18th September 2023.
North Ronaldsay. Magic.
Unsettled and blustery westerlies had persisted until the 3rd week of September. The first real easterlies since August has been forecasted, and anticipation had built with the Obs crew…
The 18th dawned overcast with a good east flowing breeze. I had been allocated my census route to the west coast – which can often be the best birding in these conditions with birds sheltering in the lee of the wind. I set off, slightly nervous.
After an hour, some messages came through the birdnews WhatsApp group with Barred Warbler and blythi Lesser Whitethroats ringed early doors; giving more anticipation of what the day would bring.
Walking as far as Inglis Geo, a bit beyond halfway up the West side, the first small migrant of the day made its presence known. Flitting to the top of a dyke and calling away with its characteristic ‘tic’ – a Little Bunting! The first of the autumn.
This was a species I really wanted to find, and essentially was a main target for that autumn. I snatched a few record shots before plodding on. Excited and settled, I could enjoy the rest of the morning without pressure. Although, it was hard not to be spurred on to what might be lurking round the next corner…
After another couple hours, I had scoured Tor Ness and the ‘Shooting Gallery’ where I had some fun views of a Spotted Flycatcher on the rocks, and singles of Restart and Lesser Whitethroat.
It was clear birds were arriving, with common migrants around most corners. Messages had trickled through of scarce ones: including now several Yellow-browed and Barred Warblers as well as an Icterine Warbler discovered across the island.
John Gale and some other visiting birders were around and he picked up a locustella warbler which we couldn’t pin down. It got away, in spite efforts of us and a whole Heatherlea tour group, being lost in the long grass beyond Nether Linnay…
I dismissed the bird as ‘long-tailed’ and ‘probably a gropper’ then I got a text from Tom Gale saying news had broke of a PG Tips on the Isle of Noss in Shetland… (Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler…)
Disheartened, I pressed on, leaving the mystery locust behind. The disappointment did not last long.
Walking the outside perimeter of the Brigg garden, I heard a metallic ‘zeet-zeet’ call which sounded rare! I looked up and a phyllosc shot to the top of the fuscia. In full view, I could confidently call it an Arctic Warbler. Brilliant. The 2nd this autumn – I had jammed in on another back on 24th August in Ancum Willows. A species which I was really pleased to see on form having read reports of their previous more regular occurrence in past golden eras.
I alerted the birdnews group, and called round. I tried to snap some record shots, and in doing so discovered a Yellow-browed Warbler on the back of my camera screen… After an anxious flick through the photos, there were some of an Arctic Warbler a few frames behind sharing the same garden – awesome! Very quickly Paul Gay was on the scene and we were treated to close views, before being joined by the Heatherlea tour group.
Rain was threatening but the next croft was not to be outdone. After enjoying the Arctic for some minutes, drinking in its salient features I had studied and revised a few weeks prior and getting plenty of record shots, I marched on to Upper Linnay.
Crossing one of low-lying dykes outside the garden, a warbler flushed up from its base. It had a weak flight and followed the dyke before perching on the ground next to a metal hurdle in full view… Unmistakably, a loucustella. it was compact, had crisp pale edges to its tertials and fine streaks prominent on its breast and flanks! After some seconds, it zipped through the gateway and around the corner.
I excitedly texted out – ‘Locust at Upper Linnay, pretty sure it’s a Lancie@’
After some fun and games trying to tease it out of hiding, George Gay managed to use some jedi-camera technique to get some record shots of it perched on the inside of the dyke!
The heavens opened, and we failed to get the prolonged views of it scurrying around the grass between our feet, but Tom and I got some point-blank views of it as it crawled out of hiding a couple times.
The previous disappointment of the before ‘locust‘ was now completey forgotten…
A couple of vocal Tree Pipits flew over as the rain really set in, and I clambered in Paul Gay’s twitch-mobile-van for a lift. I returned back to the Obs’ and home exuberant and soaked.
I was called by James King to check out an acro he had on the inside of the dyke near Gretchen – it turned out to be the very soggy Blyth’s Reed Warbler. Later on he messaged to say he had found another further up the coast!
I had been blessed with a full taste of the magic this island produces on its day. Northern Isles birding at its absolute best, fall conditions, birds dropping out the sky and quality rarities to seek out.
A special day, and personally best bird finding day ever. It feels unlikely to be repeated, but a tale I will treasure to tell birders over a cup of tea or a dram for years to come…
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