29th October

Another bright, clear day saw little movement of birds save for those in the very early hours. A Water Rail in the garden was the first for the autumn, Bramblings made a return to double figures, a sixth Cetti's Warbler was located on the slope above Portland Castle, 2 Woodlarks were present around the Obs and Helen's Fields and there was a surprise reappearance of Friday's Barred Warbler at the Obs. The highlight of the day, however, came in the form of a Little Auk close in off the East Cliffs, no doubt pushed in by the strong North-easterlies we have been getting battered by over the past 48 hours.

Little Auks are notoriously storm driven and this bird was no exception being forced right into the coast by the strong winds we have been experiencing over the past few days © Geoff Orton:


The Ferrybridge Greenshanks © Pete Saunders... 


...and a Fieldfare at the Bill © Roger Hewitt: