Although numbers remained far short of par for mid-August the presence of the first
Pied Flycatchers of the autumn (3 at the Bill) and the first double figure movement of
Tree Pipits overhead (including at least 15 over the Obs where the nocmig recorder had earlier logged 8 during the hours of darkness) created at least an illusion of passerine migration gathering a tiny bit of momentum. More routine fare wasn't at all well represented, with the returns from the Bill area of 20
Willow Warblers and singles of
Wheatear,
Sedge Warbler and
Garden Warbler on the ground and 7
Yellow Wagtails and single figure totals of
hirundines overhead being far from inspiring. Wader numbers and variety dropped away: both
Ringed Plover and
Dunlin remained well into three figures at Ferrybridge but a single
Common Sandpiper was as good as it got amongst the less frequents there; the departure of the numbers and variety of recent days was further evidenced at the Bill where the nocmig recorder logged multiples of seven wader species overnight. Five
Teal and 2
Common Gulls were additional non-wader oddities at Ferrybridge. A steady movement of 66
Balearic Shearwaters gave the sea totals at the Bill some respectability; 180
Mediterranean Gulls, 28 departing
Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an
Arctic Skua were also logged there.
After a bit of a hiatus in their passage Common Sandpiper numbers have picked up again - this one was at Ferrybridge and, after yesterday evening's big flock departing from Hamm Beach, they were also the most numerous wader passing overhead at the Bill overnight © Pete Saunders:
Any Common Gulls between mid-May and late September are worthwhile sightings so these two settled at Ferrybridge this evening were worth attention © Martin Cade:
This autumn's so far been the slowest of burners so the first Pied Flycatcher of the season was a welcome catch in the Crown Estate Field mist-nets just now
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 13, 2024 at 7:34
Tree Pipit passage beginning to build: first double figure total of overflying birds at the Obs this mrng and the first one trapped in the Crown Estate Field
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 13, 2024 at 9:48
A rather eclectic moth selection overnight: Dark Crimson Underwing from John Lucas' gdn at Southwell + 2 tumidana, Porter's Rustic and White-speck at the Obs were all first for the yr migrants; oddballs incl 3 Lesser Cream Waves (fewer than 10 island records) and a Latticed Heath at the Obs
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 13, 2024 at 13:38
