Drifting In

Red-breasted Flycatcher on West Wideopens (David Kinchin-smith)

first-winter showing well (David Kinchin-smith)

Icterine Warbler - our third this year (Ciaran Hatsell)

Another nice addition to the day list! (David Kinchin-smith)

One of two Reed Warblers on the island tonight (David Kinchin-smith)



Record shot of our first Lapland Bunting tonight (Bex Outram)



Thursday 12th September comments: Anything can happen, it really can. Today brought very settled, bright weather with light winds, generally from the west. The early risers amongst the team enjoyed a spell of wildfowl passage through Inner Sound which included a Mute Swan (a scarce bird for the Farnes!) and several different duck species.

Thereafter the day settled into a pleasant peaceful day with very few migrant birds of note but plenty of visitors enjoying the tranquillity of the islands. However you never rule the Farnes out. The appearance of a Pied Flycatcher on Inner Farne in the late afternoon brought about curiosity which was followed by a quickening of the pulse as both Redstart and Reed Warbler were discovered moments later.

These birds were not present just hours before but soon the Farnes birding machine kicked in. All the well known birding hotspots were suddenly being checked and bang...an Icterine Warbler on Brownsman; our third this year. Not long after, a first-winter Red-breasted Flycatcher was discovered on the West Wideopens...this was real and it was happening. News broke across the Sound again, back On Brownsman; our first Lapland Bunting of the autumn. It was kicking off but the light was fading and rain setting. It was good, very good whilst it lasted. 

So there you go. The final few hours brought some real excitement and some top quality birds and what will tomorrow bring? Come out and find out, its going to be good!

Highlights: Mute Swan 1N, Brent Goose (pale-bellied) 37N, Eider 734, Common Scoter 118N, Wigeon 89N, Teal 116N, Pintail 3N, RT Diver 2N 3S, Redstart, Whinchat, Reed Warbler 2, Icterine Warbler 1 on Brownsman, Pied Flycatcher 2, Red-breasted Flycatcher first-winter on West Wideopens,  Lapland Bunting (first of autumn).