A total of six Bewick's Swans and 59 Whooper Swans were logged at Walney in October. Thereafter, the highest Whooper Swan count was 90 at Beaumont in November. The earliest ever Pink-footed Geese at Walney flew south on 8th September and by the month end 2750 southbound birds had been logged. Nine Greenland White-fronted Geese visited Campfield Marsh on 6th October while 22 Hew north past Walney on 27th October and one was near Cardurnock on 23rd November. Away from the Solway, two skeins of Barnacle Geese headed north over Walney in October (55 on 23rd and 125 on 26th) and a flock of 97 visited Flookburgh on 6th October. The regular Brent Goose flock at Foulney Island reached 39 birds by the end of November and included at least one pale-bellied bird. At Walney, Brent Goose sightings included 25 dark-bellied and two pale-bellied in October and 15 dark-bellied and five pale-bellied in November. Elsewhere, a dark-bellied bird was at Skinburness in November. A rather elusive first-winter drake American Wigeon frequented Campfield Marsh from at least 28th October to 28th November and was joined by a drake Green-winged Teal from 19th to 29th November. Another drake Green-winged Teal was found on the Esk at Ravenglass on 30th November and was presumably the bird seen there last winter. A Garganey lingered at Hodbarrow throughout September. A drake Long-tailed Duck appeared at Askam Pier on 24th November. Drake Velvet Scoters were recorded at Walney on 4th and 14th October and 30th November, while five birds were seen off St. Bees on 17th November. Other waterfowl maxima in the period included 450 Cormorant at Cavendish Dock; 37 Gadwall at Park Farm, Askam-in-Furness; 104 Shoveler at Campfield, 170 Common Scoters at Walney and 220 Red-breasted Mergansers at Cavendish Dock.

A good scattering of Hen Harriers and Merlins were noted countywide. Amazingly, two adult male Red-footed Falcons were reported from Sandscale Haws on 15th September. A Hobby at Campfield on 26th September was followed by a report of one over the Stanwix area of Carlisle on 1st October. The long-staying Common Crane remained in the Campfield area to 12th September and two birds were then found together at Anthorn on 16th. One at Border Marsh on 6th October may have been the bird previously resident in the Campfield area and two more visited the Kent Estuary at Foulshaw on 13th and 14th October. How many individuals have there been in the county this year? Answers on a postcard . . .

Two Avocets graced the Bowness-on-Solway area on 7th and 8th September, with one remaining to 18th. A juvenile American Golden Plover at Bowness-on-Solway on 6th October was followed by a report at nearby Anthorn on 9th. Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers were generally rather scarce though the latter did include 14 on Rockcliffe in September and a late Little Stint was on the Kent Estuary up to 23rd November. In a poor autumn for the species, Rockcliffe produced the highest count of Ruff - 12 in September. Black-tailed Godwits included 57 at Anthorn, 45 at Rockcliffe, 27 at Campfield, 26 at Walney and 22 at Grune Point; quite a few lingered well into November, especially on the Solway. Apart from the regular Cavendish Dock bird, Spotted Redshanks comprised two at Rockcliffe and singles at Walney, Port Carlisle and Grune. Greenshank included 20 at Walney and 12 at Rockcliffe. Carr Beds again hosted the most Green Sandpipers - 11 in September. A Wood Sandpiper was seen at Rockcliffe on 12th September.

A juvenile Pomarine Skua flying down the estuary past Sandside on 7th September was an exceptional record. Others passed Parton on 7th September and Skinburness on 3rd October. Walney logged just two Arctics and two Greats in September. On 7th September a Great Skua was picked up exhausted at Grange-over-Sands and taken into care, while another was beached in gales at Drigg on 27th October. In November, a Great Skua was at Walney on 9th. As many as six different Mediterranean Gulls (a juvenile, a second-winter and four adults) were located on the Kent Estuary in September. Elsewhere in September, two adults were at Hodbarrow; a juvenile appeared at Walney on 7th and an adult was at Silloth. Finally, a second-winter frequented Cavendish Dock in October and November and perhaps the same adult was seen both there and at Walney in November. Seven Little Gulls at Walney during November included six on 30th. A Black Tern was at Grune Point on 12th September. A total of 10,350 Razorbills were logged at Walney in October, including an impressive 2,825 on 15th. Numbers fell in November with a maximum 750 on 1st. Single Black Guillemots appeared occasionally at Walney in September and October, with two seen in November. More unusually, one was seen at Port Carlisle on 19th November. Single Little Auks passed Walney on 25th and 26th October and one was on the sea off Selker on 29th October, close inshore and badly oiled. A flurry of sightings in November was especially unexpected given that most occurred in calm, bright conditions. These comprised four at Bowness-on-Solway on 17th, two at Skinburness on 18th, one at Bowness-on-Solway on 22nd and singles at Walney on three dates.

In September, Wrynecks were seen on Scout Scar, near Kendal on 15th and even further inland at Haweswater on 18th. Unusually, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Walney on 26th September while a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was watched at close range at Langwathby on llth October. Diurnal migration at Walney was spectacular on suitable days in September; peaks included 1500 Swallows on 4th and 1000 Meadow Pipits on 20th and 22nd. Late hirundine reports included a House Martin at Selker on 29th October and a Swallow at Walney on 16th November. A Black Redstart was at Workington from 10th to 12th October while a male was at Eskmeals on 16th November. Up to 13 Stonechats appeared at Walney in September, with a daily peak of 11 in October and 12 in November. Arriving winter thrushes were accompanied by a few Ring Ouzels including two in Ennerdale on 13th October, five at Jockey Shield on 14th October and three at Walney during October. 4 were at Mardale Head on 15th October, with 1 still present on 26th October. A male then frequented the Rampside gas terminal from 12th to 15th November. The county's fourth Greenish Warbler spent the evening at Walney Bird Observatory