4th November

A disappointing day on several levels: the forecast brief showers at midday manifested themselves as several hours worth of persistent rain, whilst the high hopes for a decent arrival of grounded migrants came to nothing; by way of some compensation overnight mothing was far more productive than might have been expected. The overcast skies of dawn dropped precious little migrant-wise, with even thrushes reduced to barely more than singles figure totals at the Bill, where the only real interest came in the form of the lingering Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Merlins, 2 Black Redstarts and singles of Short-eared Owl and Dartford Warbler. Elsewhere there were 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Avalanche Hump and another at the Craft Centre, 2 Black Redstarts at Blacknor and Ferrybridge was busy with a 2 Pale-bellied Brents and the Black Brant amongst 2600 Dark-bellied Brents; a lone Pintail was also a minor oddity there.

Immigrant moth numbers bounced back after yesterday's low point, with 49 Diamond-back Moth, 38 Rusty-dot Pearl, 21 Rush Veneer, 6 Silver Y, 2 Dark Sword Grass and singles of Olive-tree Pearl, Pearly Underwing and White-speck trapped overnight at the Obs.

The Ferrybridge Pintail and Fieldfare and Grey Wagtail at Southwell © Pete Saunders: