10th-11th October

A couple of calmer days and while there was no obvious large scale arrival there was a trickle of incomers and attention was paid to some of the census areas which were neglected in the stronger winds. With so many in our part of the world, it wasn't that surprising when an Olive-backed Pipit was found at (the previously unchecked) Greenwall on 10th and photographs (and the lack of a ring) would appear to suggest its the 5th individual of the week. The other most notable new birds from that date were a drake Scaup on Bridesness Loch, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail and Black Redstart. More routine fare included the Canada Goose, 30 Moorhens, 9 Jack Snipe, the Common Sandpiper still and there was an influx of some 167 Common and 9 Black-headed Gulls. Passerine totals were made up of 2 Tree Pipits (outnumbering OBP's for the first time in a while!), 25 Rock Pipits, 33 Robins, 2 Fieldfares, 96 Song Thrushes, 37 Redwings, 20 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, a late Willow Warbler, 12 Goldcrests, 62 Bramblings, 14 Siskins, a Lapland Bunting and 23 Reed Buntings. Sea-duck and Divers were the most conspicuous newcomers in Nouster and Linklet Bays on the 11th with 11 Red-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers, 10 Long-tailed Ducks and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers plus a Slavonian Grebe at the former site. A Turtle Dove at Holland House was a good late record and the best of the day's other sightings were 4 Barnacle Geese, 8 Woodpigeons,2 Black Redstarts, 2 Garden Warblers, a Greenfinch and 28 Twite.