Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre: October 2001

October 31st The first blast of cold north-westerly air of the autumn quietened things right down today. The unidentified Acrocephalus continued to show well at the Obs, but the only scarcer migrants reported from around the island were a Buzzard and a Short-eared Owl at the Bill, and 2 Ring Ouzels at East Weare. Common migrants were very thinly spread, with just a few thrushes and finches grounded, and a several flocks of Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves passing overhead. A lone Purple Sandpiper was at the Bill, and seawatching there produced just 3 unidentified divers and 2 Great Skuas. October 30th The unidentified Acrocephalus was again at the Obs, the Red-breasted Flycatcher was still at Pennsylvania Castle, and there was another report of a Pallas's Warbler - this time at Southwell School in the afternoon. Common migrants were a lot less plentiful than in recent days, and the only oddities were 2 Merlins at the Bill, 2 Ring Ouzels at Priory Corner, a Treecreeper at Pennsylvania Castle, and Black Redstarts at several sites. As the wind freshened in the afternoon a few seabirds got moving, with totals of 9 Great and an Arctic Skua, and a late Puffin seen off the Bill. October 29th Lots more common migrants and a good selection of rarities today. The unidentified Acrocephalus again showed well at the Obs, the Red-breasted Flycatcher was still at Pennsylvania Castle, and a new arrival was a Pallas's Warbler that appeared briefly on the West Cliffs in the afternoon; a good island rarity was a Scaup that showed up off East Weare. Pigeons, thrushes, Goldcrests and finches were again very conspicuous everywhere, along with a selection of other seasonable species including several Merlins, 2 Woodcock and a scatter of Black Redstarts. October 28th The mystery Acrocephalus continued to show well at the Obs, and the Red-breasted Flycatcher was again at Pennsylvania Castle. Thrushes were numerous in good fall conditions at dawn, with counts of 200 Song Thrushes, 150 Blackbirds, 120 Fieldfares, 75 Redwings, 9 Ring Ouzels and a Mistle Thrush from around the island. Wood Pigeons, Goldcrests and a variety of finches were also passing through in good numbers everywhere. Late migrants included Redstart, Whinchat, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler at the Bill. October 27th There was a big improvement in the weather today, but new arrivals were surprisingly few and far between. The mystery Acrocephalus showed well at the Obs (the general consensus among visiting birders is that it is indeed a Blyth's Reed Warbler), and there was also a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Pennsylvania Castle, and a Long-eared Owl reported briefly at the Eight Kings Quarry. Fair numbers of finches were on the move through the morning, but grounded migrants were not at all numerous. Scarcer species included several Black Redstarts around the island and a Firecrest at the Obs, whilst late migrants included Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat at the Bill, and a Spotted Flycatcher at Pennsylvania Castle. October 26th The unidentified Acrocephalus remained on the west side of the Obs garden, although it was very elusive in the strong wind and frequent heavy rain. A new Red-breasted Flycatcher was seen behind the Weston Craft Centre, but the only other new arrival of note on the land was a late Garden Warbler at the Obs. Seawatching improved at the Bill where there were 61 Little Gulls, 24 Great and 14 Arctic Skuas, 3 Sooty Shearwater, and plenty of Gannets and Kittiwakes on the move

Long-eared Owl - Culverwell, October 25th 2001 © Martin Cade

October 25th With blustery westerly weather again the order of the day there was precious little turnover of migrants. A Grey Phalarope was a new arrival at Chesil Cove, but otherwise the unidentified Acrocephalus remained at the Obs, the roosting Long-eared Owl was again at Culverwell, and the Red-breasted Flycatcher showed well from time to time at Pennsylvania Castle. Common migrants were all in low numbers, and the only scarcer migrants were several Firecrests, Black Redstarts and Merlins dotted around the island. October 24th Strong wind and heavy showers were the order of the day, and the few migrants present were keeping well hidden. At the Bill, the unidentified Acrocephalus was still around the edge of the Obs garden, and the Long-eared Owl was again found at roost in Culverwell. Elsewhere, the Rose-coloured Starling remained at the Grove, where there was also a single Little Egret, and a Red-breasted Flycatcher was a new arrival at Pennsylvania Castle. A few Firecrests remained in the Obs garden, but the only other scarcer migrants reported were 2 Black Redstarts at Reap Lane. October 23rd With a strong westerly wind blowing all day the mystery Acrocephalus on the edge of the Obs garden proved very elusive and rarely showed well today. This aside, the only rarity seen was the Rose-coloured Starling at the Grove. Numbers of common migrants dropped dramatically, with just a handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests found in the few sheltered parts of the island. At least 3 Firecrests remained around the Obs garden, and the only other scarcer migrants seen were a Merlin and a Black Redstart at the Bill. A lone Balearic Shearwater passed the Bill in the morning.

