30th September

On a very pleasant day weather wise, birding was a joy which is shown in some of the totals we got. A male Hen Harrier was seen and the best of the waders was, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Jack and 568 Common Snipe and a Woodcock. Single Woodpigeon and Turtle Dove were seen, the Richard's Pipit was still around and a Flava Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail were recorded. 17 Robin, a Bluethroat at quoybanks, 3 Redstart, 4 Whinchat and 28 Wheatear were seen. Thrushes consisted of 2 Ring Ouzel, 40 Blackbird ( including a Norwegian control ), a Fieldfare, 105 Song Thrush and 23 Redwing. Warblers put in a better showing with 2 Grasshopper, 2 Reed, a Barred, a Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Garden, 10 Blackcap, 7 Yellow-browed, 7 Chiffchaff ( 1 Tristis type ), 5 Willow, 16 Goldcrest and best of all a Blyth's Reed was found late in the day by Rory Tallack at inglis geo which was trapped and ringed. Finch numbers remained good with 50 Chaffinch, 112 Brambling, 161 Siskin, 3 Rostrata Redpoll, 1 Lesser Redpoll and a Hawfinch. There were 146 Lapland Bunting and an impressive count of 242 Snow Bunting.