24th April

The current spell of easterlies began to lose their shine a little today, with a great deal of the momentum accrued over recent days gradually tapering away under the samey conditions. Overhead migration took the biggest hit, with reduced totals of c500 Swallows, c100 Sand Martins and 13 Yellow Wagtails (coverage was decidedly limited so these totals were very much minima) as well as singles of Kestrel, Merlin and Hobby in-off along the west side. Grounded migrants remained fairly inconspicuous but did include another pulse of 60 Willow Warblers at the Bill plus 2 Whinchats at Reap Lane and a Grasshopper Warbler at the Verne. It was therefore left to the sea to provide the day's chief numbers and variety with an impressive selection from both the Bill and Chesil watchpoints that included 300 Whimbrel, 98 Common Scoter, 38 Grey Plovers, 25 Bar-tailed Godwits, 24 Sanderling, 18 Knot, 10 Little Gulls, 5 Pomarine Skuas, 4 Curlews, 2 Velvet Scoter, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Arctic Skuas and an Eider. The day's chief oddity came during a lull in a seawatching when a Bonaparte's Gull was noticed behind Chesil on the oysterbeds west of Ferrybridge.

A couple of the more interesting sea sightings included these Velvet Scoters and Little Gulls through off the Bill © Martin Cade:



For us, the most frustrating event of the day was finding this evening's Bonaparte's Gull but not really managing to get any meaningful photographs of it. We weren't tapping into much passing off Chesil during our watch from above Ferrybridge so had a look behind us to scope the sandflats for waders; it was then that we noticed a few terns and small gulls flittering about around the abandoned oysterbeds up past the Little Tern colony and on zooming the magnification right up suddenly noticed the unmistakable underwing pattern of a Bonaparte's Gull among them (we just checked on a map and the distance is about 1100m so the views were very, very long range!). It was obviously necessary to get closer which we eventually did after a really knackering slog over the shingle that was made even longer by having to skirt the tern colony. On eventual arrival at a better viewpoint we were initially blindsided by latching onto a settled first-summer Black-headed Gull and being mystified by the features not looking right for Bonaparte's before the bird took flight to reveal it really was just a perfectly obvious Black-headed Gull - you don't half make some stupid decisions when you're in a bit of a flap. A further scan quickly revealed the equally perfectly obvious Bonaparte's - clearly in first-summer plumage but with what in this quick first glance looked to be a complete black hood - that almost instantly took flight and headed away west off up the Fleet. What with still being quite out of breath and with the camera still slung over our back we weren't at all ready for this and by the time we composed ourselves enough to get the rapidly disappearing bird in the frame the results were shocking - with a bit of imagination you can maybe just about make out a well-defined trailing edge to the upperwing and perhaps get the feel for the very pale overall appearance of the wings in flight but that's about it - really frustrating! © Martin Cade:


23rd April

Yet more clear skies and fresh easterlies saw visible migration continue at pace today, with a steady throughput of new arrivals that included in excess of 1000 Swallows plus lesser totals of 500 Sand Martins, 200 House Martins and just 10 Yellow Wagtails, with outbound singles of Merlin and Red Kite also logged. Whilst grounded migrants remained harder to quantify, an obvious increase in phylloscs included 60 Willow Warblers, 15 Chiffchaff and a bonus Wood Warbler trapped in the Obs garden, as well as singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat and Tree Pipit from the Bill area. A varied selection from both the Bill and the Chesil included totals of 235 Whimbrel, 154 Bar-tailed Godwit, 121 Common Scoter, 94 Sandwich Terns, 57 Grey Plover, 16 Little Gulls, 15 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling, 4 Shoveler, 6 Pomarine Skua and singles of Great Northern Diver, Arctic Tern and Knot. 

