randombirder

Another dismal day in dull conditions that later turned into a soggy affair with heavy rain during the early part of the evening. With the rustic bunting and arctic warbler having been found on St. Martin's the previous day, we were obviously drawn to the prospect of catching up with these two scarcities but neither were present on arrival. After 90 minutes of searching for the arctic warbler, I decided to head back to Mary's. Of course it showed an hour or so later but by then I had transferred to Longstones which provided an opportunity to see the confiding snow bunting at Giant's Castle. Further along from the turning circle at the airfield, a buff-breasted sandpiper (presumably the Aggy bird) was present with a flock of 20 golden plover and a single dunlin . They flew a little closer providing great views of the wader assemblage. A peregrine was seen flying through over the airfield. An impressive group of at least 70 common snipe  also circled the airfield. The rai...

Another stroll round St. Mary's walking further than intended.  The only birding interest were two pale-bellied brent goose at Bar Point, snipe and water rail at Porth Hellick, and a painted lady along the Sunnyside trail, finally ending the day at the brilliant Dibble and Grub.

A grey day that rarely improved albeit for a two minute spell when the sun poked through the grey clouds revealing a bit of warmth.  It was slow, with not a lot happening round these parts or throughout the rest of the UK for that matter.  Just waiting for a weather system to liven things up.  These were the slim pickings from the day. Levenwick - moulting adult summer great northern diver in the bay with two adult kittiwake , six razorbill and three black guillemot .  Two great skua flew below the escarpment to the east and three twite were busily feeding along the roadside.  Two sanderling were amongst turnstone and ringed plover along the beach foreshore. Boddam - at least 30 golden plover flying over but was driving at the time and couldn't check to see if there was anything else mixed in with them. On the foreshore, six snipe , seven dunlin , 11 teal were congregated in loose flocks. Three redpoll and five chaffinch flew over. Two wheatear were present...

A nice assortment of things today but it really feels like things are winding down now unless there is a final twist in what has been a great few weeks on the Isles. Heading through Lower Moors, the Spotted Crake continued to show ridiculously well, totally non-plussed by the movement of people barely a couple of metres from the track. I headed up the Sunnyside Trail where around four Chiffchaff were present in the elms.  A bit of an increase of this species today with a further five seen at the Newford Duckpond. The weather was glorious and with the air temperature a modest 14C, in the sun and light winds, it felt lovely. There were two Whinchat dashing around for insects at the bottom of the Holy Vale trail. At Porth Hellick, the Blue-winged Teal was still present, swimming up toward Stephen Sussex hide before scooting off again.  Just wish my camera hadn't had a hissy fit just at that moment.  A female  Mandarin  was new i...