September was warmer than the same month last year, with mean temperature almost two degrees higher.
But it was wetter with more than twice the amount of rain. It was a little drier than the previous two months, but not by much. September is the start of the peak migration season, when many birds are on the move. A wide range of species - more than 100 - were recorded during the month. It was certainly the time to expect the unexpected. The highlight was the first record this year of great crested grebe. Two were seen off shore close to the Fallen Rocks car park on September 23. It is an occasional passage migrant and winter visitor not recorded every year. Other unusual records included an osprey photographed over Glen Chalmadale on 10th with another sighting of perhaps the same bird at Sliddery on 11th and four brent geese at the mouth of the Rosa and Cloy burns on 21st.
Other birds on migration included: 22 black-throated diver off Cosyden on 6th, 70 turnstone at Machriewaterfoot also on 6th, 14 dunlin at Blackwaterfoot on 7th, 20 redshank at Sandbraes also on 7th, one sandwich tern in Whiting Bay on 10th, eight wheatear at Drumadoon Point on 16th, one Bar-tailed godwit on Shannochie shore on 20th and a greenshank at Cordon on 23rd.