31st October

A variety of new arrivals made for a reasonably interesting day's census, the highlights of which were 2 Great Grey Shrikes. Also of interest were a rather late Swallow and an equally late Common Redstart. Counts of the more every-day species, many of which would be lingering birds from earlier in the week, came to 18 Robins, 7 Black Redstarts, the same Whinchat, 3 Wheatears, 5 Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bramblings, 3 Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches and a Lesser Redpoll. The Mistle Thrush and 2 Yellowhammers were still around, as was the Short-toed Lark, which is starting to look a little weather-beaten. Thrushes were still present in reasonable numbers, with 515 Fieldfares, 173 Blackbirds, 157 Redwings and 19 Song Thrushes logged.

The Baird's Sandpiper remained on the links, while a noticeable increase in Purple Sandpipers brought the day's count to 109.

One of the Great Grey Shrikes was discovered as it devoured one of the local mice in one of the observatory's Heligoland traps.