11th September

Another diminished return on the migrant front today although the steady build-up of cloud cover as the day went on gave hope that there may be more in the offing in the coming days. The Barleycrates Lane Wryneck continued to entertain a steady stream of visitors, but the day's only other quality was provided by overflying singles of Marsh Harrier and Lapland Bunting at the Bill. Overhead passage accounted for the best part of the commoner migrant numbers, with a steady broad-front passage of hirundines heading through into the easterly breeze for several hours after dawn - the Swallow total was well into four figures, whilst Sand Martins also continued to feature quite strongly and reached into the low hundreds. Totals on the ground were pretty dreadful, with few species even getting into double figures, but yesterday's minor resurgence on the sea continued with 10 Balearic Shearwaters and a Bar-tailed Godwit through off the Bill. Finally, waders at Ferrybridge included 130 Dunlin, a Sanderling and a Little Stint.

The less said about the moths the better, with nothing more than a handful of routine immigrants caught overnight.



Wryneck - Barleycrates Lane, 11th September 2014 © Martin Cade