3rd-4th October

The 3rd was a quieter day, with the Hawfinch still present at Holland House but a Collared Dove (unusual at this time of year) there too was a surprising highlight. 50 plus Bramblings, 5 Snow Buntings and the 'north-western' Redpoll were still around as were 5 Jack Snipe and the best a 3 hour sea-watch could offer was an Adult Pomarine Skua and 12 Sooty Shearwaters. The 4th began in much the same way with a 3.5 hour (rain prolonged) watch of the sea from dawn producing 62 Sooty and 25 Manx Shearwaters, 890 Fulmars (including 2 'blue' phase), 849 Gannets and the days highlight-a Scaup which came in with a group of Wigeon and Teal. Pink-footed Geese were on the move again with 755 passing over once the rain subsided, along with 39 Barnacle Geese. 9 Whooper Swans were at Bewan Loch, and there were now 3 Woopigeons present, 224 Meadow Pipits suggested some southbound movement, a Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Irises at Kirbest and the Hawfinch remains.