9th and 10th October

Heavy drizzle persisted through the morning on the 9^th but it cleared up by midday to produce a very pleasant afternoon in the field; some good totals on the land included 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels, 2 Merlin, a Woodpigeon, 2 Short-eared Owls, 134 Skylark, 10 Swallows, 320 Meadow Pipits, 22 Rock Pipits, 17 Wheatears, 60 Blackbirds, 132 Redwing, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, the long, long overdue first Goldcrest of the autumn, 20 Brambling, the Common Rosefinch again, a Lapland Bunting, 34 Snow Buntings and 18 Reed Buntings.

                Other birds of note comprised 24 Red-throated Divers and 5 Great-northern Divers offshore, 11 Whooper Swans, 102 Pink-footed Geese south, 424 Greylag Geese with flocks coming in from the north, 2 Grey Plover, 577 Golden Plover, a Ruff, 2 Jack Snipe and 290 Snipe.

                A lovely day on the 10^th with much lighter winds and plenty of warm sunshine but it was a bit quieter in the field; landbirds included 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Kestrels, a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Woodpigeon, a Short-eared Owl, 11 Swallows, 25 Rock Pipits, a Robin, 10 Wheatears, a Blackcap, 2 Greenfinches over the Mill (only the third record this year), a Crossbill south down the west coast (only the third record this year) and 6 Snow Buntings.   Also of note were 9 Herons, 11 Whooper Swans, 2 Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwits.

Rock Pipit

Red-throated Diver