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The grey wagtail: bang on cue this year © Edmund Fellowes/BTO

A small number of grey wagtails were also counted, which is bang on cue for the first autumnal movements of this species.

As the wind turned south-easterly birds from the east were found, and included a few , and , along with the fourth for Portland Bill in Dorset.

Eastern visitor: the wryneck © Jill Pakenham/BTO

It has been a much quieter week for rarities. However, a , the find of the autumn so far, was discovered on Ventry Beach, Kerry. This is the fifth record of this North American species for Britain and Ireland and was probably another hurricane Katia blown waif. The east is also well represented with up to 12 . Only a decade ago this was a mega rarity.

What can we expect?

With high pressure settled over us for at least the next four to five days, visible migration counts will be at a premium. This doesn't mean that migration has come to a halt, migrants will still be on the move and probably in high numbers, it is just that they will be flying over at a much higher altitude making them near impossible to see. However, with the warm southerly airflow associated with the high pressure, coming from south-eastern Europe we could be in for a surprise from this direction. Please let it be a in Norfolk!

Question of the week: What happens to a lost migrant?

The British Isles is well situated geographically to receive vagrant birds (birds that don't normally occur here). This has been illustrated perfectly this autumn with the arrival of several North American landbirds and the largest-ever arrival of pallid harriers from Eastern Europe and western Russia.

The North American birds arrived here in the wake of hurricane Katia, blown off course from their normal migratory route (which is often over 100km offshore over the western Atlantic) from North to South America. The predominantly westerly airflow across the Atlantic makes it very unlikely that these birds will ever get back to North America.

Having rested and fed these birds are likely to continue on their migratory trajectory, albeit on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Initially this might take them in a southerly direction but eventually they will turn south-west, the direction that would enable them to make landfall in South America. They will most likely perish in the Atlantic Ocean.

Having said that, it's suspected that individuals of some species, waders and waterfowl in particular, don't attempt to re-cross the Atlantic and simply continue their annual migrations on this side of the pond, often with flocks of similar species. Many such vagrants lead a relatively lonely existence, as they are unlikely to encounter members of their species ever again.

The prospects for birds arriving from the east seem to be rosier. Having rested, ringing evidence has shown that some of these birds are able to reorient and resume their migration trajectory. A ringed on Fair Isle in June 1963 was recovered on the Greek island of Chios four months later, suggesting that it had reoriented eastwards.

Have you noticed any birds leaving yet? Anything unsual or suprising? As always, we'd love to hear, so post a comment below.