Totally inappropriate conditions for what's usually our rain bird: Wood Warbler trapped at the Obs under a crystal-clear blue sky

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 23, 2026 at 9:15 AM

A few migrant arrivals on a blustery Portland this morning. Two Whinchats (distant record pic of one), one Yellow Wagtail and many Swallows at Barleycrates Lane plus Willow Warbler at the Bill. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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— Mike Hetherington (@mikemoths.bsky.social) April 23, 2026 at 3:13 PM

Bit of a varied day at the office today: seawatching, vismigging, a school visit, ringing - you name it, we managed to get a bit of it today...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 23, 2026 at 11:29 PM

...and there was so much migration to get amongst:

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 23, 2026 at 11:31 PM

22nd April

Today's stiff easterly may have made for challenging conditions in the field but it was certainly no impediment for birds on the move, with a flurry of active migrants passing through the various island watchpoints that included a minimum of 700 Swallows, 60 Yellow Wagtails, 50 House Martin, 45 Swift, 40 Sand Martin, 2 Hobbies and singles of Marsh Harrier, Grey Heron, Merlin, Collared Dove and Tree Pipit. Unsurprisingly grounded migrants remained harder to detect but did include a Nightingale seen briefly in Helen's Fields in addition to 3 Whinchats, 2 Garden Warblers and a Pied Flycatcher around the Bill. On the sea front, both the Bill and Chesil were well watched with waders dominating the returns that included 250 Whimbrel, 230 Bar-tailed Godwits, 21 Grey Plovers, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Garganey, 2 Sanderling and singles of Black-throated Diver, Knot and Arctic Skua.

Sensory overload at the Bill tip this morning what with there still being c8000 gulls offshore; passing seabirds poor with a single BtDiver the best for us. Lots of inbound vismig, mainly Swallows but multiples of Swift & Yellow Wagtail + single Merlin; weary Collared Dove in off.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 22, 2026 at 11:44 AM

Fun evening seawatch on Chesil but doubtless less fun for the succession of waders finding it really hard work to get over the beach/Portland Harbour into the teeth of a blasting easterly; nearly 150 each of Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel + singles of Grey Plover and Knot. Great migration watching!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 22, 2026 at 11:26 PM

21st April

 

We can't make head nor tail of all of today's reports from around the island but our totals included 290 Sandwich Terns, 110 Bar-tailed Godwits, 38 Whimbrel, 3 RtDivers, 2 Arctic Skuas and a GNDiver from the sea and 6 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats and singles of Hobby, Yellow Wagtail and LWT from the land.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 21, 2026 at 10:30 PM

Ferrybridge 21/4 Eve. A group of 18 Bar-tailed Godwit & 7 Whimbrel dropped in. Washed & fed. 5 the Whimbrel moved on quite quickly calling, the Barwits left later. One existing ringed barwit unmoved by the fuss. Magic. 45 Dunlin most spl, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) April 21, 2026 at 9:10 PM

Bitterly cold NE wind on the Chesil this morning but a good watch nonetheless. Little Ringed Plover, Merlin, 64 Whimbrel, 23 Barwit, Arctic Skua, Mute Swan on the sea, Swift + Hirundines arriving, lots of WW and some Wheatear in off. Too cold to continue past 9:15, more clothes needed tomorrow!

— Joe Stockwell (@joestockwell.bsky.social) April 21, 2026 at 10:25 AM


about 15-20 spikes of green winged orchid suddenly appeared in the new normal spot at verne common. looking at next weeks weather, whilst it may be good for birding it may also burn these off quick.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 21, 2026 at 5:48 PM

20th April

On the passerine front today was a lower key re-run of yesterday, with a similar range of species but most in considerably reduced numbers. A Siberian Chiffchaff was a surprise arrival at the Bill, whilst a selection of Whinchats, Redstarts and a Pied Flycatcher entertained amongst the sprinkle of commoner migrants there and around the centre of the island. Overhead passage was steady if unspectacular, with Swallows again on the move all day and eventually totalling towards 500. In the constantly freshening easterly the sea was well-watched with patchy rewards: 2 Avocets through off Chesil were the highlight, whilst other waders between there and the Bill included 214 Bar-tailed Godwits, 151 Whimbrel, 39 Dunlin, 10 Knot and 5 Sanderling; everything else was relatively poorly represented, with 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Great Skua the best of it.


