It was certainly a pleasure to be out birding on such a nice still day and there was the added bonus of there actually being a few birds to get amongst. The departure of Willow Warblers in particular continued apace, with a good 100 at the Bill where other migrant activity was a little subdued but did include firsts for the season in the form of 2 Tree Pipits and the first 2 juvenile Sparrowhawks; overhead passage was very disappointing, with most Swifts probably already having gone and hirundines choosing not to make the most of apparently suitable conditions. An uptick in our seawatch wellbeing was occasioned by an arrival of Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill - there are still an awful lot more across on the other side of Lyme Bay but a minimum of 110 through to the east and some rafting during the evening were a welcome sight. Gannets continued to feature in unexpected numbers, with 2000 or more through, whilst 80 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Arctic Skuas and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were of further note offshore.
Two likely Risso's Dolphins off the Bill weren't in view quite long enough to be fully clinched but, bearing in mind that so many dolphins have been lingering about this summer, will be well worth keeping an eye out for.
Nice morning at the Bill: 2 Tree Pipits and a juv Sparrowhawk - both quite early firsts for the autumn; good drop of Willow Warblers on the ground + 1000 Gannets and 50 Balearics thru on the sea.
