9th October

Although it was a pleasure to out in summer-like conditions numbers and quality were at a premium today. The only oddity reported was a Yellow-browed Warbler near the Borstal, with the less regulars list including the likes of 2 Merlins, a Ring Ouzel and a Firecrest at the Bill and the first Black Redstart of the autumn at Blacknor. Although the conditions were far too nice to have expected any sort of arrival on the ground it was also surprisingly uneventful overhead where standard mid-October fare was reduced to a trickle and only 24 Siskins over the Obs merited a mention; the fact that there were, for example, fewer than 10 Chiffchaffs at the Bill just about summed up the general dearth of grounded migrants.

So gloriously warm and sunny was it that without making any particular effort 12 butterfly species were logged around the island today; these included Clouded Yellows dotted about at several sites, a Brimstone (a decent island oddity) at Tout/Inmosthay and an Adonis Blue still on the wing there. Common Blue and Small Copper were among the more expected fare enjoying the conditions 
© Ken Dolbear: