25th October

A for the most part heavily overcast day that could have been thought to have looked pretty promising for a drop of late migrants - alas the reality was that it remained extremely quiet for most of the seasonable fare such as thrushes that still aren't appearing in any numbers at all. Quantity-wise, it was finches that were most prominent, with a steady passage of Goldfinches and Linnets in particular that were each numbered 500-1000 per hour south at the Bill at times through the morning; 50 Starlings travelling in the opposite direction were no doubt a sign of things to come, whilst the lesser totals there included 35 Greenfinches, 20 Reed Buntings, 3 Bramblings, 2 Siskins and a Merlin. On the ground the Yellow-browed Warbler remained at Avalanche Road and there was further interest in the form of an unspecified Lesser Whitethroat there, a late Yellow Wagtail at the Bill, a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Wakeham and 6 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Common Tern at Ferrybridge, but routine species were present in really pitiful numbers everywhere. Sea passage dwindled, with 3 Brent Geese, 2 each of Velvet Scoter, Arctic Skua and Pomarine Skua, and a single Great Skua the best logged at the Bill.

Immigrant moths at the Obs included 4 Rusty-dot Pearl, 2 each of Pearly Underwing and Flame Brocade and a single Silver Y.


Pale-bellied Brent Geese - Ferrybridge, 25th October 2014 © Debby Saunders