3G

Green Sandpiper, Garganey and Greenshank on the patch today, as well as a Wood Sandpiper.

Garganey

Greenshank

Days off

A couple of days off work and there has been a little bit of change on the patch, new birds were 3 summer plumaged Knot and a rather bedraggled Short-eared Owl, the back of the loch is drying out nicely and is being used by a small flock of Dunlin, the drake Garganey is still present and was joined by a female on 18/5.

Dunlin

Garganey

Knot

Short-eared Owl

Easterlies

A few days of easterlies promised so much but delivered very little to the patch, maximums for 7th-9th - 25 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 5 Whimbrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Garganey, 2 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Siskin, 1 Sand Martin, 9 Swallows, 4 Willow Warblers, female Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Carrion Crows.

Garganey

Common Tern

Gadwall

Siskin

Swallow

Whimbrel

Willow Warbler

A couple of shots of Fitful Head

Garganey

Finally managed to get a few shots of the drake Garganey that has been on the Loch for the last few days, a few other bits and pieces around the patch include 1 Robin, 1 Blackcap, 2 Gadwall, 6 Pintail, 3 Moorhen, 1 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 White Wagtail, 6 Wheatear and a Bonxie.

Garganey

Blackcap

Pintail

Gargle Blaster

Out on the patch, and things seem to be picking up a bit - 5 Common Terns in front of the house in the morning, a cracking male Garganey on the loch, a rather tame Sanderling at Scord, 2 White Wags and a Whimbrel on Moast Beach and a Willow Warbler on the cliffs.

White Wagtail

Garganey

Sanderling

Garganey.

Bird (s) of the day have got to be the pair of Garganey that flew in to the loch while I was scanning through the gulls, Other birds on the patch today were 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Knot, 3 Swallow, a Dunnock, a Lesser Whitethroat and a very elusive Reed Warbler (in the garden).



Knot.



Garganey

At last something turns up at Scatness ! After checking everywhere at Scatness for migrants, and only coming up with 5 Wheatears and a Goldcrest, it was a bit of a shocker to find a smart male Garganey on the marshy bit at the back of the loch. It has to be said that drake Garganey are pretty smart looking ducks and this one is a welcome addition to the patch year-list, which now stands at 74.

Garganey.

Garganey.

The wind continues to come from the east, but bringing very few migrants - I suspect that will remain the case until we get some rain with it, tho' shouldn't really complain about all this sunshine !! A drake Garganey on the small pool at Grutness was a fine sight, it's not often that you can get such close views of these smart little Ducks, 17 Sanderling and 11 Swallows at Scatness were the only other birds of note. The Arctic Skuas at Scatness continue to harass everything in sight (including me !).

Drake Garganey.

Arctic Skua.

Swallows.

Lapwing.