18th October

A fine, clear day (although rather chilly!) with the highlight being two Richard's Pipits with one in the north at Scottigar and another near the airstrip; other birds included a few bits on the sea with two Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters and a single Little Auk seen from the hide, a long overdue year tick in the shape of a Scaup on Bewan, a few raptors floating around with 4 Merlins, a Hen Harrier and a Peregrine seen and the lingering Wood Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit still.   There was a scattering of typical late autumn migrants across the island with the first two Greenfinches of the autumn at Kirbest along with a Mistle Thrush and two Lesser Whitethroats in amongst small numbers of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Thrushes, Goldcrests, Finches etc.