Local birds

This autumn is turning out to be a very poor one for migrants. With very few birds about we need some easterly winds to bring in migrants.

An Ortolan Bunting at Unst, the crane at Hillwell and a midweek where Arctic Warbler, Barred warbler, Yellow Browed (2) and a Wryneck were the highlights.

As this weekend arrived the wind had picked up blowing from the west. Further south in Scotland a number of American Waders showed but no such luck here.

It was good to see Ruff(14) Golden Plover (145) Redshank (45) Curlew (18) Turnstone (34) at Sandwick.

The birds we get in the garden are completely different to those in Sheffield with a small flock of Meadow Pipit (8) Rock Pipit (2) Wheatear, Rock Dove(2) Hoddie(4) today and the recently cut grass in the field attracted Kittiwake (12), Herring Gull (8) Starling (30) Rock Dove (12)

Down at Sumburgh gardens a flock of Swallow (14) flew over the pools while the odd Skylark flew around.

                                                                                              Very smart Ruff

Grutness was very quiet although in the bay Gannet (8) Black Guillemot (2) Mallard (8) Shag (8) Kittiwake (8) Herring Gull(6) GT BB(6) Gt Skua (2) Rock Dove (6) were seen.

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