Icterine Warblers.

A nice surprise in the garden this morning - an Icterine Warbler, seen briefly at about 8.30 and not again until 11 o'clock, and then for only a few minutes before it disappeared again ! A proper young bird with the yellow, fleshy gape still - it can't be that long ago that it was still in the nest !Whilst out in the garden, searching for this bird, Sparrowhawk flew over, heading towards Toab, 5 Swallows feeding over the fields and a Grey Plover, flying towards Virkie, calling (Garden Year-tick 114).
Captain's Log (supplemental) - 2 Icterines in the garden by early evening, and no other Warblers at all !

Icterine Warbler (first bird).

Close up showing 'baby bird' gape line.

Icterine Warbler (second bird).

Migrants.

Fired up by a Garden Warbler in the garden (appropriately enough !) and a Swallow over the house, went out in the strong SE winds looking for migrants (even though, looking at the charts, the winds don't seem to be coming from that far away) - 2 Common Sandpipers amongst the rocks in front of the house were new and 4 Purple Sandpipers there, were the first of the autumn. A Reed Warbler in the irises by the Loch at least proved that some birds have made it across the North Sea. Still good numbers of Wheatears around Scatness (40+), 25 Knot around the Loch and Moast Beach with 13 Sanderling, only 6 Dunlin today. Loads of Shags (300+), Gannets, Kittiwakes and Arctic Terns fishing in Quendale Bay, receiving the usual harassment from Great and Arctic Skuas (the Kittiwakes on the Loch constantly bombarded by at least 6 Arctic Skuas).


Arctic Skuas & Kittiwake.

Eider.

Knot.

Kittiwakes.

Purple Sandpiper.

Ringed Plover.

Shags.

Sanderling.

Ruff.

A walk around Scatness in the morning, before the wind got up (forecast strong SE with rain, afternoon and overnight) - 16 Dunlin, mostly on the bathing pool and the Loch, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank (flying towards Grutness), 8 Knot, 3 Sanderling and a Ruff. 45+ Wheatears around the headland.

Dunlin.

Kittiwake.

Ruff.

Redshank. (being 'arty' & reflective)

Turnstones.

Scatness.

After last night's easterly wind and rain, I was hoping for a garden full of Warblers this morning - not a chance ! However, whilst emptying the moth trap (mainly of wet egg cartons), a Green Sandpiper flew over the house bringing the garden year-list up to 112. Down at the end of Scatness , a Ruff and a Greenshank were on the Loch & 10 Knot and 14 Dunlin were on the bathing pool.

Dunlin.

Knot.

Ruff.

Greenshank.

Rock Pipit.

And a few 'satanic' looking birds in the garden.

Fun with Dunlin.

Nothing much of note around Scatness, apart from 4 Swallows and a rather tame flock of 13 Dunlin on the Loch shore. Spent a good couple of hours getting these shots.