1st October

October started off with perfect calm and overcast conditiions - an ideal opportunity for a day of mist-netting at Holland House. Plenty of Redwings and Blackcaps were ringed, but the clear highlight of the day was North Ronaldsay's third Pechora Pipit found hanging in one of the nets.

A lighthouse attraction during the night had drawn a good number of Redwings to the island, and a day-total of 872 included 300 in the fields next to the beacon. Single Common Rosefinches were at Bewan and Gravity, the Hawfinch was ringed in the gardens and other finch sightings included 5 Redpolls, 4 Chaffinches and 7 Bramblings. Blackcaps remained much the most numerous warbler, with 46 logged around the island, while other species included 7 Yellow-browed Warblers, 1 Barred Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and 5 Goldcrests. A Yellow Wagtail was the first for a few weeks, and 2 House Martins, a Tree Pipit, 3 Robins, 4 Whinchats, 17 Song Thrushes and the long-staying Short-toed Lark made up the rest of the noteworthy passerines.

A White-fronted Goose was a new species for the autumn; 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Grey Plover and a Whimbrel were the best of the waders; and a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were the only raptors.