31st August

August closed out much as it had plodded along throughout with a perfectly respectable spread of common migrants but, with the notable exception of the second Wryneck in as many days, little to excite; that the first third of the autumn is now behind us was evidenced by the lack of even a single Sedge Warbler making the day-tally for the first time this month, whilst passing Wigeon (4 off the Bill) hinted at what's to come. The day's Wryneck - like yesterday's - turned up unannounced in a mist-net at the Obs, whilst the day's migrant totals for the wider Bill area included the likes of 60 Wheatears, 8 Tree Pipits, 8 Spotted Flycatchers, 7 Whinchats and 4 Whimbrel with Ferrybridge helping the variety with 7 Sanderling, a Knot, a Little Stint and a Snipe amongst others. The sea also perked up, with 54 Balearic Shearwaters, a steady flow of Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Arctic Skuas through off the Bill.