21st - 23rd September

The strong westerly airflow continued on the 21^st but it remained largely dry, there were somewhat predictably few new arrivals on the land as birds included a Kestrel, a Sand Martin, 337 Meadow Pipits, 11 Rock Pipits, 24 Wheatears, a Redwing, a Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Siskins and 3 Snow Buntings.    Wader and wildfowl totals comprised 5 Red-throated Divers, 215 Wigeon, 129 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Grey Plovers, 496 Golden Plover, a Ruff, 2 Jack Snipe, 178 Snipe and 5 Black-tailed Godwits.

                Similar again on the 22^nd when landbirds included 2 Kestrels, 2 Merlin, 13 Rock Pipits, the Black Redstart, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Willow Warblers, the Common Rosefinch again at Holland, a Lapland Bunting and 2 Snow Buntings.   A little look at the sea in the morning produced 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Whooper Swans and 35 Pink-footed Geese while 8 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff and 4 Herons completed the noteworthy birds.

                Slightly lighter winds and some bright sunshine created a nicer day to be out in the field on the 23^rd when birds across the island included a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, 7 Rock Pipits, the Black Redstart, a Redwing, a Blackcap, 3 Willow Warblers, a Brambling, the Common Rosefinch again and a Snow Bunting.   Other bits of note included 5 Red-throated Divers, 6 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper which received some intense scrutiny and at least 10 Risso’s Dolphins moving down the east coast.

Gannets were diving close in to the pier in the rough weather