Out Skerries 2009 Weblog
 
During 2009 I was on Out Skerries from 4th Oct to 16th Oct with Chris Turner and Trevor Warrick.
The following weblog was updated regularly during this period.
     
  15 Oct Just after 9am I had very brief views of a phylloscopus warbler by the ruined croft before it flew
    off. My initial reaction was that it was an Arctic Warbler but I didn't see any wing-bars. Whilst
    trying to relocate this bird we flushed the Lanceolated Warbler again and had more excellent views
    as it ran along the stone wall. We also heard a Richard's Pipit over the airfield but couldn't locate it.
    Trevor then refound the phyllosc on the adjacent hillside briefly before it once again flew off this
    time towards the pool. We located it near the dam but it was distant and flighty. I managed to get
    a few distant photos as it started to rain and then we lost it again. The photos show the bird is
    indeed an Arctic Warbler albeit without any wing-bars although there does appear to be a suggestion
    of some pale tips to some greater coverts on the right wing.
    Two new birds for the trip were a Great Northern Diver which flew over Chris and Trevor and a
    Water Rail which flew out of the garden at Rocklea and landed on the roof.
     
  14 Oct A number of thrushes were new in this morning with c25 Blackbirds, c10 Fieldfares, c100 Redwings,
    c15 Song Thrushes and 3 Ring Ouzels mainly on the hill on Bruray. We flushed the Lanceolated
    Warbler again from a grass track by the ruined croft. It flew to a nearby wall and we watched it for
    20 minutes as it crawled in and out of the wall. The Red-breasted Flycatcher was near the bridge on
    Housay today and Trevor had brief views of a Black Redstart by West Voe. A Sparrowhawk flew
    through early afternoon and was mobbed by the Starlings and several finches.
    Other birds of note included 1 Woodcock, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Woodpigeon, 4 Skylarks, 1 Grey Wagtail,
    3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Chaffinch, 10 Bramblings,
    2 Greenfinches & 1 Reed Bunting.
     
  13 Oct It was another quiet day for migrants with the only new bird being a Red-breasted Flycatcher near
    the shop on Bruray.
    Other birds of note included 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Woodpigeon, 3 Skylarks, 1 Dunnock, 1 Ring Ouzel,
    c15 Blackbirds, 2 Fieldfares, c15 Redwings, c5 Song Thrushes, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Bramblings,
    2 Greenfinches & 1 Reed Bunting.
     
  12 Oct It was a generally quiet day with few new migrants. The only new bird for the trip was a single
    Swallow seen by Chris and Trevor this afternoon which seemed to fly straight through.
    Other birds of note included 2 Skylarks, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Dunnock, 7 Robins, 1 Wheatear,
    1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Fieldfare, c25 Redwings, c10 Song Thrushes, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest,
    3 Bramblings, 3 Greenfinches, 1 Common Rosefinch & 1 Reed Bunting.
     
  11 Oct With the weather front having cleared through overnight, conditions were perfect for birding today
    and I was out at dawn in anticipation of what may have turned up in the SE winds of the previous
    24 hours. I was surprised to find the Pechora Pipit back in its favoured area around the ruined croft.
    After breakfast with the light improving I hoped to get some more photos of the pipit, so as Chris
    and Trevor headed up the hill to check the geos I tried to relocate it in the long grass surrounding
    the croft. As I walked along a grassy track adjacent to a fenceline I flushed a locustella warbler. It
    flew a short way and landed in a small clump of long grass. I approached this clump and the bird
    flitted out and landed about 15 metres away. I managed to get a single sharp photo before the bird
    flew to the wall of the nearby croft. Reviewing the photo on my camera I immediately noticed the
    crisp tertial fringes and black teardrops on the flanks indicating a Lanceolated Warbler. I was trying
    to work out how I was going to contact Chris and Trevor when they appeared distantly on the brow
    of the hill. Some frantic arm waving managed to attract their attention and 10 minutes later we
    were all walking along the edge of the wall that the bird had flown into. The Lanceolated Warbler
    obligingly crawled out onto the sunny side of the wall and we managed to get some amazing views
    for a few minutes at about 4 metres distance. We then left the bird alone and didn't see it again.
    The geos on North Hill were very quiet compared to yesterday and after looking for the Redpolls
    without success we decided to go down to the end of Mioness. The climb across The Steig is now
    extremely difficult and requires a rope due to a recent rock collapse. Also due to a rain shower the
    rocks were very slippery so Chris and Trevor decided to head back while I headed across on my own.
    For my troubles I found 2 Robins in the geos whilst Chris and Trevor found a Barred Warbler in the
    garden of Rocklea.
    See here for a GPS track of my route on the island today covering approximately 20km.
    Other birds of note included 7 Greylags, 1 Woodcock, 1 Woodpigeon, 4 Skylarks, 2 Dunnocks,
    17 Robins, 1 Bluethroat, c10 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, c60 Redwings, c20 Song Thrushes, 4 Blackcaps,
    1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Bramblings, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Common Rosefinch, 1 Reed Bunting &
    c60 Snow Buntings.
     
  10 Oct More thrushes arrived this morning with c100 Redwings on the island, our first Fieldfares and a single
    Ring Ouzel. There was also a Woodpigeon in amongst the thrushes in the hidden valley.
    In the main geo on Bruray there was a Pied Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat and in
    the geos on North Hill we had 12 Goldcrests, 3 Robins, 1 Chiffchaff and another Lesser Whitethroat.
    The approaching weather front finally closed in at midday and birding in the afternoon was difficult
    although we did have a Kestrel on the north side of Bruray.
     
