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