3rd October

Extremely strong westerly winds blasted the island throughout the day bringing regular, nasty showers but despite these difficult conditions some good effort was put in out in the field and there were some good birds out there; a moulting adult Slavonian Grebe was in Nouster Bay (only the second of the year), the juvenile Scaup was again on Ancum and the first Barnacle Goose of the autumn passed over with 229 Pink-footed Geese while waders included 3 Grey Plover, single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, 38 Ruff and 2 Jack Snipe.

                Migrants that have been trapped here during this spell of rough weather today included the Barred Warbler at the Obs (it finally made its way into a Heligoland trap this afternoon!), the Red-breasted Flycatcher still in Holland, a Woodpigeon, 10 Swallow, a Tree Pipit, 25 Rock Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, 13 Robins, 6 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 42 Wheatears, 34 Song Thrushes, 3 Redwings, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrests, 6 Chaffinches, 13 Brambling, 2 Siskins, 6 Snow Buntings and the Yellowhammer still.

Chiffchaff

Black Guillemot

photos Simon Davies