If anyone's wondering how I can publish this latest summary before the closing date in the title, well that's because I'm out of action for these first few days of October, when, thank the gods, atlantic lows and south-westerlies will hopefully ensure I miss nothing. And so, I'll break the first rule of autumnal coastal birding, and predict there will be nothing of any consequence in the meantime....
After stumbling upon a fresh-in Yellow-browed Warbler and two Firecrests in Church Ravine on the 27th, the following day I covered the northern area more out of habit than hope. In the first few yards of Long Lane, I'd another Yellow-brow calling constantly and flitting through the sycamores, as well as a vaguely interesting Lesser Whitethroat, oddly doing likewise (see photos).
Into Church Ravine, and presumably the same Yellow-brow and Firecrests from the 27th were still in situ, rounding off a pleasing couple of hours birding. Little to report from the 29th and 30th apart from strong SW's, some pleasant sunshine and a couple of late Swifts with feeding hirundines.
With a couple of hours to kill on the the morning of the 1st, I shacked up at the Dams in the hope of some wader action; just about successful if you include single Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, but once again, strangely quiet (although an even later Swift hawked overhead with a troupe of House Martins).
The forecast looks distinctly unpromising for the next few days, but there is hope for the weekend, so stay tuned.....
