3rd October

In very welcome quiet conditions there were still plenty of common migrants about, with the totals of the likes of 40 Chiffchaffs and 25 each of Blackcap and Goldcrest at the Bill being representative of numbers throughout the island. Variety was also still pretty good, with all-island totals of 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Hobbys, 2 Firecrests and singles of Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel and Dartford Warbler amongst a good spread of other expected fare. Overhead passage was quieter than for a few days but finches included 100 Chaffinches and 10 Redpolls through over the Bill and a small party of Crossbills over Verne Common. The sea has hardly had a mention in the recent spell of offshore winds and today's only worthwhile sighting was of the first 2 Common Gulls of the autumn through off the Bill.

Moth immigrants were again poorly represented, with singles of White-speck at the Obs and Scarce Bordered Straw at West Grove Terrace the best for the traps and single Hummingbird Hawk-moths at several sites the best by day.




Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest and Meadow Pipit - Portland Castle and Southwell, 3rd October 2015 © Chris Patrick (Yellow-browed Warbler) and Nick Stantiford (Goldcrest and Meadow Pipit)