30th September

There was a lot more south in the still strong wind through the day, slightly changing the position of all the sheltered spots to check but also meaning that there was some more visible migration over the island with a few Pink-footed Geese, waders and Skylarks the most obvious species on the move.   There was again, a great selection of scarcities on show throughout the day with a knackered looking Osprey flushed from long grass by the Mill, from where it flew down to Nouster and flopped down on the beach again, the Rustic Bunting again by the lighthouse, the Marsh Warbler still near the Obs, a Barred Warbler around the traps at the Obs, a Red-breasted Flycatcher trapped in Holland in the evening, 2 Little Buntings still, a Siberian Chiffchaff trapped in Holland in the morning and always scarce on here – the first Yellowhammer of the year at Nether Linney.

Spotted Flycatcher

                Plenty of other migrants were spread across the island in sheltered spots which included 2 Woodpigeons, a Collared Dove, a Short-eared Owl, 2 House Martins, 33 Swallows, 315 Meadow Pipits, 25 Rock Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 60 alba Wagtails, 34 Robins, 21 Redstarts, 2 Whinchats, 77 Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, 4 Fieldfares, 93 Song Thrushes, 34 Redwings, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Garden Warblers, 27 Blackcaps, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, 35 Chiffchaffs, 8 Willow Warblers, 4 Goldcrest, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 59 Chaffinches, 27 Bramblings, the first Goldfinch of the autumn, 4 Common Redpolls, 16 Lapland Buntings, 6 Snow Buntings and with some migrants joining the post-breeding flocks, 29 Reed Buntings.

                Some slightly increased wader counts included 4 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Grey Plover, 74 Dunlin, 50 Ruff, 2 Jack Snipe and a Woodcock while 2 Kestrels and a Merlin dashed around and 8 Red-throated and 2 Great-northern Divers lingered offshore.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siskin

Photos Simon Davies