18th
September, 2017 (Day 3) Early morning drizzle, Wind NE 3 veering N1
We waited for the drizzle to stop and the visited Skaw. On
the way a Whinchat was seen from the car. The Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat was
showing well this morning allowing us to photograph it, but otherwise Skaw was
very quiet. We next visited Vaylie but
just singles of Blackcap and Willow Warbler were the only migrants seen. At
North Dale a Yellow-browed showed nicely and 7 Twite were also seen. We checked Burrafirth walled garden, before
checking a new field at Clibberswick which just produced a number of Meadow
Pipits, but did look very promising.
Showing the extensive white outer tails
Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat at Skaw
Yellow-browed Warbler at North Dale
Shags at Haroldswick .
19TH
September, 2017 (Day 4) NW 3had a good view of the
Our early morning visit to Skaw with the Blyth’s Lesser
Whitethroat still present, but little else seen. Drove down to Lamba Ness again
very quiet with 10 Ruff and a Blue Fulmar moving past with hundreds of Gannets
and Fulmars. Also 2 Ruff at Millfield with one walking around David’s lawn. The
single Pink-foot had now joined some of the local Grey-lags behind Millfield.
(DC)
Blue Fulmar passing Lamba Ness
(DC)
Ruff on the lawn at Millfield
(DC)
White Wagtail on the lawn at Millfield.
20th
September, 2017 (Day 5) Misty mild and very calm.
Early morning visit to Skaw in very calm quiet conditions.
The only migrant seen was the Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat which showed very well
and was flycatching most of the time. Onto Burrafirth and checked the walled
garden but no migrants. We then walked the burn and again no migrants seen but
a juvenile Gannet stood on the side of the burn which is only about 10 ft.
wide. An otter was seen on the loch behind carrying a fish.
After a coffee break we headed out and checked the Heritage
Centre but no joy. We stopped briefly at Buness where we saw a Yellow-browed Warbler
and then visited Lund and Westing but just a Blackcap, and a juv. Red-throated
Diver.
News then broke that Bryden had found a female Siberian
Thrush at Ordaal. No sign when we arrived but it then showed briefly in flight
before diving into a thick bush. After a few minutes it flew out and showed
well in flight and we had a good view of its under-wings, but it was very
difficult to see in the bushes with just poor views of it moving in the middle
of the bush. Also seen were 2-3 Yellow-broweds and 1 Redpoll.
Late afternoon, went back to Ordaal and had a few more
flight views of the female Siberian Thrush and just one 2 second view of it on
the ground. Also visited Clingera but just 4 Mealy Redpolls.
Female Siberian Thrush at Ordaal taken by the finder
Brydon Thomason.
A stranded juvenile Gannet on Burrafirth burn.
21st
September, 2017 (Day 6) Drizzle on and off all day, SE veering to SW 1.
Usual early morning visit to Skaw and on the way a Mealy
Redpoll was by the side of the road. Skaw produced 2 Blyth’s Lesser
Whitethroats and 6 Ruff flew over. At Burranfirth, the Gannet was still on the
burn, and 2 Yellow-broweds were in the walled garden.
After a coffee break, we walked Norwick to Valyie and back
and had 5 Yellow Broweds at Valyie and 2 at Norwick, also at Valyie a 1stW
Common Rosefinch, Spotted Flycatcher, yet another Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat
and a Mealy Redpoll.
We then visited Houlland unfortunately in the rain and also
walked the long ditch but just I Chiffchaff and 1 Yellow-browed seen.
Spotted Flycatcher at Valyie
(DC)
Common Rosefinch at Valyie.
22nd September, 2017 (Day 7) Fine sunny calm becoming SW 2-4.
Beautiful warm calm morning. Usual early morning visit to
Skaw where the Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat was still present and a Pied
Flycatcher was also seen. Onto North Dale where we located a second Pied
Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and a shy Barred Warbler.
After breakfast, we made our way to Valyie where 2
Chiffchaffs, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and yesterdays Spotted Flycatcher and
Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat were seen. At Norwick a Goldcrest, Blackcap, another
Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat (our 4th so far for this trip), and 1
Yellow-browed Warbler. A look at the fields at Clibberswick produced yet
another Yellow-browed, and a visit to the garden at the Health Centre produced
2 more Yellow-broweds, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs.
No sign of yesterday’s Bluethroat at Houlland, but a
Whinchat and 1 Yellow-browed, and our last visit for the day to Clingera where
2 more Yellow-browed’s and nice views of 8 Mealy Redpolls.
Yellow-browed Warbler 11 today (with 25 so far on the trip)
Blyth's Lesser Whitethroat in the sun at Skaw
Pied Flycatcher at Skaw
Barred Warbler at North Dale.
Spotted Flycatcher at Valyie
Yellow-browed Warbler in the Health Centre garden.
Mealy Redpolls at Clingera
