4th October

Heavy cloud, a drop in temperature and a change in wind direction had everyone scouting for a rare. Unfortunately the only uncommon species we were treated to were the long staying Turtle Dove and the equally obliging Hoopoe. Today saw a second consecutive increase in Blackbird numbers along with the first couple of Song Thrushes. The most numerous migrants within the obs garden were undoubtedly the Chiffchaffs with 36 trapped throughout the day and dozens more recorded across the island, our first Phyllosc fall of the autumn. A Tree Pipit over the 'Hoopoe paddocks' was potentially the last of the year and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers was the highest day count of the year. Other than this, migration trudged by as normal with only the commonest fly-over migrants putting in any big numbers.

The lingering Turtle Dove afforded some close views at times © Matt Ames (top) and Roger Hewitt (bottom)