Quantity rather than high quality again today with Goldcrest still overwhelmingly the feature species of the moment. What quality there was came in the form of scarce or infrequent migrants rather than rarities, with the best of the bunch being a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Continental Coal Tit at Tilleycombe, additional Continental Coal Tits at Portland Castle (2), Southwell and Pennsylvania Castle, a Siberian Chiffchaffs at Pennsylvania Castle and another likely one at the Obs and a Jack Snipe at Barleycrates Lane. Goldcrest dominated the migrant numbers although their distribution was oddly patchy, with very high totals at some sites - including 150 in the Pennsylvania Castle/Wakeham area - but far fewer at others. New Robins were also conspicuous, whilst island-wide totals of 16 Firecrests and 12 Black Redstarts were noteworthy and at least 2 Short-eared Owls lingered on at the Bill. Most other passage was relatively subdued, with thrushes in particular not as numerous as might be expected. Brent Geese continued to increase at Ferrybridge, with 1300 during the morning; 5 Wigeon also passed through there and a lone Red-breasted Merganser passed through off the Bill.
Despite the arrival of promising-feeling milder air mothing was spoilt by the strength of the wind, with the immigrant tally at the Obs consisting of 8 Silver Y, 2 each of Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer, and singles of Olive-tree Pearl, Delicate and White-speck.
Continental Coal Tit and putative Siberian Chiffchaff - Southwell and Portland Bill, 27th October 2015 © Debby Saunders (Coal Tit) and Martin Cade (tristis)