Well we were hoping for a scarce the day after the fall but imagined something a little different to the Siberian Chiffchaff just trapped in the Crown Estate Field. Far lower numbers/variety than yesterday coming from the mist-nets so far this morning.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 10:13 AM

Another Redstart turned up in the garden this afternoon spending most of its time deep in the apple tree. Fewer immigrant birds today with 3 Blackcaps and a few Willow Warblers

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 9:11 PM

female redstart near southwell barns, males at reap lane and barleycrates. at least 4, probably 5x whinchat at reap lane.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 6:46 PM

small copper at bottomcombe, still no small blue after the conservation lash up, but another clouded yellow fly through and a hummingbird hawkmoth of note

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 6:34 PM

19th April

Another beautiful sunny day but with the added bonus that there were actually quite a few birds around, with a switch round to north-easterlies overnight facilitating the most varied fall of migrants so far this spring. The first few hours after dawn saw the peak of the day's new arrivals, with 250 Willow Warblers, 75 Blackcaps and 60 Chiffchaffs filtering through the Bill area alongside a supporting cast of 70 Wheatears, 30 Whitethroats, 20 Redstarts, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whinchats, 2 Reed Warblers and singles of Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler. Checks of the more substantial wooded areas in the centre and north of the island revealed a small flurry of 5 Pied Flycatchers, with additional double figure counts of Redstarts and Whinchats scattered about. Waders also increased, including 73 Dunlin and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge. Some light passage overhead included an unseasonable 9 Siskin, a Dunlin and a handful of both Yellow Wagtails and Tree Pipits, with the light headwind encouraging a steady passage of 500 Swallows through the afternoon. As always something had to give, and today's loser was the sea, with just 15 Common Scoter, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Great Northern Diver, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Knot and a single Red-throated Diver through off the Bill.  

Garden Warbler at Sweethill this weekend © Pete Saunders:


We haven't mentioned nocmig loggings very much just lately because the returns have been for the most part pretty routine; for example, waders are beginning to feature more prominently and, as nocmig recording has shown over many years (and despite their literally never been seen by day at this time of year), Moorhens and Coots have been quite regular overhead at night. However, last night's session at the Obs produced quite a surprise in the form of a Manx Shearwater calling overhead; offshore, they're of course very numerous at times here throughout the summer but we don't recollect anyone ever reporting having heard one at night and this is certainly a nocmig first for the Obs:

The joint best ringing day of the month - equaling the total of 148 on 1st April. Willow Warblers still to fore on 78 but variety now much improved incl 26 Bcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Redstarts, 2 Reed Ws, 2 LWTs and singles of Sedge W and Garden W (Sedge and LWT both firsts for the year).

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 9:54 PM


An enjoyable afternoon spent birding north Portland, personal totals from various sites: 2 Whinchat, 5 Redstart, 21 Willow Warbler, 28 Wheatear #ukbirding #dorsetbirds

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— Oli Mockridge (@yeovilbirder.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 6:24 PM

a bit better on portland today, no rarities but a nice mix

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 6:27 PM

Redstart in the garden this morning. Other migrants: 9 Blackcaps, 6 Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 6:34 PM

18th April

Considering the crystal clear sky today ended up with a decent enough little spread of migrants even if it was a struggle to get beyond the entirely routine. Wheatears and Willow Warblers dominated, with the former numbering perhaps 100 across the island as a whole and the latter totalling 100 at the Bill alone; there were few if any surprises amongst the supporting cast, with 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Redstarts and a Ring Ouzel at the Bill and a Grasshopper Warbler at France Quarry about as good as it got for less regulars. Overhead passage was again a little disappointing, with in particular far fewer Swallows on the move than might have been hoped. In an offshore breeze little was expected from the sea and in the event much of what was logged at the Bill was again moving west which was certainly unexpected; 250 Sandwich Terns would have been a very respectable total in any conditions, with 300 Kittiwakes and 2 Arctic Skuas also heading in the 'wrong' direction.

Light westerly wind and clear at dawn PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social overcast 0800 clearing then sunny day with NW wind. Flurry in nets first then slow all day, 59 birds of 8 species ringed. 37 WW, 10 CC, 2 Reed W, 1 Whitethroat ,1 Stonechat and 2 Redstart. Nice to have Culverwell ringing again.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 18, 2026 at 8:36 PM

It's the annual "Wheatear in the Sea Pink at Ferrybridge" photo

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 18, 2026 at 5:28 PM

Our 1st Garden Warbler of the spring feeding on apples which have been "returned" to the tree, also a Blackcap and Willow Warbler about

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 18, 2026 at 5:24 PM

17th April

Just gently ticking along on all fronts today, with overhead passage perhaps the noticeable loser since Swallows and the like were far fewer than might have been expected given the clear skies of the middle hours of the day. Grounded arrivals weren't exactly plentiful, with the 30 or so each of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler at the Bill including in their midst the year's first singles of Sedge Warbler and Lesser Redpoll, along with a late Song Thrush, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Reed Warbler. Overhead, a wandering Marsh Harrier that looked to leave out to the southwest was unexpected. The day's returns from the sea included 85 Sandwich Terns, 50 Whimbrel, 8 Arctic Skuas, 5 Red-throated Divers, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, a Great Skua and the season's first Pomarine Skua.

