A distinct autumnal coolness in the air at dawn didn't herald any change in the migrant situation, in fact without either of yesterday's scarcities in evidence it was soon brought into sharp focus just how little was going on - a fact further evidenced by several hours of blank net rounds and downbeat trudging around the Bill. Seven
Wheatears, 2
Reed Warblers, a
Garden Warbler, a
Yellow-legged Gull and a
Pied Flycatcher on the ground at the Bill really weren't the stuff
of September dreams; an equally sedate overhead passage of 55
Swallows, 27
Yellow Wagtails, 14
Grey Wagtails and 16
Tree Pipits was also hugely disappointing. The sea again helped out by providing the bulk of the day's numbers, including 75
Kittiwakes, 65
Balearic Shearwaters, 20
Manx Shearwaters, 9
Arctic Skua, 9
Sandwich Terns and 9
Arctic Terns through off the Bill. An uptick to 42
Sandwich Terns was of interest at Ferrybridge, where waders included 12
Knot, 6
Sanderlings and 2
Little Stints.
In the absence of anything much else in numbers on the ground the increase in Sandwich Terns at Ferrybridge was of note...
...the two Little Stints also remained there © Pete Saunders:
Among many migrant species on a downer at the moment, Tree Pipit numbers have been dismal - today's 16 over the Bill was a very sub-par tally for a bright morning in early September © Martin Cade:
