Portland's day always comes around and today's excitement came in the form of the island's third Red-eyed Vireo that was trapped at Culverwell - seemingly so far the furthest east that something from the current displacement of North American passerines has reached. In far too fair conditions routine migrants weren't at all numerous on the ground, with only a thin spread of Wheatears, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs everywhere and little of particular note beyond singles of Knot and Firecrest at the Bill. Far more was on the move overhead, although even there totals of the likes of c1000 Meadow Pipits, 66 Siskins and 26 Chaffinches were far from big league as we near the last week of September. Another good movement of Balearic Shearwaters saw 201 pass the Bill where the first Great Northern Diver of the season was also logged.
Some detail on the vireo © Martin Cade...
...and we had no idea there were so many birdwatchers about today © Jodie Henderson:
