22nd October

Another great day with lighter easterly winds and overcast conditions; it had been clear for long periods overnight so plenty of birds had the chance to move on but there were still excellent numbers of migrants spread over the island with a few more highlights including 2 Shorelarks – with one at Nether Breck and a second bird in Nouster (found while rushing to twitch the first one!), an Olive-backed Pipit at Westness and another beast of a female Arctic Peregrine on Torness.

                Migrants totals comprised 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Woodpigeons, 4 Grey Wagtails, 3 Dunnocks, 136 Robins, a Black Redstart, a Redstart, a male Stonechat, 15 Wheatears, 18 Ring Ouzels, 377 Blackbirds, 35 Fieldfares, 120 Song Thrushes, 1,839 Redwing, a Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Blackcap, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs, 55 Goldcrest, the Red-breasted Flycatcher still, 8 Chaffinches, 102 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 5 Common Redpolls and 44 Snow Buntings.

                Wildfowl totals included 25 Whooper Swans, 12 Pink-footed Geese, 600 Greylag Geese, 210 Teal, the Green-winged Teal still, 65 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 18 Shoveler, 15 Long-tailed Ducks and 4 Goldeneye while 7 Red-throated and 3 Great-northern Divers were offshore, 8 Herons were present and another late Arctic Tern was floating around with waders totalling 790 Golden Plover, 90 Purple Sandpipers, single Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Jack Snipe.

Shorelark

Ring Ouzel

Purple Sandpiper

Photos Simon Davies