#EAGLE GAY BAR PORTLAND OREGON PLUS#
With rarities to one side, the supporting cast included a female European Serin, multiple Red-spotted Bluethroats and Red-backed Shrikes, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Golden Oriole, plus a Glaucous Gull. Red-spotted Bluethroat, Out Skerries, Shetland (Nathaniel Dargue).įair Isle had a respectable run. Sadly, after returning for another year, the regular Loch of Clumlie Long-tailed Skua died on 23rd with suspected bird flu. Two Glossy Ibises paid a brief stop at Loch of Norby, Mainland, on 7th and another was found dead on Out Skerries on 17th. Eurasian Dotterel were at three sites two at Bakkasetter, Mainland, on 10-11th one at Out Skerries on 21st and up to three at Hamar, Unst, on 23-24th.
A Woodchat Shrike was on Foula on 9th and a European Bee-eater was at Helendale, Mainland, on 28th. Golden Orioles were well-represented with 16 sites noting birds. At least two Black Kite were touring various islands, with both seen together over Baltasound, Unst, on 19th. Spring was well underway, with classic drift migrants including Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-spotted Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike, Common Rosefinch and Icterine Warbler, with a few Grey-headed Wagtail for good measure. Green-winged Teal, South Nesting, Mainland, Shetland (Adrian Kettle). White-billed Divers were off 12 sites throughout the month. Lingering Yanks in Shetland involved the drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Brow, Mainland, until 1st and up to four Green-winged Teal (Grunna Water and Loch of Griesta, Mainland, Haroldswick, Unst, and Foula). A Marsh Warbler was at Thurso, Caithness, on 15th. Over on Tiree, a male Common Rosefinch was at Balephuill on 20th. An Icterine Warbler was at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, on 17th, while two Red-breasted Flycatchers and at least five Bluethroats were up for grabs. Wrynecks were at Callander, Forth, on 27th, and Loch Kinnabus, Islay, on 31st. Mediterranean migrants included a Hoopoe at Sanna Bay, Highland, on 1-2nd, European Bee-eater at Skirza, Caithness, on 21st, and Golden Oriole at Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire, on 14th. Another was reported over Saughtree, Borders, on 11th. A Glossy Ibis flew south at Duncansby Head, Caithness, on 21st.Ĭhannel Wagtail, Skateraw, Lothian (Sandy morrison).Ī Black Kite flew over Dervaig, Mull, on 16th, the island's first record. Temminck's Stints were enjoyed at four sites. A Eurasian Stone-curlew was on Tiree on 11th, two Pectoral Sandpipers at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire, from 13th and one at Letham Pools, Fife, on 30th. A Lesser Yellowlegs was a decent May record at Meikle Loch, Aberdeenshire on 13-14th, but a lone Black-winged Stilt at Lochwinnoch RSPB, Clyde, on 19th was just the fourth county record. A Grey Phalarope was at Meikle Craigs, Ayrshire, on 19th and one at Harelaw Fishery, Clyde, on 22nd. White-billed Divers also remained scattered, with reports from seven sites, most notably one at Loch Ryan on 29th. Ring-necked Duck were reported from six sites, Green-winged Teal from three and the ever-present Surf Scoter still off Musselburgh, Lothian. Drake American Wigeon were at Loch Connell, Dumfries & Galloway, on 5th and Loch of Wester, Caithness, on 15th. There was still good showing of lingering Yank ducks in Scotland. Long-tailed Skua, Aird an Runair, N Uist, Outer Hebrides (Ian Griffin). Another fine May for Golden Oriole also played out, with more than 100 sites hosting the species. This coincided with some fairly decent South Coast Pomarine Skua movements too, with 9th very much 'Pom day'. Skua passage on the Outer Hebrides was the best it's been there for a few years, with an impressive count of 320 Long-tailed Skuas past Aird an Runair on 13th. In the early part of the month some decent inland wader and tern action did occur, chiefly involving Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Temminck's Stint and Little and Sandwich Terns, but it was hardly blockbuster stuff and, for the second May running, there was barely any discernible Black Tern passage. As it was in April, migration action was limited and birding thus rather one dimensional.
For the most part this was a May that flattered to deceive for local birders.