22nd September

Lots of passage afoot today as migrants made the most of clear skies and a northwesterly breeze to head off towards winter quarters. Overhead passage dominated, with 2500 Meadow Pipits, 500 Swallows (hirundines were actually oddly under-represented, with far fewer logged than would be expected at this juncture), 100 Siskins and lower totals of a good range of tag-alongs leaving to the south. It was quieter on the ground but with a bit of perseverance a decently varied tally of expected fare was accumulated that included well into three-figure totals of Blackcap and Chiffchaff along with the likes of 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Knot, 2 Redstarts and singles of Golden Plover, Little Stint, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Garden Warbler and Pied Flycatcher (along with a likely Grey Phalarope reported by non-birders from Chesil). Another resurgence in Balearic Shearwaters saw 142 pass the Bill, where 293 auks was easily their highest total of the autumn to date and a single Red-throated Diver was a first for the season.