Another one for the freaks of nature gallery - this leucistic female Blackcap was trapped this morning in the Crown Estate Field © Martin Cade:


Strongish SSW wind with low cloud but no rain at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social restricted ringing to the garden and Culverwell. Clearing by 1000hrs mainly sunny with variable cloud 35 birds of 8 species ringed 9 each of WW, CC, Blackcp, 3 Golfch, 2 Whitethroat,1 Reed W Les.Redpoll & Song Thrush.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:28 PM

A very unusual visitor. This is the first Redpoll that I have ever ringed in the spring at #culverwell. Nails courtesy of @bellthebarnowl.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #birdringing

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— Mark Cutts (@slashercutts.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:44 AM

early purple orchids behind the pulpit inn.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 8:23 PM

16th April

With passerine migration looking like it's struggling for momentum and consistency it was the sea that provided the bulk of today's numbers. Good movements of Manx Shearwaters and Kittiwakes saw totals of 500 of each logged at the Bill, where 12 Arctic Skuas, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Skuas and a Great Northern Diver added some spice to proceedings. Despite the dearth of numbers on the ground there were morsels of quality of offer, including the season's first Whinchat and Pied Flycatcher at Southwell, a Grasshopper Warbler at the Bill and a Great White Egret at Ferrybridge.

The number of large gull hanging around off the Bill at the moment - at good 5000 today - is truly impressive...




...and today there was the added bonus of a strong day-long eastbound movement of Kittiwakes...


...however, as they usually do at this time of year, it was a few skuas that stole the show on the sea © Martin Cade:


Dawn at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social saw low cloud,dampness in the air and a stiff SSW wind which resulted in a few migrants ringed before the weather cleared late morning to reveal a sunny day and only a breeze. 18 birds all day ,8 WW, 3 CC, 5 Blackcap, 1 each of Goldfinch and Linnet.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 8:08 PM

dark edged bee fly and a wall lizard at church ope cove

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 16, 2026 at 8:27 PM

15th April

Not exactly fall proportions but any improvement on recent events is surely not to be sniffed at and today's results after a damp night and foggy dawn weren't too bad. Blackcaps were well accounted for among the day's totals, with just shy of 100 around the Bill, whilst the additional good spread of  Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers also had 3 Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel and the first 3 Garden Warblers and single Reed Warbler of the spring amongst them. As they have been on all but one day this season, Wheatears were conspicuous absentees, numbering in no more than low single figures, whilst hirundines and other visible migrants didn't feature in anything like the numbers that might have been hoped once the fog cleared. A strong westbound movement of 500 Gannets made up the bulk of the numbers offshore, with 82 Common Scoter, 6 Arctic Skuas, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Great Skuas, a Red-throated Diver and the year's first Great White Egret also on the move over the sea.

This Ring Ouzel was the pick of the less frequent migrants at the Bill © Martin Cade:


Foghorn all night a PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with thick mist at dawn, resulted in 29 Blackcaps, 13 WW, 1 Reed & 1 Garden W (both new for year), 1 Redstart, 2 Whitethroat 6 CC being among 57 birds ringed. Numbers low as mist and cloud cleared by 0900 then sunny,stiff S wind, rain 1315-1430.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 15, 2026 at 8:07 PM

14th April

Readers might have thought we couldn't get more downbeat in our reports but we can certainly try. Today's lamentable results on the migration front saw a brisk southerly airflow and looming dark clouds fail to drop more than the thinnest spread of common migrants around the Bill; so much so that it was almost a blessed relief when the arrival of more substantial showers in the afternoon called the day's land birding to a premature halt. Of course, many a cloud has a silver lining and today that came in the form of an incoming Serin over Chesil and some at least fair seawatching, with totals of 68 Little Terns, 64 Common Scoter, 25 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 8 Common Tern, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Whimbrel, a Red-throated Diver from Chesil and 46 Common Scoters, 4 Arctic Skuas and a Whimbrel from the Bill.

