24th August

Wind and unforecast prolonged rain from the east finally brought us the biggest and most diverse passerine arrival of the autumn so far, with just about everything but a rarity. The expected scarce migrants were present in good numbers: the day's totals came to 5 Barred Warblers, 3 Common Rosefinches and at least 8 Wrynecks, 2 of which gave excellent views from the bar-room window. A good list of warblers included 37 Willow Warblers, 1 Wood Warbler, 5 Garden Warblers, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and 1 Reed Warbler; other small migrants included 8 Pied Flycatchers, 1 Common Redstart, 4 Whinchats, a Tree Pipit and 64 Wheatears.

A Cuckoo was the pick of the non-passerines, while a Collared Dove, a Merlin and a Peregrine were also seen. A small arrival of wildfowl brought a couple of Pintails and brought the Wigeon total up to 46.

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