Make Mine a Double

Lightning strikes twice: second Citrine Wagtail of the year (Graeme Duncan)

Feeding on the rocks; Citrine Wagtail (Graeme Duncan)

Farnes 5th record (Ciaran Hatsell)

Tuesday 27^th August comments: Today proved that lightning can strike twice! Having waited ten years for a Citrine Wagtail (which duly arrived last Friday), the Farnes struck gold again, with another!

With a light south-easterly wind blowing overnight, the anticipation of new migrant arrivals was soon realised as a piercing call of a Citrine Wagtail was heard as it flew past Brownsman cottage. Much to the relief of the resident ranger team, the bird was soon relocated on nearby rocks and showed well over the following thirty minutes or so. Thereafter the bird moved onto Staple Island and the team went about their daily work, but amazingly the bird reappeared at dusk, as it was seen going to roost with over thirty Pied Wagtails.

Other highlights included the Cuckoo on Inner Farne for its second day, good numbers of Manx Shearwaters lingering whilst the Balearic Shearwaters were reported again today. Another good day on the Farne Islands!