27th October

After watching flocks of thrushes departing south out to sea the previous evening, it was surprising to find plenty of birds still present in the morning, although numbers of some species were noticeably diminished. There were also some fresh migrants to be found, the highlight of which was North Ronaldsay's second Dusky Warbler. Almost as rare, in an island context at least, was a Firecrest near Sangar - this is only the fourth record of the species here.

Thrushes were still very conspicuous, with 1052 Fieldfares, 308 Redwings, 182 Blackbirds and 51 Song Thrushes logged. Of the other migrants, a count of 12 Black Redstarts was particularly noteworthy as it is the most ever recorded on the island at once. An influx of Skylarks brought the day's count to 153 birds, while other small migrants included 23 Robins, a Whinchat, 8 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs, 13 Goldcrests, 17 Jackdaws, a Greenfinch, a Goldfinch, a Common Redpoll and a Lesser Redpoll.

Woodcocks have arrived in numbers in the last few days, including this individual ringed at Holland House.