A more of the same day, with grounded migrants - at least in places, if not universally - a little more numerous than yesterday, overhead passage a little stronger and the sea well worth attention. Dartford Warblers again featured conspicuously, with likely as many 10 dotted about the Bill area, the Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Southwell and a Coal Tit (subspecies uncertain) popped up at Thumb Lane. Overhead totals at the Bill included 690 Linnets, 270 alba wagtails, 165 Meadow Pipits, 110 Goldfinches and 51 Chaffinches, with singles of Little Egret, Merlin and Brambling amongst the tag-alongs. The likes of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were reported to be considerably more numerous around the centre of the island than they were at the Bill, but everywhere there was a good variety of October fare to get amongst that included single Firecrests at the Bill and Thumb Lane. Offshore, a constant stream of good-sized auk flocks trailed past the Bill, where 330 Kittiwakes, 28 Balearic Shearwaters, 23 Common Scoter and an Arctic Skua were also logged.
Dartford Warblers have been a real feature of the last three days, with the double figure estimate from the Bill likely to be conservative and certainly constituting the highest day-total ever recorded there © Andy Swash Princeton WILDGuides