One of this evening's Arctic Skuas was so intent on getting its supper that it first appeared chasing gulls over the Bill Quarry before swooping right past the Obelisk at point blank range © Martin Cade:



Also during the seawatch it was nice to have the constant accompaniment of the local Wheatear quietly warbling away as it hopped around in the roped-off landscape restoration plot just behind the Obelisk © Martin Cade:



During this recent migration drought it's been pleasing to see the local breeders settling down to another spring season, with plenty of nest building now underway © Jodie Henderson



Brisk SE wind with heavy overcast and brief rain briefly at 1150hrs did not ensure an improvement in migrant numbers! Total of 6 birds ringed from 0630- 1530 curtailed due to rain was 4 CC, 1 WW & 1 Blackcap, reflecting that found elsewhere on the bill!! We will with forecast, endure to improve!

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 14, 2026 at 8:32 PM

Suddenly remembered I'd seen a big flock of Pale-bellied Brent Geese last year from the Chesil. I nearly spat my tea out when I saw they were on exactly the same date! More than a coincidence perhaps?!

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— Joe Stockwell (@joestockwell.bsky.social) April 14, 2026 at 4:18 PM

Green-winged orchids and the first Yellow Rattle 12 April. Verne Common, Portland opposite (and left of) the cemetery track

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) April 14, 2026 at 7:18 PM

13th April

Unless this spring starts bucking its ideas up it's going to go down the pan just like last spring did - or maybe it's just that there just aren't that many migrants left in the world. Today was painful and there was no weather excuse that we were able to fall back on: hours of mist-netting and diligent fieldwork in lovely conditions returned the leanest of rewards, with the year's first Corn Bunting at the Bill the pick of some pretty woeful numbers and variety of grounded migrants for this date; a decent passage of hirundines did develop through the day - an event that the optimistic took as an indication that nocturnal migrants had been on the move but just hadn't dropped in. The sea fared almost as poorly as the land, with 4 Arctic Skuas and a single Red-throated Diver the best on offer off the Bill. A positive from the day was the continuing rise in Little Tern numbers at Ferrybridge, with a minimum of 56 already present - it's another sign of the rapidly changing times that there's many a year in the past when the first Little Tern of the season wouldn't even have been logged by this date.

Westerly overnight with rain showers, only produced a trickle of migrants, 23 birds ringed incl. 10 WW, 6 CC, 2 Blcap and a male Whitethroat,new to many for the year. Wind S from 0900 produced a small Swallow and House Martin passage with a female Swallow caught. Sexed by length of tail feathers.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 13, 2026 at 8:40 PM

12th April

That we're in a bit of lull in migratory activity shouldn't really be any surprise given the continuing blasting westerly, with the day's rewards pretty well what might have been expected. The spring's first Little Ringed Plover at Ferrybridge was easily the pick of a very lean selection of grounded arrivals, with singles of Great and Arctic Skua the best that could be mustered from the sea.

Never a regular sight on the island, today's Little Ringed Plover showed nicely at Ferrybridge © Martin Cade:



With a stiff westerly wind with sun not even PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social could come up with more than birds ringed all day, 4 WW, 3 CC, 2 Blackcap and 1 Goldfinch. However fantastic to be back at the Mecca I first ringed migrants 65 years ago. Hopefully more to come!

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) April 12, 2026 at 10:06 PM

11th April

A brisk westerly that freshened through the day and was touching gale force by the evening made for testing conditions for the migrant seekers and a lot of what was uncovered came by virtue of the Obs garden mist-nets that revealed a steady trickle of passing Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers through the morning. The only other reports came from the sea, with totals of 300 Manx Shearwaters and 70 Sandwich Terns logged through the day at the Bill.

A bit of Manx Shearwater action off the Bill this evening © Martin Cade:

10th April

Sadly, the daily migrant tallies have been on the slide and that pattern continued today, with poor numbers on the land and sea; overhead passage slightly redeemed things with Swallows as conspicuous they've been so far this spring and totalling well past 500 at the Bill alone. A good 40 Blackcaps was easily the best of the individual grounded totals at the Bill where 2 Common Sandpipers and a lone Redstart were the best of the less frequents; elsewhere, a Hoopoe was again in a private garden at Fortuneswell and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Ferrybridge was the first there this spring. Two singles Ospreys at either end of the day - the first over Easton and the other over Portland Harbour - were the best of the overhead migrants. Well into four figures of Manx Shearwaters passed or lingered off the Bill, with 2 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua there and an Arctic Skua off Chesil providing the migrant highlights from the sea.

