9th October

A wet and windy morning turned into an even wetter and even windier afternoon as northerly gales and heavy showers battered the Island to a virtually un-birdable state. A Bluethroat, lurking in the Irises at Ancum Loch was the stand alone highlight, with the only other passerines seen being a handful each of lingering Warblers, Thrushes, Finches and yesterdays Whinchat. Another 6 Whooper Swans pitched into Gretchen late-afternoon, the 2 Wood Sandpipers remain, while 3 Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit were the first for a while.