Seemingly propitious conditions - the wind had dropped to just a gentle northwesterly breeze - provided a unexpectedly eclectic selection of migration happenings today. A fall of Chiffchaffs included a good 150 at the Bill alone, with the autumn's first Yellow-browed Warbler found amongst them at the Grove; variety on the ground was otherwise rather limited but did include a presumed Siberian Lesser Whitethroat at the Obs, a Ring Ouzel at the Grove, 2 late-ish Pied Flycatchers at the Bill and fair numbers of Stonechats and other seasonal fare everywhere. Lingerers on the deck also included the Rosy Starling between Weston and Easton and the 2 Little Stints and single Curlew Sandpiper at Ferrybridge. Overhead passage looked to be taking place over a broad front and wasn't easy to get amongst, but included 249 alba wagtails, 58 Chaffinches, 47 Siskins and 2 Merlins over the Bill along with 2 Great White Egrets over Southwell. It was the sea that proved to the day's secret weapon in terms of boosting the day list: a surprise pulse of Balearic Shearwaters totalled 119 through off the Bill, with 140 Kittiwakes, 7 Wigeon, 5 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, a Wigeon and an Arctic Tern also logged there.
Bluefin Tunas were seen on and off throughout the morning off the Bill.
The season's first Yellow-browed Warbler wasn't making an exhibition of itself © Duncan Walbridge:
