It was misty start today with the wind calming down overnight, though it would pick up again in the afternoon. A couple of new birds for the year were around with a Cattle Egret briefly materialising through the mist before vanishing northwards and a Great Northern Diver sitting off the West Coast. Other highlights included a  brief Common Rosefinch which sang close to the Observatory before vanishing and an adult Sabine's Gull off the West Coast continuing an excellent showing for the species this autumn.

In Solfach, there was a gathering of terns with six Sandwich Terns and juvenile Arctic and Common Terns whilst a Black Tern was briefly on Carreg yr Honwy. With the drop in wind and low cloud, there was a notable movement of Swallows with 948 passing through during the course of the morning, amongst them five House Martins and a single Sand Martin were picked out. Nine Chiffchaffs were in the bushes along with four Goldcrests and 11 Robins and six Wheatears were on the Narrows/South End. Interestingly, there was a small arrival of Stonechats on the South End, with six birds all amongst the Gorse. A lone Kestrel was near the Observatory.

Arctic Tern (C) Greg Lee

Common Tern and Arctic Tern (C) Greg Lee

Waders were also in good form with six Ringed Plovers and a Golden Plover on the South End, four Bar-tailed Godwits were on the West Coast and singles of Dunlin and Purple Sandpiper were on the Solfach. Curlews totalled nine with two Whimbrels also seen. 

Small parties of Lesser Black-backed Gulls have been heading south in recent days (C) Greg lee

A Red Admiral briefly battling the wind on the South End constituted the only butterfly sighting of the day. Two Risso's Dolphins were also briefly off the West Coast.