7th October

A day spoilt by a blustery westerly and, for the best part of the morning at least, all too frequent drizzly outbreaks. There was a modest arrival of routine migrants on the ground but they were difficult to get amongst and the only snippet of quality uncovered was a Hawfinch that dropped in briefly at Top Fields before hightailing it off towards Southwell. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose build up continued at Ferrybridge with 780 the day's peak; a lone Pale-bellied Brent was also still there, the first 2 Red-breasted Mergansers of the season were new arrivals and 3 Wigeon and a Merlin passed through. The fresh wind stirred up some action on the sea, with 92 Common Scoter, 5 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater through off the Bill and another Arctic Skua through at Portland Harbour.

Another 8 Delicates were the only immigrant moths of note from the Obs traps.

It was the greyest of days for any sort of try at photography but this Arctic Skua motoring through Portland Harbour was a nice reward from one attempt © Simon Colenutt thedeskboundbirder: