Rarities
A Red-breasted Flycatcher – just the second 21st century record for the island and the earliest ever autumn record spent the day flitting around the sycamores and pines in the observatory garden. The behaviour and attitude of some observers who failed to follow the on-site requests to respect the privacy of residents by viewing only from the outside of garden unfortunately means that any future rarity sightings from this location are unlikely to be released to the Bird Information Services.
Offshore
An early morning scan of the sea revealed 32 Shag, 3 Red-throated Diver and 2 Goosander.
Grounded Migrants
Apart from the flycatcher there were only a few grounded birds in the clear conditions with 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Wheatear and single Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Goldcrest and Great Tit likely contenders as new arrivals.
Diurnal Migration
The skies again proved to be more active with 800 Meadow Pipit, 250 Swallow, 185 Pink-footed Goose, 170 Linnet, 30 Skylark, 28 Pied Wagtail, 10 Grey Wagtail, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Siskin and single Sand Martin and House Martin seen through the morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wildfowl included 11 Pintail and 3 Shoveler and a Ruff remains the pick of the waders.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow remains and 2 Merlin and a Peregrine were the best of the rest.
