AUTUMN RARE & SCARE BIRDS HOLIDAYS ON TIREE

We are now taking bookings for our rare & scarce bird specials on Tiree this autumn. Tiree has developed an excellent reputation over the last few autumns. The Northern Parula in 2010 is but one example of its potential. Why not come and join us?

2011 DATES
Thursday 22nd - Tuesday 27th September
Thursday 29th Sept - Tuesday 4th October
Thursday 6th - Tuesday 11th October
Thursday 13th - Tuesday 18th October
Thursday 20th - Tuesday 25th October

Yellow-browed Warbler (Jim Dickson)

RARE & SCARCE BIRDS IN LAST FEW AUTUMNS
Great Shearwater, Cory’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Leach’s Petrel, White-tailed Eagle, Pomarine Skua, Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Gull-billed Tern, American Golden Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Grey Phalarope, Red-backed Shrike, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Barred Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Mealy Redpoll, Little Bunting

BEST BITS OF 2010

Firecrest (Jim Dickson)

October 2010 Best bird was the Firecrest (10th), the first for Tiree, but also good were a Bluethroat (5th),  Short-toed Lark (2nd-7th), Barred Warbler (7th-9th) and 3 Yellow-browed Warblers (11th-24th). Scarce waders included up to 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers (3rd-8th), up to 3 Pectoral Sandpipers. Other scarcities included a Turtle Dove (1st-2nd), a Lesser Whitethroat (20th), up to 20 Common Redpolls, single Pied Flycatchers (11th and 24th), a Red Kite (10th) and up to 2 immature Golden Eagles (9th-14th).  There was an unprecedented influx of Waxwings with some 60 birds through (23rd-26th), whilst the Lapland Bunting influx involved a further 400 birds including a peak count of 160 (13th). Seabirds included 4 Sooty Shearwaters (to 18th), 2 Pomarine Skuas, and 14 Grey Phalaropes.

Northern Parula

September 2010 The highlight of the month was undoubtedly Britain’s 15th and Scotland’s first Northern Parula (25th-29th). Scarce migrants included Pied Flycatcher (2nd-11th), 10 Common Redpolls (from 25th), Common Rosefinch (28th), 6 Snow Buntings (26th) and an unprecedented influx of Lapland Buntings with over 200 through the month and a maximum of 48. It was the first blank autumn for American Golden Plover for years but the island still attracted up to 7 Buff-breasted Sandpipers (from 13th) and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers (13th-20th) as well as four Black Terns (8th-16th). Seabirds included 2 adult Sabine’s Gulls, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Pomarine Skuas and 56 Sooty Shearwaters (14th-16th).