A female Redstart brightening up an otherwise dull migration day at the Obs © Martin Cade:

Extremely duff on the migrant moth front: tally at the Obs dropped to just a Small Mottled Willow and 2 each of Diamond-back, DSGrass & SY. Interesting addition for y'day: what looks like a Golden-rod Pug from our garden at the Grove - only the second Portland record and rather few other Dorset recs

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 8:39 AM

And back to yesterday for a few photos/videos we couldn't upload last evening due to a computer glitch. One of the day's best sightings at the Bill involved the Red-necked Grebes settled way off Pulpit Rock - there were only a few very distant record phone-scoped shots of them but the fact that these were terrible completely misses the point of them actually being really quite gripping since Red-necked Grebes are pretty rare at the Bill and have hardly ever been photographed there before...come to think of it, we're struggling to remember any photo of one from there © Kim Milsom:


Having never seen one in the spring before we were extremely keen to follow up the initial reports of a putative Caspian Gull at Ferrybridge. Oli's photographs actually turned out to be enough to confirm it but a few others from us taken in semi-darkness following a rapid dash after sunset maybe give some extra details on the upper and underwing pattern. Who'd have even thought to drop in at Ferrybridge really late in the evening in a blasting northwesterly at this time of year? - however, it just goes to show that you never can tell when there's a really good find in the offing © Martin Cade:

A 1w Caspian Gull at Ferrybridge was a very nice bonus this evening! The first one I've seen in April. Thanks to Thomas Miller and Dave Chown for helping to confirm ID @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding #dorsetbirds

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— Oli Mockridge (@yeovilbirder.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 9:17 PM



And talking of gulls, we really enjoyed a rapid return trip over to Lynch Cove on the Fleet to see our second Bonaparte's Gull in two days - a good spot of the second individual by Charlie Richards © Martin Cade:

9th April

Another day that slightly flattered to deceive, with a decent enough list of relatively brief oddities and suggestions from the mist-nets at least that there were migrant about but an overall feel from most fieldworks that rewards were hard to come by. The right old miscellany of oddities included 2 Red-necked Grebes settled off the Bill, 9 Greylag Geese and an Egyptian Goose through on the sea, a Marsh Harrier overhead at the Bill and, right at sunset, a Caspian Gull settled at Ferrybridge. Grounded common migrant totals from the Bill included 90 Willow Warblers and 60 Chiffchaffs but among the less frequents there and elsewhere 3 Redstarts and singles of Common Sandpiper, Tree Pipit, Black Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler were about all that could be mustered. There was a feel that visible passage was poorly tapped into, with no serious quantification of what looked at times to be pretty steady passage of hirundines in particular. The sea was well-watched but for no more than mediocre returns, with 6 Red-throated Divers and an Arctic Skua the best off the Bill where Manx Shearwaters and Sandwich Terns remained present in fair supply.

The migratory wave of Diamond-back Moths and Small Mottled Willows reached us last night with 65 and 39 respectively from the Obs moth-traps; also 5 Dark Sword Grass, 4 Silver Y and 1 Rush Veneer. Oddest catch a single Shaded Pug - dorsetmoths.co.uk shows only one previous (later) April record

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 11:10 AM

My 1st decent migrant moth night with 7 Diamond-back moth, a Rusty-dot Pearl and 2 Pale Mottled Willow

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:58 AM

8th April

A relatively low-key day although that didn't matter a jot because the weather was so gloriously warm and sunny that it was a pleasure just being out whether there were any birds or not. The northeasterly breeze was so light that it proved little impediment to migrants that likely passed on overhead during the hours of darkness without pausing; certainly, what flurry of arrivals there was, including 60 each of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff at the Bill, came early and moved on quickly. In tandem with them several Whitethroats and a single Lesser Whitethroat arrived straight on to their breeding territories, Little Terns increased to 18 at Ferrybridge and 6 Redstarts and a Yellow Wagtail were uncovered by the fieldworkers. The sea was worth attention even if yesterday's numbers were not repeated, with 86 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throated Divers, 6 Arctic Skuas, 5 Shovelers and 2 Greylag Geese among the loggings at the Bill where there was the additional frustration of inadequate views of what looked highly likely to be a Caspian Tern passing by in the far distance.

