14th July

A little bit from all departments today, with a good showing of Sand Martins overhead - including 130 through at the Bill, the first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year on the land, the first Greenshank of the autumn amongst the waders and Mediterranean Gull numbers on the up everywhere. In the absence of grounded passerine migrants a thin spread of waders made up the bulk of variety on the ground with, besides the Greenshank on the Harbour shore, 10 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Whimbrel at Ferrybridge and singles of Ringed Plover and Redshank at the Bill. Additional to the Sand Martins, overhead passage included 7 egrets arriving from the south at the Bill that were too far away for a firm identification. The sea was for the most part very quiet but 100 Mediterranean Gulls joined the gull flock off the Bill, with another 66 at Ferrybridge.

The Greenshank on the Harbour shore © Pete Saunders:

The Great Spotted Woodpecker - one of this year's youngsters - trapped at the Obs. After a decade of increasing frequency when there were even thoughts of an imminent breeding record, the fortunes of the Great Spotted Woodpecker look a right hit last year when there only five records in total around the island and none at all were trapped © Martin Cade:

It's that time of year when young Sand Martins exhibit their knack for balancing precariously atop mist-nets without getting trapped - and almost looking as though they're taunting the ringer for imagining that they might be so stupid as to lose their balance and tumble into the net © Martin Cade:

Portland Harbour and The Fleet Ferrybridge: 0630 onwards; Greenshank, Sanderling 8, Ringed Plover 2, Turnstone, Dunlin 8, Little Tern 40+ 🦉#birds #ukbirding #ornithology @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Dorset Bird Tours (@dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social) Jul 14, 2024 at 17:11