3rd October

Two more Yellow-browed Warblers - singles the Sweethill and the Obs - were the best of a day that didn't quite hit the mark at any level. Under clear, sunny skies grounded arrivals weren't numerous beyond a good spread of Chiffchaffs everywhere, with a scatter of 5 Firecrests, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and singles of Tree Pipit and Whinchat about as good as it got for infrequent/late migrants on the deck where, apart from a single Song Thrush, thrushes and Goldcrests remained entirely absent. The conditions favoured overhead passage but an early Hawfinch over the Obs proved to be a bit of a false dawn as numbers were far from special for early October; passage was only partially recorded but totals over the Obs included 1880 Meadow Pipits, 690 Swallows, 480 Linnets, 380 House Martins, 275 Pied Wagtails and 31 Skylarks, along with 22 Cormorants and singles of Sparrowhawk, Hobby and Lapwing amongst the lower totals; the likes of Siskin and Chaffinch that often feature so prominently at this juncture were again few and far between - their paltry totals today were 10 and 14 respectively. A few more waterfowl were on the move offshore, with 48 Common Scoter, 14 Dark-bellied and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 12 Teal and a Wigeon - along with 200 Kittiwakes and 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - through off the Bill. The Ferrybridge situation remained rather static, with 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Sanderling and a Knot the only waders of note.

The Sweethill Yellow-browed Warbler © Pete Saunders:


Brisk NE wind at clear dawn veering E by midday, with bright sunshine, did little to improve any chance of a big ringing total. 71 birds of 12 species from 3 sites ringed.Jodie's pool attracted Chiffchaffs but not the brief YBW! 33 in all with 13 B'cap, 3 Reed W,a Firecrest and Ad. Goldfinch.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 3, 2024 at 6:25 PM