The alarm went off at 5am and I was out of the door birding at 5.45am. It was a little gloomy first but then the morning developed into full blue skies and sunshine. However the afternoon was fairly heavy rain and I ended up completely soaked. Finished birding at 6.30pm.
Walked as far as the shop and Vaila's Trees before breakfast which was at 8am. Birds seen on route were Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Bonxies, Fulmars, Ringed Plovers. Counted 40 Oystercatchers in a field. 2 Collared Doves were on the roof of Shirva and there was also a Chiffchaff there. At Vaila's Trees (where the Northern Parula was 😢 a day ago) I found 2 Sedge Warblers, a Common Whitethroat and what could only been a Garden Warbler briefly and distantly. Also watched two Twite feeding in the grass by the shop. Just got back in time for breakfast.
I asked my friend for a lift to the shop, so I could continue birding from there, but changed my mind and was kindly given a lift to the observatory. The sun was glorious now. The new observatory looks truly amazing! Went inside and asked for an up-to-date map and was kindly invited into the lounge area whilst someone got me a map. Met Andy Hall who had found the Pectoral Sandpiper at Sandsyre Pier at Leebitten, Shetland recently. The lounge and dining area looks stunning. Left here and walked down to North Haven and the sea looked so beautiful with turquoise clear waters and took quite a few pictures here. Walked back up the obs garden and spent a while trying to find something. Found a Chiffchaff and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. A few people had seen Painted Ladies today, but I didn't see any.
I was just walking up the hill to bird along the main road when a message came up that a Rustic Bunting had been found at Walie Burn by The Haa (Tommy's house). I have only ever seen one before anywhere so phoned my friend to ask her to if she could pick me up. Around 15 minutes later I was on site with several other birders! Had a distant view looking straight into the sun, so walked around the burn to be the opposite side for photography reasons which is what Steve Arlow and others were also doing. The Rustic Bunting was a cracking bird, really striking, Wow! Quite happily feeding along the burn and was sometimes perched on the wall singing!!! Never heard a Rustic Bunting singing before! Met Warden Alex Penn here. I eventually tore myself away. Had a lovely catch up chatting with Tommy in his funky colourful trousers.
Made my way to Schoolton (Liz and Nick's garden) where Liz had found an Icterine Warbler. I stopped on route at Burkle where two birders had flushed a Quail from a small copse below the museum and it headed to Burkle but we didn't see it. I found a Redpoll which turned out to be a Mealy that was with 3 Twite on the fence line at the furthest point in the garden. Continued to Schoolton and sat and waited for the Icterine Warbler to appear. Steve A said he had seen it, but he thought it had flown towards Burkle. I had my lunch here sat on a seat but didn't seen the Icterine Warbler. Couple of Chiffchaffs in the garden and Rock Doves. At "Da Water" I found 2 Shelducks.
Walked back up the main road and ambled back towards all the main gardens and shop area. At "Chalet" the rain came down heavily enough for me to have to scramble to put my camera away in rucksack. Found 2 Chiffchaffs in Chalet garden. Someone had found a Common Rosefinch in the same burn area as the Rustic Bunting so was planning to try and see that later. On route I met Tom (lovely lad) who was the finder of the Northern Parula and congratulated him on his insane find! In the continued heavy rain I didn't really find anything else of note, but did find 1 Snipe. Spent a good while checking out Vaila's Trees again and other gardens. Returned to the Walie Burn and there was one other person out in the pouring rain, a young lad who was with NatureTrek and he had the Common Rosefinch, so this helped me enormously. It was feeding in a small burn that ran away from a stone wall. I went through a double gate and stood and photographed this in a short break in the rain (lucky me and camera) and then had to put the camera gear away quickly as the rain fell again. Returned "home", had an awesome tea and felt completely burnt out.
I was invited to be taken to the bird log at 8pm at the observatory, but was totally cream-crackered. Started to go through my six hundred and something pictures of the Rustic Bunting and Common Rosefinch and was falling asleep. Gave up, had a shower and went to bed early and slept like a log!
PICTURES ANOTHER DAY!
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