An unexpected twist to a morning where expectations were low after a shift in the wind to a straight, settled westerly came in the form of a good visible passage of
Siskins, amounting to 175 birds over the Bill; the bright flashes of yellow were joined regularly in the morning sky by triple figures of passing
Swallows, 42
Sand Martins and 24
Grey Wagtails (the highest tally of the year so far). With all these moving passerines it was unsurprising that a
Merlin appeared giving chase to the various
Wheatears and
Whinchats within the Crown Fields. Other land-based migrants included singles of
Pied Flycatcher,
Grasshopper Warbler and a handful of
Yellow Wagtails and
Tree Pipits as well as the first
Great Spotted Woodpecker of the autumn. Another limited selection of over-head waders involved singles of
Golden Plover,
Redshank,
Dunlin and
Sanderling. Elsewhere on the island, a second
Merlin was hounding the
Wheatears and
Yellow Wagtails at Ferrybridge, where 13
Sanderlings and a
Knot were the pick of the waders.
Not the sort of view of a Merlin that you'd want if you were small migrant taking a break on south Portland © Martin Cade:
A mid-autumn staple: this time of year sees the return of the humble Rook to the south of the island after they've been missing during the breeding season © Erin Taylor: