Although it remained a fair degree too windy for a comprehensive check of the Bill, scrutiny of the more sheltered spots further up-island revealed pockets of cover that were teeming with common migrants - whether they were new arrivals or lingerers surfacing in the constantly ameliorating conditions was uncertain but the numbers were certainly impressive. The clearer conditions also saw an increase in birds overhead, with over 200 alba wagtails, 67 Siskin, 25 Swallows, 4 Redpolls and a Merlin over the Bill. The sea was busy with Kittiwakes - over 2000 passed the Bill in the hour after dawn - but otherwise uneventful, with a lone Great Northern Diver the pick of what little else was passing.
The mid-autumn this year has been fantastic for numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the better quality cover around the centre of the island that's been dripping with birds on many visits - since a lot of these spots don't getting looked at from one week to the next, let alone one day to the next, it does make you wonder what rares are getting missed © Martin Cade:
With Long-tailed Tits rarely straying as far as the Bill, it's always a nice treat to come across little family groups when birding further up-island; of course, where there are Long-tailed Tit flocks there's always hope but sadly there were no Yellow-browed Warblers or better in their wake today © Jodie Henderson:
