With an overnight shift in the breeze into the east and summer-like warmth and clear skies the order of the day there were ample reasons to get out into the field today (...not that many people actually seemed to see it that way). Whilst the rewards didn't come thick and fast the season's very belated first Wryneck gave early hope before, just as expectations flagged early in the afternoon, literally out of the blue a very welcome Bee-eater descended to spend the rest of the day in residence (first at the Bill and later at Suckthumb). It had been too clear and moonlit overnight to expect a substantial grounding of migrants but the decent little spread on offer was backed up with further signs of visible passage gathering momentum.
Portland Bill
Grounded migrants Robin 50, Wheatear 30, Blackcap 25, Whinchat 11, Redstart 3, with a varied list of additional ones and twos.
Visible passage Meadow Pipit 400, Swallow 100, Yellow Wagtail 42, Grey Wagtail 16, Tree Pipit 8, Chaffinch 8, Honey Buzzard 1, Little Egret 1, Ringed Plover 1, Snipe 1, Skylark 1.
Sea passage Gannet 500e, Kittiwake 58w, Sandwich Tern 8w 1e, Brent Goose 2w,
Grounded migrants Robin 50, Wheatear 30, Blackcap 25, Whinchat 11, Redstart 3, with a varied list of additional ones and twos.
Visible passage Meadow Pipit 400, Swallow 100, Yellow Wagtail 42, Grey Wagtail 16, Tree Pipit 8, Chaffinch 8, Honey Buzzard 1, Little Egret 1, Ringed Plover 1, Snipe 1, Skylark 1.
Sea passage Gannet 500e, Kittiwake 58w, Sandwich Tern 8w 1e, Brent Goose 2w,
Mid-island
Honey Buzzard 2s, Wryneck 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Goldcrest 1.
Portland Port
Black Redstart 1.
Black Redstart 1.
Ferrybridge
Swallow 272s, Meadow Pipit 200s, Yellow Wagtail 21s, Tree Pipit 2s, Bar-tailed Godwit 5, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Knot 2.
Swallow 272s, Meadow Pipit 200s, Yellow Wagtail 21s, Tree Pipit 2s, Bar-tailed Godwit 5, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Knot 2.
Moths
Selected immigrants Obs: Rush Veneer 182, Rusty-dot Pearl 33, Turnip 12, Pearly Underwing 11, Dark Sword Grass 6, Silver Y 6, Delicate 4, Small Mottled Willow 2, European Corn-borer 1, Vestal 1, Red Admiral butterfly 2.
We're probably being forgetful and haven't had time to check the facts but we don't recollect there ever having been an autumn Bee-eater at Portland, let alone one as late as in mid-September; oddly, this one's an adult and not a dowdy, disorientated youngster as might have been expected © Martin Cade:
A snatched record-shot from a little more than split-second view of one of the day's three Honey Buzzards bombing south over Thumb Lane © Dan Law:
