25th October

A nice enough late autumn day in lovely warm sunshine but hardly a sniff of quality amongst the day's birds. The oddities that did show included at least 4 Firecrests, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Dartford Warblers and a Bullfinch at the Bill, a Woodlark over Avalanche Road, 2 more Firecrests at Pennsylvania Castle and a Hen Harrier over High Angle Battery, whilst commoner migrants encompassed all that might be expected in smallish numbers on the ground and overhead everywhere and included late singles of Whinchat and Whitethroat at the Bill. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose total at Ferrybridge topped 1000 for the first time this winter, with a lone Pale-bellied Brent thrown in for good measure, whilst nearby a Great Northern Diver was off Chesil.

Butterlies still on the wing included both Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady at the Bill.

Moths haven't had a mention in recent updates, largely because there's been precious little of particular note; immigrants have included the odd Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw amongst low numbers of Rusty-dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, Pearly Underwing and Silver Y, whilst the only dispersers of minor interest in recent nights have been singles of Grey Pine Carpet and Red-green Carpet at the Obs.



Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Grey Pine Carpet & Red-green Carpet - Ferrybridge and Portland Bill, 25th October 2015 © Debby Saunders (Pale-bellied Brent) and Martin Cade (the moths)