29th - 30th October

Another pleasant couple of days although there is a real 'end of season' feel to the birding at the moment; the 29th was fairly quiet with a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull the pick with a Wheatear, the two Goldfinches and the Yellowhammer still lingering.   A nice morning on the 30th produced a couple of late scarcities with a Common Rosefinch a bit of a surprise at Holland and a Little Bunting in Kirbest crop a bit more expected; other passerines included a single Lesser Redpoll with 5 Mealy Redpolls, two Black Redstarts still and dwindling numbers of Thrushes, Robins, Blackcaps, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and Finches while two Hen Harriers and two Merlins cruised around.   There were also some impressive spectacles to be seen with at least 1,200 Gannets fishing and loafing off the east coast of the island and an excellent count of 591 Snipe included large numbers at Brides Loch.