A howling Westerly whipping its way around the lighthouse tower did not instil a vast amount of confidence in the days birding and this feeling turned out to be relatively accurate. The largest totals came from a well attended sea-watch with 31 Balearic Shearwaters, a single Manx Shearwater, 8 Common Scoters, 7 Kittiwakes, a Turnstone and 54 Swallows. Unsurprisingly, given the wind direction, the east cliffs were the most productive for land-based migrants with a Common Sandpiper, 8 Oystercatchers, 4 Wheatears, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Whinchat (in the top fields). Elsewhere, Ferrybridge came up with 65 Dunlin, 12 Redshank, 6 Sanderling and the first returning Great Crested Grebe of the season.
Perhaps not a record breaking count but 8 Oystercatchers is the highest bill total this autumn
© Erin Taylor:
