20th October

A day that promised plenty of birds but delivered as many frustrations as it did variety, with nothing except the long-staying Wryneck particularly easy to get to grips with. A fly-over Red-throated Pipit at the Bill was the rarity highlight; a Richard's Pipit at Coombefield was equally unobliging, whilst a Yellow-browed Warbler at Avalanche Road was hardly showy. Migrant-wise, rain before and for a while after dawn dropped a hatful of birds in the Coombefield/Suckthumb area but seemingly rather little elsewhere; all-island totals of note included 300 Redwings, 45 Siskins, 36 Fieldfares, 8 Ring Ouzels, 5 Black Redstarts, 5 Dartford Warblers, 3 Firecrests, 2 Woodlarks, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl and a Cetti's Warbler. A miscellaneous selection from the sea included 314 Kittiwakes, 130 Mediterranean Gulls, 62 Common Scoter, 36 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Pintail, 7 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 6 Eider, 4 Teal, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Velvet Scoters, a Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Tern through off the Bill.

Once yesterday's strong wind abated during the evening conditions were very favourable for moth-trapping, with immigrant totals from the Obs traps of 304 Rush Veneer, 101 Rusty-dot Pearl, 8 Scarce Bordered Straw, 7 Turnip, 4 Diamond-back, 3 Delicate, 3 Silver Y, 2 Olive-tree Pearl, 2 Vestal and singles of Pearly Underwing, White-speck and Cosmopolitan.