Helgoland chronicles part 2

Having been at the northernmost tip of the island until 10pm the previous evening, I was back in place just after 6am to sit and wait for the albatross.  I spent almost 7 hours there during the course of the day, breaking off for meals, and the only things that showed up were a Hooded Crow migrating out to sea together with 5 Jackdaws.  That was it!  There was no other migration whatsoever and even the bushes were quiet.  Weather conditions were the exact opposite of what you want on Helgoland, with overcast, rainy conditions on the mainland preventing anything from leaving there, and clear, sunny skies over Helgoland meaning that anything crossing the German Bight had no reason whatsoever to stop.  Regular Helgo-birders were even talking about leaving the island early as it was so dead!  I had to make do with a nice Pied (as opposed to White) Wagtail, enjoying the antics of the Gannets, and admiring the numerous Painted Lady butterflies.

By my final morning, I'd more or less given up hope on the albatross but someone mentioned it had been seen heading out to sea in our direction the previous evening so I gave it one last try.  I almost had to force myself to check the bushes of Mittelland on the way since they had been so quiet the day before but, as soon as I got to the top of the steps, I was faced with a dilemma.  Across the valley, I could hear a Great Reed Warbler singing, but, down to my left, I could also hear something else I didn't recognise.  I went for the latter and convinced myself it was the Blyth's Reed Warbler, a lifer, I'd missed the day I had arrived but it turned out to be a pale (1st-summer?) Icterine Warbler.  Oh well, at least it was clear there had been an overnight arrival as there was also this nice, male Red-backed Shrike, and I picked up an arriving Hawfinch by its call. 

You couldn't really call it a fall but things were finally getting exciting just as I was about to leave so I reluctantly tore myself away from the valley to give the albatross one last try, just in case.  It never showed, and spent the whole of my Helgoland stay on Sylt instead.  At least I got to see the island, though, with its seals, cliffs and seabird colonies, as well as getting an idea of what migration on Helgoland can be like if the conditions are right.  Probably the best bird of my trip came right at the end as we were approaching Cuxhaven and several Gull-billed Terns from the colony on the nearby island of Neuwerk gave fantastic views as they flew alongside ferry!