17th August

A pleasant start to the day allowed opening of the mist nets at Holland House and a chance to find some of the skulking migrants that had been accumulating in the bushes during the previous day. A good number of birds were trapped and ringed, including a new Icterine Warbler and 2 Barred Warblers. Elsewhere, the first Wryneck of the autumn near Antabreck was quickly followed by another one outside the observatory, and the first Fieldfare was near Holland House. Migrant numbers were noticeably depleted, but counts from the day's census areas still reached 39 Willow Warblers, 1 Wood Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Garden Warblers, 4 Pied Flycatchers and 2 Whinchats before constant heavy rain set in for the afternoon. A couple of Sand Martins and 5 Swifts were seen, while waders included 21 Ruffs, 3 Greenshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper.

Wood Warbler