26th September

Heavy rain in the morning cleared to a generally grey day but some good birds made up for the dreary conditions. Absent during the first half, there was much relief for newly arrived birders when the male Northern Harrier reappeared and showed well in the afternoon. An elusive Richard's Pipit in the Breck/Sandar area was the best new arrival while also of note were another 201 Pink-footed Geese south, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Lapland Bunting at Nether Linnay. On calmer seas 12 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great Northern Divers and 2 Sooty Shearwaters were recorded and increasing numbers of wildfowl returned figures of 173 Wigeons, 43 Tufted Ducks, a Pintail and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers. Similarly, waders on the up included 231 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe and 25 Black-tailed Godwits while 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Kestrels and 2 Merlins were the other raptors seen. A group of 8 Ravens south was the second flock of the week, a Robin was new but a Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and many of the 413 Snow Buntings were likely lingering birds.

Jack Snipe (photo George Gay)