28th September - 3rd October
Finally we saw the winds switch into the east, and with it some migrants. However, it wasn't all plain sailing and at one point it felt like the best of the birds had fallen elsewhere, how wrong we were! The 28th saw the start of the south-easterlies we'd been waiting for, but we knew it had been clear overnight and that often isn't what we look for in forecasts. The day started well though as a Red-breasted Flycatcher was the first bird out of the heligoland traps, the omens felt good! Things quickly fell flat though and we realised there wasn't quite as many birds as we'd been hoping for. The Baird's Sandpiper and Little Gull remained on the island, a Tree Pipit was at the Old Mill and Buff-breasted Sandpipers were in the Standing Stone field and at Westness. The bird of the day was a Red-throated Pipit at Westness that sat up on the dyke briefly before bombing off south calling never to be seen again! A bit more overnight easterly wind meant there were a f...
