Today brings the first named storm of the Autumn, Storm Austen, producing strong winds from the SSE, and rain by mid morning. A Greenfinch seen flying in front of the observatory and a Firecrest recaught in a mist net.
Seawatching: - challenging conditions with mist and rain.
South: 5 Common Scoter, 4 Brent Goose, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Gull, 2 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, Arctic Skua and a Curlew.
North: 9 Cormorant, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Gannet, 2 Gadwall, 2 Goosander, 1 Great Skua(Bonxie), 1 Little Gull and a Red-throated Diver.
West: 1 Cormorant.
Feeding offshore: 41 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Mediterranean Gull.
Moth trapping: 13 Species recorded between our 3 traps this morning. Moth of the morning goes to the Red-headed Chestnut, which is an immigrant from the continent, noted on only a handful of previous occasions.
Bird ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Robin, 1 Song Thrush.