2nd September

We keep thinking that each small downturn in the weather will mark the beginning of the end of summer but the warm, settled conditions just keep getting re-established - largely to the detriment of grounded migrant numbers; clear skies and hot sunshine remained the order of the day today but it'll be interesting to see whether tomorrow's - Yank-laden? - blip marks the arrival of conditions that'll perk up migrant numbers. Wheatear again topped the migrant chart today with at least 100 at the Bill, whilst Yellow Wagtail was no far behind on 80; sadly, nothing else came even close to those totals, with a Firecrest lingering at the Obs the best of the limited selection on offer at the Bill. The light offshore breeze offered little for the seawatchers who managed just 7 Balearic Shearwaters through off the Bill.

Apart from a shuffling of the numbers the immigrant moth situation was much as in recent nights, with 29 Rush Veneer, 6 Silver Y, 5 Dark Sword Grass, 5 Scarce Bordered Straw, 4 Rusty-dot Pearl, 2 Vestal, 2 Pearly Underwing and a Red Admiral butterfly making up the totals from the Obs traps.

A nice fly-by from one of the Reap Lane Yellow Wagtails © Pete Saunders: