22nd November

Today was a bit of a slow burner, with a decent little list accumulated after a less than promising start. A Hen Harrier that lingered all day at the Bill stole the show but it had a worthy back-up cast of late migrants that included 590 inbound Starlings, 180 departing Wood Pigeons, 25 Blackbirds, 20 Stock Doves, 18 Lapwings, 15 Redwings, 8 Siskins, 7 Redpolls, 2 Fieldfares, a Brent Goose and a Woodcock at the Bill, another Woodcock at Southwell and 2 more Lapwings over Ferrybridge. Lingerers/winterers included a Merlin and a Black Redstart at the Bill, 226 Dunlin, 43 Ringed Plovers, a Goosander and a Sanderling at Ferrybridge and 3 Black-necked Grebes in Portland Harbour.

Any Hen Harrier's a good record at the Bill but an adult male gets even more plaudits © Pete Saunders (top two) and Martin Cade (bottom two):

 

Dawn broke rather beautifully but with not quite enough cloud in the sky to drop many thrushes...

...however, the arrival of heavy cloud overhead towards midday prompted a little flurry of Blackbirds to materialise at the Obs. Their autumn passage to date has been nothing short of dismal, to the extent that the seven ringed at the Obs today constitutes the highest day-total there so far this season; all were whopping northern/eastern birds: this female had a wing-length of 138mm - that's a good 10mm longer-winged than the local females © Martin Cade:

Black Redstarts continue to entertain - this adult male is one of the regulars at the Bill © Jodie Henderson: