14th November

Partly overcast skies and hardly a breath of wind - together with the promise of the onset of some rain that didn't materialise - were promising ingredients at dawn and it was soon apparent that there were new arrivals on the ground and some strong passage overhead. An almost instant surprise was a huge flock of departing Starlings - very roughly estimated at 3000 over the Obs although a much higher estimate from further up the island suggested some had peeled off before they reached the Bill - that were even murmurating as they left out to sea. Long trails of Wood Pigeons soon appeared, with a final total of 6780 leaving at the Bill, whilst 268 Goldfinches, 70 Chaffinches, 68 Linnets, 47 Meadow Pipits, 23 Redwings and 21 Siskins were among the other worthwhile totals logged; 5 Redpolls and singles of Merlin, Golden Plover, Snipe, Swallow, Brambling and Lapland Bunting - the latter a rather belated first of the season - were the pick of the back-ups. Grounded totals were far lower but amongst the single figure totals of the likes of new Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, a Mistle Thrush - another first for the season - was noteworthy at the Bill; the Cetti's Warbler and Wryneck were also still there, whilst the spread of Black Redstarts from around the island reached at least double figures. The only reports from the sea were of the Sabine's Gull lingering on off Chesil and 9 Brent Geese through off the Bill.