The red-backed shrike was still happily feeding behind the observatory kitchen throughout the day, adding black redstart to the throng of birds that have mobbed it since it arrived yesterday. A whinchat was also feeding in the same area mid morning.
9 cattle egrets flying high south over the obs before heading back north were only the 4th record of the species for the site.
Common migrants were pleasantly abundant, with almost 700 meadow pipits in or around the observatory, 17 siskins flew south, and blackcap and chiffchaff numbers having increased significantly. A small influx of 4 goldcrest were a sign of late autumns approach.
The first Mallow of the autumn is slightly earlier than we expected.
Birds Ringed: Blackcap 17, Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 8, Dunnock 1, Goldcrest 2, Great Tit 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Meadow Pipit 48, Willow Warbler 1.