25th October

Once again, quality over quantity on the ground today with a Siberian duo entertaining at the Obs where the month's second Radde's Warbler joined yesterday's lingering Pallas's Warbler. A major arrival in the Weston area that included 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, at least 9 Firecrests, a Ring Ouzel and a Dartford Warbler - along with good totals of commoner migrants - sadly wasn't reflected at all elsewhere, with the 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Dartford WarblersWryneck and Firecrest at the Bill, the 3 Firecrests at Pennsylvania Castle and the 2 Ring Ouzels at the Verne Moat all seemingly long-term lingerers rather than newcomers. The day's numbers were again overhead and included 1336 Skylarks, 1161 Starlings, 1045 Meadow Pipits, 675 Linnets, 675 Goldfinches and 405 Wood Pigeons south at the Bill, where the season's first Lapland Bunting and a lone Woodlark were the best of the rest. The freshening onshore wind promised rewards from the sea but in the event 2 passing Sooty Shearwaters were as good as it got at the Bill.

Another day, another Radde's Warbler - Portland's 14th in total © Martin Cade:





Yesterday's Pallas's Warbler took a long time to resurface but once it did it showed quite well on occasions © Martin Cade:



One of the Thumb Lane Firecrests © Duncan Walbridge: