The wind switched over to the north and calmed down considerably overnight. As a result, there was a welcome increase in birds on the island and perhaps one of the best days so far this autumn. Notably, an influx of Wheatears occured with 54 mainly concentrated on the Narrows and the South End, the majority of them being Greenland-race birds. In the bushes, there had been a clear influx of Robins and Goldcrests onto the island with 36 and 26 logged respectively. Additionally there was an admirable variety of other common migrants which included 23 Chiffchaffs, four Willow Warblers, 13 Blackcaps, three Reed Warblers, a Redstart in the Wetlands, a Pied Flycatcher at Nant, a Garden Warbler in Cristin Withy, a Spotted Flycatcher at Plas Withy, a Whitethroat in the Wetlands and a Whinchat on the South End. Meadow Pipit numbers also swelled with 89 birds recorded across the island. 

Redstart (C) Greg Lee

Whinchat (C) Greg Lee

Overhead, there was a notable passage of Skylarks and Grey Wagtails with 21 and 12 flying overhead, a flock of the former on Pen Cristin also containing our first Lapland Bunting of the year. Four Siskins also heralded the start of autumn finch migration and pestering the moving passerines, our first Merlin of the autumn was seen zooming over the Wetlands. 

Reed Warbler (C) Greg Lee

Offshore, seven Little Terns were our first for the year and a mixed flock of Brent and Barnacle Geese was an interesting sighting off the West Coast. As perhaps expected, given the influx over the past few weeks into the UK, a Glossy Ibis flying off the North End into the Sound was a good sighting, so it was good to feel as though we weren't missing out!