The winds mercifully dropped just enough to finally allow for a changeover day and it was indeed a very pleasant autumnal morning with sunshine and a light breeze off the sea. The distinctive dry rattle of a Mistle Thrush alerted us to its presence as it briefly passed through the garden. Our first of the year of this nationally declining species. The bird would later drop down into the Wetlands. Overhead, small numbers of Siskins and Chaffinches flew over heading south, with a couple of the latter dropping into the Cristin garden through the course of the day. Both Robins and Goldcrests appeared to be in similar numbers to recent days, though were a bit more vocal in the pleasant sunlight.  A Hobby over the Observatory garden was our first record of the year of this migratory falcon and a male Ring Ouzel was seen at Nant early in the morning. In the Wetlands, there was a minor skirmish between a Merlin and Sparrowhawk, clearly in competition for any migrating passerines that come our way. 

The island from the South End (C) Greg Lee

Offshore, birds were a bit quieter but a flock of Gannets plunging into the turquoise sea got our attention that there was a feeding frenzy going on and sure enough, there was at least 35 Common Dolphins hunting offshore, though they weren't the easiest to see. A Red Admiral at Nant was the first butterfly sighting for a few days.