A calm and overcast morning saw a nice variety of birds on the move for so late in the season. Overhead passage made up the bulk of the day's records, with a total of 70 Chaffinches, 3 Siskin, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Brambling and 2 Redpoll passed the Bill. Other grounded migrants around the obs included 4 Song Thrush, 2 Chiffchaffs and singles of Redwing, Goldcrest and Bullfinch. A Balearic Shearwater marked the highlight of the morning's seawatch, with a supporting cast of 11 Red-throated Divers, 7 Wigeon, 4 Common Scoter and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Totals for the Harbour included 2 Black-throated Divers and a Red-necked Grebe from Sandsfoot and 5 Common Scoter, 4 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver from the Sailing Club. Elsewhere, the Wheatear remained at Ferrybridge, with new Black Redstarts at both Blacknor and Church Ope Cove, where a Sanderling was also present.
Today's settled conditions seemed like a suitable enough excuse for a jaunt up island to some more under-watched spots, although we failed to uncover anything more unusual among the Chiffchaff and crests present © Jodie Henderson
Today's Sanderling was an unexpected find along the strandline at Church Ope Cove, where it was busily feeding away among the wintering pipits and wagtails © Jodie Henderson
