2nd September

An adult Rosy Starling at Osprey Quay was a surprise and welcome newcomer today and had no competition as bird of the day. The Wryneck did remain at the Obs Quarry but was sufficiently elusive as to only be reported once all day; common migrant action was also hard to come by with birds either thin on the ground or keeping their heads down in the continuing stiff northeasterly. Both Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears increased a little to 50 apiece at the Bill but the autumn's first Short-eared Owl and a passing Hobby were the best of a rather limited rest there. The sea had a few rewards, with the 29 Balearic Shearwaters logged from a few random watches dotted through the day suggesting that they might have racked up a fair total with better coverage; 8 Teal were also of note off the Bill.

This fine specimen bathing in a garden pond at Southwell is one of several Sparrowhawks doing the rounds of the south of the island in recent days © Nick Stantiford: