The one that got away...

Having returned from Spain midweek to blue skies, sun and 30 degrees, it was a shock to see temperatures plummet and see heavy rain arrive yesterday and today. The noticeable birds are flocks of Meadow Pipits (500 plus birds), Alba Wagtails, Swallows (c 1250) and House Martins (1350 plus) all heading north into the NW winds. A fall of Warblers on the 16th included 30 Chiffchaff, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap and on the beach a Northern Wheatear. Overhead 2 Grey Wagtails and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew N. Today, the rain and winds made it hard work, but an ARCTIC SKUA at 8.45am and another at 12.45 heading south were new for the year. 160 plus Gannets were also heading north into the wind by 9am and 80 plus Eurasian Wigeon and and Knot and 5 Dunlin signalled Autumn is under way.

The tough call was an almost certain immature LONG-TAILED SKUA, but it was just a little too far out to be 100% certain.. A nice surprise was big numbers of Peacock Butterflies on Thursday. Nearby at the under cliff I watched a male Peregrine chase a weary Dunlin.