13th August

Variety was to the fore on a day that also had plenty of frustrations, with frequent drizzly spells and a brisk north-easterly wind putting the dampeners on coverage and putting paid to what potential there looked to be. Waders featured strongly at the Bill where there was a remarkable event in the form of a single flock of c300 Golden Plovers passing over (heading rapidly south-west) - this is an unprecedented total at migration times, with the only parallel being the occasional cold-weather movements logged in mid-winter. Amongst the other waders there settled singles of Knot and Sanderling were of particular note, whilst the season's second Curlew Sandpiper was the best of the bunch at Ferrybridge. Willow Warblers again made up the bulk of the passerine numbers, with at least 100 at the Bill/Southwell, where 10 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts, 2 each of Tree Pipit and Whinchat, and a single Pied Flycatcher were the best of the rest. At least 4 Balearic Shearwaters were again lingering off the Bill, where 50 Black-headed Gulls and a lone Pomarine Skua also passed by.

Despite increasing humidity overnight mothing was spoilt by the strength of the wind, with a single Ni Moth at the Obs easily the pick of the night's captures.



Ringed Plover & Knot and Curlew Sandpiper - Portland Bill and Ferrybridge, 13th August 2015 © Keith Pritchard (Ringed Plover & Knot) and Pete Saunders (Curlew Sand)