7th to 8th September

Torrential rain all day, rendered the 7th pretty much un-birdable with the only attempt to get out in the field being a few hours soaking just before dark. A Tree Sparrow at Ancum was notable but the only other birds worth reporting were 9 Ruff. The wind and rain abated on the 8th allowing a few new passerines were found and it seemed as though most of last weeks Warblers had moved on to be replaced by a new batch, including a Wood Warbler at the airfield, the first Lesser Whitethroat of the autumn and there was also a Redstart at Holland. Large numbers of sea-birds were on the move again off the north end with a 2 and a half hour watch returning totals of 1035 Fulmars (including 2 blue phase birds), 338 Gannets, 21 Sooty and 4 Manx Shearwaters, a Storm Petrel and a smart drake Velvet Scoter-the latter becoming the 200th species recorded by the observatory on the island in 2014. The juvenile Rose-coloured Starling was still around the Obs during the morning and there were also at least 3 Kestrels and 2 Hen Harriers present.