redpoll.

23rd October

Very little around still, the highlights being a ring-tail Hen Harrier, 2 Blackcap and 22 Twite.

22nd October

A four hour seawatch in the morning produced 372 Fulmar, 19 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Manx Shearwater, 437 Gannet, 5 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Great Skua, 751 Kittiwake, 9 Little Auk and 90 Auk sp. Away from the sea there was a juvenile Glaucous Gull, a Dunnock and 3 Blackcaps.

21st October

A pretty quiet day; 123 Wigeon werecounted as were 104 Sanderling,37 Purple Sandpiper, 45 Dunlin, 5 Common Redpoll and 222 Snow Bunting.

20th October

2 Sooty Shearwaters were the only thing of note on a seawatch. 7 Whooper Swan were the highest count so far and the best of the ducks were 3 Long-tailed Duck and 10 Red-breasted Merganser. An adult Iceland and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were seen, a Waxwing was outside the observatory and a Mistle Thrush was at the north end. 13 Mealy Redpoll were near Kirbest, 102 Lapland Bunting and an impressive 668 Snow Bunting were counted.

19th October

A late Arctic Skua and a late Tree Pipit were seen today. Other passerines of any note were; single Robin and Whinchat, 30 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 12 Redwing, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 47 Lapland Bunting and 144 Snow Bunting.

18th October

6 Red-throated and 3 Great Nothern Diver were an increase on recent numbers while 14 Long-tailed Duck and 3 Common Scoter were on the sea. Another Rough-legged Buzzard flew south through the island at 1045 and a juvenile Iceland Gull was at Bewan. A Short-toed Lark was near Neven and finches included 41 Brambling and 30 Common Redpoll. 52 Lapland Bunting were around the island and an impressive count of 454 Snow Bunting was made.

17th October

A hours seawatch in the afternoon produced 82 Sooty Shearwater, Tufted Duck had increased to 11. A Rough-legged Buzzard flew south at 1310; was it the bird that we believe roosted on the island last night? A Little Gull was near Westness, a Woodpigeon was seen and a Richards Pipit was behind the surgery. The only warblers were 3 Blackcap and a Mistle Thrush was seen.