The raw cold of early last week has been gradually replaced by much milder air and in today's constant sunshine it felt positively balmy. Although the conditions were hardly conducive for any sort of arrival on the ground a Cetti's Warbler was a surprise newcomer at the Obs; another 4 Blackcaps were also new in there, whilst the Siberian Lesser Whitethroat remained in situ. Virtually all the other passage there was overhead, with 650 Wood Pigeons, 560 Starlings and 250 Chaffinches making up the bulk of the numbers; amongst the lower totals 18 Bramblings and singles of Bullfinch and Lapland Bunting were of note. Goosanders again showed up at Ferrybridge - increasing to 10 today - the Black Brant dropped in there for a while and 2 Wigeon and a Teal also passed through.
A modest increase in immigrant moth numbers saw 15 Rusty-dot Pearl, 5 Silver Y, 2 each of Diamond-back Moth and Rush Veneer, and a single Pearly Underwing trapped overnight at the Obs.
Having largely given Ferrybridge a miss last winter when there was just one sighting in late October the Black Brant - assuming it's the same individual - has returned to form just lately and shown up quite frequently © Debby Saunders:
Goosanders have also been quite reliable there in recent days, even if they've yet to settle for long © Debby Saunders:
Although there are now as many as 28 island records of Cetti's Warbler today's bird was the first since the long-stayer that remained throughout November 2010:
