A distinct upping of the ante today, with a nice spread of arrivals that were enjoyed in unbroken sunshine and increasing warmth. The pick of the newcomers was a Cirl Bunting that dropped in for a short while at the Bill; the lingering Hoopoe at Weston Street finally gave itself up to passing birders and afterwards showed from time to time, an Osprey passed through Portland Harbour and a good total of 10 Common Buzzards were overhead at Easton, whilst the day's less common migrants included well into double figures of Redstarts, 3 Pied Flycatchers and 2 each of White Wagtail and Ring Ouzel. Two Ruddy Shelducks over Ferrybridge would also have been popular but seemingly didn't linger. At the Bill, the northeasterly breeze was just fresh enough to drop 120 Willow Warblers - their best arrival of the season to date, whilst passing hirundines also racked up respectable tallies with Swallow likely getting well into a four figure total. Sea passage hardly featured, with 10 Red-throated Divers the best of it off the Bill; up to five Mute Swans wandering between the Bill and Ferrybridge were a local oddity.
Butterfly and moth interest included multiples of both Clouded Yellow and Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
The Hoopoe that's been visiting a private garden at Weston Street made occasional random appearances in front of passing birders today © Nicolas Jones...