unidentified Acrocephalus - Portland Bill, October 22nd 2001 © Martin Cade

October 22nd The unidentified Acrocephalus, considered by some observers to be a Blyth's Reed Warbler, was still present on the edge of the Obs garden all day. The Rose-coloured Starling also remained at the Grove, and the roosting Long-eared Owl was still at Culverwell. Numbers of common migrants fell somewhat, but there was still plenty about around the island. Scarcer migrants included Merlin, Short-eared Owl and several Firecrests at the Bill, and another Firecrest at Avalanche Road. October 21st More of the same today, with another very good arrival of common migrants and a good selection of scarce migrants and rarities. The Little Bunting and the Rose-coloured Starling remained at the Grove, the Long-eared Owl was still at Culverwell, and there were at least 6 Dartford Warblers scattered around the island. An unidentified Acrocephalus warbler that has been present on the edge of the Obs garden for several days generated some interest after it was reported to be calling like a Blyth's Reed Warbler (this bird has been trapped and examined in the hand but its inconclusive biometrics have prevented a firm identification from being made). Short-eared Owls, Black Redstarts, and Firecrests were again present at several sites, a Great Spotted Woodpecker made a brief visit to the Obs garden, and a Woodcock at Avalanche Road was the first of the autumn. Common migrants were plentiful, with a total of 180 new birds trapped and ringed at the Obs (nearly double the previous highest day total this autumn); Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were more numerous than of late, but there were also still lots of Goldcrests and good numbers of a variety of thrushes and finches.

Long-eared Owl & Little Bunting - Culverwell & The Grove, October 20th 2001 © Martin Cade

October 20th Grounded and visible migrants were plentiful today, and there was also a really good variety of scarce migrants and rarities. A Little Bunting was a new arrival at the Grove, where the Rose-coloured Starling was also seen again. The Bill area produced at least 20 Black Redstarts, 15 Firecrests, 3 Woodlarks, 2 Dartford Warblers, a Long-eared and several Short-eared Owls, a Barred Warbler and a Ring Ouzel. Elsewhere there lots more Black Redstarts and Firecrests, 13 Bearded Tits flew over Barleycrates Lane, and another Woodlark was seen over Avalanche Road. Goldcrest was again the most ubiquitous common migrant, but there were good numbers of most of the other expected species everywhere.

'eastern' Chiffchaff - Southwell, October 19th 2001 © Martin Cade

October 19th A rather similar day to yesterday, albeit with somewhat lower numbers of common migrants about the island. Goldcrests again dominated, but there was also a good scatter of Stonechats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and other expected migrants everywhere; late migrants included a Hobby at East Weare and a Willow Warbler at the Bill. An 'eastern' tristis/abietinus Chiffchaff at Avalanche Road was the only rarity reported, whilst scarce migrants included several Merlins, Black Redstarts, Ring Ouzels and Firecrests. Seawatching at the Bill produced 6 Brent Geese, 4 Common Scoter, a Teal and a Pomarine Skua.

Goldcrest - Portland Bill, October 18th 2001 © Martin Cade

October 18th Today saw a good arrival of common migrants, although rarities were conspicuously absent. Goldcrests were in numbers everywhere, with more than 150 counted around the centre and south of the island; other noteworthy counts from these areas included 50 Redwings, 50 Song Thrushes, 30 Blackcaps, 8 Black Redstarts, 5 Firecrests and 2 Ring Ouzels. Finches were plentiful overhead, with counts of 400 Linnets, 250 Goldfinches and 125 Siskins leaving to the south at the Bill in the morning. October 17th The only one of the recent rarities that remained around today was the Rose-coloured Starling that showed up again at the Bill in the morning. A Corncrake was a good find at Tout Quarry but, typically, it was seen by just one fortunate observer. With a strong south-east wind blowing, searching for birds on the land wasn't easy but it was clear that common migrants were trickling through all day; Goldcrests were numerous for the first time this autumn, with more than 50 at the Bill alone. Among the sprinkle of other migrants, oddities included several Merlins, Black Redstarts, Ring Ouzels and Firecrests, as well as 2 new Bullfinches at the Bill.

Little Bunting - Portland Bill, October 16th 2001 © Martin Cade

October 16th Highlights today were a rather skulking and elusive Little Bunting in the weedy field near the Privet Hedge at the Bill, the Red-breasted Flycatcher that remained at Pennsylvania Castle, and the Barred Warbler that was retrapped in the Obs garden. Scarce migrants around the island again included a sprinkle of Merlins, Black Redstarts, Ring Ouzels and Firecrests, but new arrivals were generally thin on the ground. Seawatching at the Bill produced a Leach's Petrel but little else of note. October 15th Despite a wet and windy night many of yesterday's birds had moved on and there were few new arrivals today. Of the recent rarities, only the Red-breasted Flycatcher at Pennsylvania Castle and the Rose-coloured Starling at the Grove were still present. Scarcer migrants included a couple of Merlins at the Bill, Ring Ouzels at the Bill and Barleycrates Lane, a Cetti's Warbler and a Dartford Warbler at the Bill, and Firecrests at several sites. Robins and Chiffchaffs were still present in some numbers, but there was otherwise only a light scatter of common migrants. Seawatching at the Bill produced 4 Eider, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Balearic Shearwaters and 2 Teal.

Honey Buzzard & Barred Warbler - Portland Bill, October 14th 2001 © Martin Cade

October 14th The best day of the autumn so far. Highlights were the Dusky Warbler still at Southwell School, single Red-breasted Flycatchers at both Pennsylvania Castle and Easton Fire Station, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Avalanche Road, Southwell, a Barred Warbler trapped and ringed at the Obs, and a Honey Buzzard flying south over the island in the morning. Common migrants were numerous everywhere, with the total of 93 new birds ringed at the Obs being easily the highest day total of birds ringed there this autumn. Robins were particularly numerous, with more than 70 at the Bill; other counts from there included 400 alba Wagtails, 70 Redwings, 60 Song Thrushes, 20 Chiffchaffs and 15 Blackcaps. Late migrants included Garden Warblers and Redstarts at several sites, and a Willow Warbler at the Obs, whilst scarcer species included several Black Redstarts and Firecrests, and a single Ring Ouzel. October 13th Another balmy day with plenty more birds. The Red-breasted Flycatcher was still at Pennsylvania Castle, and the Rose-coloured Starling was again at the Grove, but the pick of the new arrivals was a Dusky Warbler at Southwell School in the afternoon. Song Thrushes were conspicuous everywhere early in the morning, with more than 150 at the Bill alone, and numbers of most other migrants also increased markedly, with noteworthy counts from the Bill area of 50 Siskins, 30 Stonechats and 6 Bramblings. Scarcer species on the island included 15 Firecrests, 2 Ring Ouzels, a Hobby, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Woodlark and a Dartford Warbler. October 12th Unseasonably warm and sunny weather dominated today, and there was a decent sprinkle of migrants everywhere. The Wryneck remained in and around the Obs garden, single Rose-coloured Starlings (considered by some observers to be different individuals) were at the Bill in the morning and at the Grove later in the day, and there were Red-breasted Flycatchers at Reap Lane briefly in the morning and Pennsylvania Castle in the late afternoon. Visible passage was again very conspicuous at the Bill, but grounded migrants were not particularly plentiful there. Oddities around the island included 2 Merlins and a Firecrest at the Bill, and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge.

October 11th A damp, dreary day that for the most part produced little except the Wryneck remaining near the Obs garden, the Rose-coloured Starling still wandering around the Bill area, and a lone Grey Phalarope hanging on at Chesil Cove. However, the arrival of clear skies late in the afternoon produced a small flurry of new arrivals including a Red-breasted Flycatcher that was trapped and ringed at the Obs. Scarce migrants around the island included a Merlin at the Bill, a Firecrest at the Grove, and a Treecreeper at Pennsylvania Castle. Seawatching at the Bill produced 46 Common Scoter and a Sooty Shearwater. October 10th After the flurry of birds yesterday, today was something of an anticlimax. The Wryneck remained in the Obs garden, the Rose-coloured Starling was again among the roaming Starling flocks in the Bill area, and there were still 2 Grey Phalaropes at Chesil Cove. Visible passage totals included 700 Meadow Pipits, 420 Linnets, 150 alba Wagtails, 140 Greenfinches, 70 Chaffinches and 70 Siskins leaving to the south at the Bill. Grounded migrants were only thinly spread, and included single Firecrests at the Obs, Pennsylvania Castle, Delhi Lane and New Ground. Seawatching at the Bill produced 42 Common Scoter, 2 Brent Geese, a Balearic Shearwater, and single Arctic and Great Skuas; 2 Arctic Terns were also at Chesil Cove.

October 9th The first fine day for some time produced lots of new arrivals. Highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler and the long-staying Wryneck in the Obs garden, a Rose-coloured Starling around the Bill, and up to 8 Grey Phalaropes in Chesil Cove. Migrants were much more numerous everywhere, with noteworthy counts at the Bill of 200 Siskins and 50 Stonechats. Less common species included 3 Firecrest and a Treecreeper at Pennsylvania Castle, 3 Merlins and a Firecrest at the Bill, and a Ring Ouzel at Reap Lane. October 8th More wind and rain, and a lot more fairly unproductive seawatching. Chesil Cove produced a Leach's Petrel, an Arctic Skua and several terns, including a single Black Tern, whilst nearby the Roseate Tern was again present in and around Portland Harbour. Off the Bill there were 4 Great and an Arctic Skua, 2 Manx Shearwaters, a Great Northern Diver and a Grey Phalarope. Two Sabine's Gulls and a Leach's Petrel also made fleeting visits to Ferrybridge in the morning.

October 7th A really stormy day, with seawatching being the only birding possible. A Grey Phalarope lingered for a while in Chesil Cove, where there was also a Balearic Shearwater and a Great Skua; a fly-by Sabine's Gull was also reported from there. The Bill produced 32 Common Scoter, 4 Great Skuas, 2 Sooty, 2 Manx and a Balearic Shearwater, and there were single Roseate, Arctic and Black Terns at Ferrybridge. October 6th With the strong wind that has dominated the weather for more than a week showing no sign of abating, birding remained both hard work and pretty unproductive. A Sabine's Gull was in Chesil Cove briefly in the morning, but the only other reports from the sea were of 48 Common Scoter, 5 Great Skuas, 3 Brent Geese, a Manx and a Balearic Shearwater, and the first Red-throated Diver of the autumn off the Bill. The long-staying Wryneck reappeared beside the Obs garden, but the only other worthwhile sightings on the land were of 15 Siskins, 4 Merlins, 2 Firecrests and a Hobby at the Bill, and a Firecrest at Barleycrates Lane. Waders at Ferrybridge included 4 Little Stints and a Grey Plover. October 5th A very mobile Richard's Pipit in the Reap Lane/Barleycrates Lane area in the morning, and an elusive Wryneck at the DERA compound at the Bill were new arrivals today, but there was still a general lack of new common migrants everywhere. The Bill area produced plenty of visible passage, but grounded migrants were very sparse; the only oddities were a Merlin, a Hobby and a Firecrest. A Sabine's Gull passed the Bill in the morning, but despite favourable onshore winds the sea came up with nothing else except 35 Common Scoter, a Balearic Shearwater and a lone Brent Goose. A Roseate Tern was at Ferrybridge in the evening, and waders there included several Little Stints. October 4th Little change today, with just a handful of new arrivals on the land, and the long-staying Wryneck again the only rarity reported. Visible passage of hirundines, pipits, wagtails and Linnets continued, but the only scarcer migrants on the land were a Merlin at the Bill and a Ring Ouzel at Avalanche Church. Sea passage remained at a standstill, with just 33 Common Scoter noted off the Bill. October 3rd New arrivals were hardly conspicuous today, and the highlights were the Wryneck that remained in the vicinity of the Obs garden, and the Rose-coloured Starling that showed up again at the Grove in the evening. Fair numbers of hirundines, pipits and wagtails were still on the move, and among them there was an increase in Chaffinch passage; Siskin numbers however fell to just 33. On the ground, there were still 2 Firecrests at the Obs, but few other sightings of note. October 2nd A slight improvement in the weather saw a few more birds appear on the land, and there was a good deal of visible passage through the morning. The long-staying Wryneck surfaced again in and around the Obs garden, and a second individual was reported from the adjacent Hut Fields. The Bill area also produced 135 Siskins, 2 Firecrests, a Merlin and a Ring Ouzel among a sprinkle of commoner migrants. Additional Firecrests were also seen at Southwell School and Pennsylvania Castle. Two Balearic Shearwaters and a single Arctic Skua were the only worthwhile sightings offshore. October 1st Two Sabine's Gull passed through Chesil Cove early in the morning, but seawatching at the Bill through the day produced nothing more than 6 Great Skuas, 2 Balearic and 2 Sooty Shearwaters, and a lone Arctic Tern. Birds were hard to find on the land in the very strong wind, but odds and sods around the Bill area included 2 Firecrests, 2 Pied and a Spotted Flycatcher, and a single Merlin. Two Little Stints and a Bar-tailed Godwit were at Ferrybridge.