More American vagrants and another from the South or East

Bob Flood walked into a BALTIMORE ORIOLE today as he ventured out on the Garrison on St Mary's. The bird, a first-winter female, was frequenting the bracken and scrub in the lower pig fields below the campsite at the Morning Point end of the Lower Broome Platform and was showing reasonably well. It was soon twitched by a myriad of day-trippers and remained in the same area for the rest of the day. Both the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and BLACK & WHITE WARBLER were also seen throughout the day, although the former performed much better early and late in the day.

At the opposite end of the country on North Ronaldsay (Orkney), a small falcon caused consternation and after being pinned down and photographed, was confirmed as Orkney's first-ever LESSER KESTREL (see Paul Brown's excellent image on the North Ronaldsay blogsite). It appeared to be in first-summer plumage.

Ireland's third HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL was excellently found by Paul Moore this morning in Cushlough Bay at Three Castles Head near Mizen Head (County Cork). It was occasionally present with Eurasian Curlews and was watched on and off during the afternoon.