Perhaps we were a little optimistic. The forecast of gentle South-easterlies and clear skies until 5am when cloud would roll in and drop a plethora of migrant on our doorstep was actually reasonably accurate, minus the huge fall of birds. However, there were birds to be seen if not any of particular note. The lowest count of our early morning migrants (just 13
Yellow Wagtails, 6
Grey Wagtails and 3
Tree Pipits) was indicative of the day
i.e a good range of species but few numbers of each. Counts of interest included: 6
Whimbrel, 5
Spotted Flycatchers, 3
Pied Flycatchers, 6
Common Sandpipers, 1
Redstart, 11
Blackcaps, 1
Reed Warbler, 2
Lesser Whitethroats, the first
Golden Plover of the autumn and a good passage of
Whinchats with a minimum of 33 birds counted. Common migrants were not seen in any great numbers, Willow Warblers and Wheatears were in particularly low supply. The sea, again, did not provide numbers but some autumnal variation was introduced with 6
Black-tailed Godwits, 7
Wigeon, 1
Great Skua, 5
Common Scoter, 3
Balearic Shearwaters and 1
Manx Shearwater. Vis mig passage over the West Cliffs included: 60
Swallows, 8
House Martins and 15
Sand Martins.
Excepting the count of 13
Knot, numbers at Ferrybridge were consistent with recent findings with: 2
Sanderling, 130
Ringed Plovers, 46
Dunlin, 18
Turnstone, 6
Sandwich Terns, 2
Yellow Wagtails and a
Wheatear.
Last night's nocturnal passage report from Nick Hopper: The night never properly got going but in the end a reasonable selection of species was mustered. Highlight an Ortolan Bunting at 02.58; also noteworthy a fairly early Golden Plover, whilst other callers logged were Robin 10, Pied Flycatcher 2, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Yellow Wagtail 2, Tree Pipit 3,Grey Heron 1, Redshank 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Skylark 1 (presumably a local bird) and a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
Immigrant moth interest was again pretty minimal but at a local level singles of Pale Eggar and Oak Hook-tip trapped overnight at the Obs were of note - the former constituting only the second record for the island
© Martin Cade
