22nd September

There was no sign of the Lesser Kestrel, but our little purple patch of good birds continued to provide its daily dose of excitement. The birding tour group staying at the observatory, having already enjoyed an amazing run of rarities, managed to go one better than their Short-toed Lark when they found a superb BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT in exactly the same place. Incredibly, while we were watching the pipit, a second bird walked into view alongside the original one!

The 2 Buff-bellied Pipits were quite different in appearance, the original bird (lower picture) having distinctly warmer plumage tones. The only previous record of this American vagrant on North Ronaldsay was in October 2008.

Both Citrine Wagtails, though overshadowed by mega rarities for the last few days, were still present and continuing to show well at times. A Barred Warbler, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Common Rosefinch provided the supporting cast of scarce passerines, while common migrants included a Common Redstart, 5 Whinchats, 3 Song Thrushes, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 9 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest and 17 Lapland Buntings. A movement of Pink-footed Geese included overhead flocks of 74 and 8 birds and at least 3 Grey Plovers, 3 (Common!) Kestrels and 3 Merlins were on the island.

21st September

The LESSER KESTREL was located at Holland House, where it remained for most of the day, sheltering from the strong wind on the leeward walls of the building. The best new bird was a flighty Short-toed Lark near Bewan Loch, while the previous week's Ortolan Bunting reappeared on the north coast. At least 2 Common Rosefinches, a Barred Warbler and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were still present, and counts of other passerines included 8 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Robin, 2 Whinchats, 2 Song Thrushes and 12 Lapland Buntings. A Curlew Sandpiper on the golf course was new, and the Slavonian Grebe and Hen Harrier remained from earlier days.

Lesser Kestrel

Short-toed Lark

20th September

The main story of a memorable day began with a sighting of an unusual kestrel flying down the main road. It had a bright blue head; its underparts looked pale and quite plain; it ate insects on the wing: the alarm bells were ringing and demanding further investigation. Further flight views were puzzling and inconclusive, but it was eventually found obligingly posed in full view on a wall at Kirbest, its white toenails glinting in the evening sunlight: identification confirmed - we were watching Orkney's first LESSER KESTREL!

The long-staying Citrine Wagtail spent the day in its usual haunts at Kirbest and Bridesness, and another, at least our third of the autumn, was found near Bewan. This wagtail was a lot less flighty than the previous birds and gave excellent views in the morning.

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Quoy Banks was another good bird, while other passerine migrants included a Barred Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 17 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Redpoll, 19 Lapland Buntings, 3 Whinchats and 3 Robins. The Hen Harrier, 2 Common Kestrels, a Merlin and a Grey Plover were all still present; an arrival of Grey Herons brought the log count to 14; and the Slavonian Grebe remained on Ancum Loch.

19th September

With many migrants still present all over the island, it was nice to have a glorious, sunny morning in which to enjoy them. The day's headline bird was the first Pectoral Sandpiper of the year on Hooking Loch, but the main focus was on the various passerines that were buzzing around the gardens and field edges in the sunshine. With a count of 37, Blackcaps remained the most numerous of the small migrants, most of which were at Holland House and the central part of the island. Numbers of other warblers came to 2 Barred Warblers (1 new and 1 long-stayer), 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 15 Willow Warblers, 1 Goldcrest and 6 Yellow-browed Warblers. Other small migrants included the lingering Citrine Wagtail, 5 Common Rosefinches, a Common Redpoll, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 7 Song Thrushes, 7 Whinchats, 3 Robins and a Tree Pipit.

The Slavonian Grebe and the Scaup were still on Ancum Loch, a Grey Plover was seen and a Hen Harrier and a Peregrine were the raptor highlights.

It has been a good autumn so far for Grotfinches, with sightings of up to 5 on most days this month. However many individuals have been involved, all have been brown juvenile-type birds.

18th September

A Tawny Pipit was found near Kirbest in the morning. This is only the second record of the species for the island, following one in late June last year, and only about the fifth for Orkney.

Another highlight of the day was the year's first Yellow-browed Warbler at Holland House.

17th September

At this time of year, when the wind is blowing hard from the east and it rains all day, you can expect to find small migrants taking shelter along the western, leeward, side of North Ronaldsay; and with just such weather conditions setting in, it was no surprise to find the majority of new birds, impluvious and seeking respite from the gales, concentrated along the island's less exposed coast. Small numbers of migrants seemed to be arriving all day, but counts of common species came to at least 16 Blackcaps, 6 Garden Warblers, 14 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Whinchats, 4 Robins, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Tree Pipit and the first 5 Song Thrushes of the autumn. The Citrine Wagtail and 2 Barred Warblers were still around, and 4 Common Rosefinches were seen.

The non-passerine highlights were 2 Short-eared Owls, a Little Stint, a Grey Plover and the Scaup.

16th September

Both land and sea vied for attention as a stiff south-easterly breeze brought a few small migrants to the island and simultaneously opened the floodgates for large numbers of seabirds to exit the North Sea past Dennis Head.

The highlights of the best day's seawatching of the year so far were a Great Shearwater, the second Balearic Shearwater of the year, 2 adult Pomarine Skuas and the honorary seabird of the day: a Short-eared Owl. Good numbers of commoner species included 435 Sooty Shearwaters, 135 Manx Shearwaters, 1902 Fulmars (including 3 blue phase birds), 261 Kittiwakes, 9 Great Skuas and 4 Arctic Skuas.

Back on the land, an Ortolan Bunting found at Senness in the evening was the best new arrival and an addition to the year-list. The elusive Citrine Wagtail put in another brief appearance in the morning, 2 Barred Warblers (one of which was probably new) were seen and a Common Rosefinch was at Holland House. Counts of other small migrants came to 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Common Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Robin, 16 Lapland Buntings and 35 Snow Buntings.

Ortolan Bunting