After a cloudy start to the day, the sun broke through by late morning allowing for a flurry of migrants to move through the island. A Kestrel was seen hovering along the Mountainside, no doubt finding it easier to pick out the mice and shrews, in the parched vegetation. The Narrows was once again worth a check today, with a single Dunlin, eight Curlews and a Common Sandpiper present.

A look out to sea along the West Coast was also not in vain, with the results involving two Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern. The juvenile Cuckoo was once again seen briefly, this time being fed by an adult Meadow Pipit, confirming our suspicions that the bird had in fact been reared on the island! A mixture of migrant and resident hirundines made up 30 Swallows and 16 House Martins. The first real passage of warblers was also noted today a healthy nine Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats, one Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs and 34 Willow Warblers were logged today, the latter being the highest count this autumn, hopefully it won’t be long before we see our first fall.

Immature Willow Warbler at the Plantation one of 34 seen today!