Northerly breeze with intimidating showers offshore occasionally rolling in. A Twite on the reserve was our first for 12 years. Back in the 1980's this species was regular in autumn but is now disappearing. Eclectic mix of migrants in low numbers with offshore southbound 286 Black-headed Gull, 137 Brent, 72 Wigeon, 19 Common Gull, 9 Shelduck, 9 Teal, 5 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Gannet, Manx Shearwater & Turnstone with northbound 12 Brent, 8 Gannet, 7 Shelduck, 7 Teal, 6 Eider, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Lapwing, 2 Red-breasted Merganser & 2 Red-throats plus an Arctic Skua offshore. Passerines in off the sea were 300 Starling, 14 Chaffinch, 6 Skylark, 3 Fieldfare & a Jackdaw. On site a small handful of new Blackies, Redwing, Songies, plus 4 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Lapwing, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Brambling & the first Woodcock of the autumn. 2 Black Redstart in the observatory compound, Rock Pipit flew south & another Jay visited.
Ringing: 4 Blackbird, 3 Redpoll, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin.