  9 Oct Despite south-easterlies we had no new migrants today. The 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls
    were still in the same geo this morning but later moved further south to join a flock of c80
    Snow Buntings. The only new bird for the trip was Purple Sandpiper.
    Other birds of note included 8 Greylags, 2 Skylarks, 1 Wheatear, 1 Redwing, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler,
    2 Bramblings & 1 Common Rosefinch.
     
  8 Oct With a force 7 NW wind blowing today most of the migrants of recent days seemed to have moved
    on. There was no sign of the Pechora Pipit at its favoured site although this area was very exposed
    today. The 5 Bramblings were still in the garden of Rocklea feeding on some seed we had put out.
    We covered the main habitats during the morning and without seeing very much at all headed
    back in early for an extended lunch break.
    At 2pm I decided to head out and check a south facing geo up behind the Haa which I thought would
    be sheltered from the strong wind. Chris went off to try and photograph the Bramblings in the garden
    and Trevor to take some landscape shots of the islands.
    I spent some time peering into the geo with only a Rock Pipit to show for it and just as I stood up to
    move on 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls flew across the geo and landed on the sheltered cliff below me.
    After watching the one visible bird for a while I ran back to the B&B to get my camera and left messages
    for Chris & Trevor. Back at the geo the 2 birds were in the same spot I had left them and I managed
    to get some shots of both birds over the next few hours. Both Chris and Trevor eventually got my
    messages and everyone had good views of both birds feeding on thrift in the geo until dusk.
    Other birds of note today included 5 Greylags, 1 Merlin, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Skylarks, 1 Wheatear,
    2 Redwings, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Common Rosefinch & 6 Reed Buntings.
     
  7 Oct The day kicked off with a Yellow-browed Warbler watched through the window as we had breakfast.
    New birds in the surrounding gardens included a Chaffinch, a Garden Warbler and a
    Lesser Whitethroat. On Housay we had a Richard's Pipit callng in flight but we didn't manage to
    pin it down. The Bluethroat was still favouring the iris bed along with 8 Reed Buntings. In the
    Steig there was a Pied Flycatcher fly-catching on the cliff face.
    On Bruray we flushed a Jack Snipe from by the pool and both the Pechora Pipit and Rosefinch were
    still favouring the area around the ruined croft. Chris and I spent some time this afternoon trying to
    get better shots of the Pechora Pipit. By crawling through the grass on our stomachs we got fairly
    close without disturbing it and managed to get a few good shots.
    Snow Buntings on the islands now number at least 200 birds with one flock of about 150 behind
    the Haa.
    Other birds of note today included 1 Pink-footed Goose, 7 Greylags, 7 Skylarks, 4 Wheatears,
    c10 Redwings, c5 Song Thrushes and 5 Bramblings.
     
  6 Oct The heavy rain which fell for most of the night abated at 8.45am and we headed out shortly
    thereafter. The Pechora Pipit was again in the spot I found it yesterday and the Rosefinch was
    still in its favoured field. Several Redwings and a flock of 12 Brambling overhead were a good omen.
    As we walked past the pool at 9am I lifted my bins to a finch approaching from the dam. I was
    surprised to see a particularly distinctive pale redpoll with extensive white rump and contrasting buff
    head. I immediately shouted Arctic Redpoll. Chris had come to the same conclusion and we watched as
    it flew over our heads and seemed to land nearby but we couldn't relocate it. We saw it again in flight
    briefly in the afternoon when it was seen to land on Grunay, a generally inaccessible island.
    Unfortunately we never managed to see it on the ground.
    Back in the front garden of Rocklea we found a Yellow-browed Warbler and some of the Brambling
    had settled there.
    We then headed over to Housay and as we walked down a track towards the iris bed Chris
    noticed a phyllosc on the shore below us. There hopping around on the seaweed was an Arctic Warbler,
    a bird we had long hoped to find up here. It hopped slowly along the shoreline and grassy fringes
    allowing us to get some nice shots. In the iris bed we found a new Bluethroat and a second
    Yellow-browed Warbler was calling in a neighbouring garden. Towards the end of the day I found
    a third Yellow-browed Warbler in a geo on the east side of Bruray and a House Martin seeking a
    roost site there was an unusual sight.
    Other birds of note included 1 Whimbrel, 2 Skylarks, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Robin, 1 Redstart, 2 Wheatears,
    c50 Redwings, c10 Song Thrushes, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Reed Buntings, 2 Lapland Buntings
    and c45 Snow Buntings.
     
  5 Oct Our first full day on the island and I was out the door at 7.15am. A Blackcap and a Robin were new
    in the front garden. I then headed around to the ruined croft nearby and one of the first birds I saw
    was a pipit which landed briefly on a nearby wall before flying into some long grass. Subsequent views
    confirmed my initial suspicions that this was a Pechora Pipit.
    Both the Little Bunting and Common Rosefinch were still present today. Other birds of note included
    1 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Greylags, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Merlin, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Skylarks,
    3 Wheatears, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackcap and c15 Snow Buntings.
     
  4 Oct We arrived on Skerries mid afternoon following a morning trip to Whalsay for the Veery where we
    managed to get some very good views of it in a garden near the ferry terminal with just 5 birders
    present.
    On Skerries we caught up with a Common Rosefinch and Little Bunting which had both been present
    for a few days.
 

2007 Weblog Map

Home   Search