23rd October

A Slavonian Grebe on Hooking Loch and a Grey Phalarope seen flying over Holland House were the highlights of a quiet morning, but the wind backing slightly to the east in the afternoon produced an almost immediate arrival of small numbers of passerines. A Yellow-browed Warbler with a ring on its leg was interesting, it being more than 2 weeks since the previous sighting of the species here, while 13 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bramblings and a Goldfinch also appeared after midday. Thrush counts came to 112 Fieldfares, 44 Redwings, 2 Song Thrushes, 50 Blackbirds and the autumn's first Mistle Thrush. The Short-toed Lark and the Jackdaw both remained, an Arctic Tern was in Nouster Bay and a Short-eared Owl was near the lighthouse.

Today's Slavonian Grebe is the third record this year, after one in mid February and a bird still partly in breeding plumage in September.