13th October

An excellent day again right across the island with much lighter winds making things much more comfortable out in the field but unfortunately light and persistent rain moved in mid-afternoon spoiling it a tad; there was another good spread of scarcities seen through the day including our first Richard’s Pipit of the year at Sangar, yesterday’s Great Grey Shrike trapped at Holland, a Hawfinch south over Gretchen, the Common Rosefinch still lingering in Kirbest and 3 Yellowhammers – two at the Obs and one in Gue Park.

                Migrant totals across the land included 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Sparrowhawks, single Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine, a Woodpigeon, 2 Swallows, 213 Meadow Pipits, 43 Rock Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, 23 Pied Wagtails, 63 Robins, a Black Redstart, 2 Redstarts, 2 Whinchat, 10 Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, 90 Blackbirds, 105 Fieldfares, 95 Song Thrush, 438 Redwing, 16 Blackcap, 16 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 7 Goldcrest, the first Jackdaw of the autumn, 70 Chaffinch, an excellent total of 332 Brambling, 5 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches, a Siskin, 29 Twite, a Lapland Bunting, an increased 96 Snow Buntings and 11 Reed Buntings.

                Other birds of note comprised 13 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great-northern Divers, 7 Heron, 5 Whooper Swans, 266 Snipe, a good 9 Jack Snipe and a single Woodcock.

Calmer conditions let us do much more ringing today, with the Great Grey Shrike the highlight along with plenty of Bramblings and small numbers of lovely black-billed northern Blackbirds