Rather impressively the majority of the day's Whitethroats were males that had arrived overnight straight onto their breeding territories rather than being random migrants just passing through; shortly after this photo was taken in the Crown Estate Field the bird found its way into a nearby mist-net and was revealed to be an individual first ringed there as a juvenile in 2021 © Martin Cade:


With the conditions rather too benign for an evening seawatch we took ourselves off after tea to have a look at Brett's Bonaparte's Gull a little way up the Fleet at Lynch Cove - a nice evening and a nice bird © Martin Cade:

7th April

It was another blink and you'll miss it kind of day on the birding front, with the majority of new arrivals shooting straight on past making the land feel rather devoid in comparison. A particularly prompt Common Swift and the first 3 Yellow Wagtails of the spring were the highlights of the overhead passage, with a 2-hour stint along the West Cliffs seeing 113 Linnets, 107 Swallows, 71 Meadow Pipits, 35 Goldfinches, and 3 House Martins logged. A roaming Lapwing was an unseasonable record at the Bill where 2 Common Redstarts, a Greenfinch and single figures of Chiffchaffs were the only other reports. Additionally, news from a local Facebook group revealed that the year's first Hoopoe had made a visit to a private garden on the island. The sea was far more reliable for both numbers and variety today, with 456 Common Scoters, 215 Sandwich Terns, 16 Knot, 10 Teal, 4 Arctic Terns, 2 Eiders and singles of Velvet Scoter, Arctic Skua and Great Skua through off the Bill. Lesser totals of Common Scoter were also seen off the Chesil where 13 Little Terns and a Whimbrel were firsts for the season and a single Grey Plover was also logged; another 2 Whimbrel along with 14 Dunlin and a Sanderling were at Ferrybridge. 

Two incoming Painted Lady butterflies along the West Cliffs and a Red Admiral in the Obs garden were hopefully a positive sign for more favourable lepidopteran migration in the moth-traps over the next few nights.

Common Scoters and Sandwich Terns made up all the numbers during this morning's seawatch at the Bill...


...whilst the camera picked up just enough detail on this distant, tight flock of anonymous-looking winter-plumaged waders scorching through off the Bill to confirm them as the year's first Knots:


A small passage of full adult Mediterranean Gulls was unexpected today at a time when most of them have long headed off to their breeding places - three went through off the Bill this morning and another eight dropped in briefly at Ferrybridge this evening:


Whimbrel have been a little late this spring so it was nice this evening to see and hear the first of the season arriving high over Chesil; this one seemed to have such a wackily pale underwing as it approached that we were leaning toward it being a runty Curlew but fortunately it started calling loudly as it got nearer:


Skokholm and Skomer it certainly isn't but we'll take it; we keep remarking that one of these years we won't get a Puffin back in attendance at the auk colony at the Bill but as long as even a single turns up as has been the case so far this month we'll milk that fact for all it's worth!:



The loneliness of the solitary vismigger high up on West Cliffs with only the hirundines, pipits, wagtails and finches as fleeting company - we can think of plenty of worse ways to spend a day at the office © Martin Cade:




Even an ancient phone can get a more than adequate record photo of a Hoopoe © Catherine Bennett:

6th April

The infrequency of southeasterlies during spring here meant that today's forecast had already generated some pretty lofty expectations that despite falling slightly short of the mark still ended up producing a nice scattering of both common and scarce migrants. The year ticks came in thick and fast with Common Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and Tree Pipit all on-cue new arrivals, whilst another flyover Serin, Ring Ouzel and Cetti's Warbler rounded off the day's chief interest. An obvious arrival of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps during the first few hours after dawn became conspicuously quieter as the day drew on, whilst an uptick in Wheatears exceeded 50 at the Bill. Overhead passage was fairly light and included 46 Linnets, 2 Siskin and a House Martin alongside another pulse of Swallows and Sand Martins throughout the afternoon. Away from the Bill, additional Redstarts were seen at Suckthumb and France Quarry, with a second Ring Ouzel present at Reap Lane. The sea was very much the poor relation, with 51 Common Scoters, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Mallards, a Great Northern Diver and Puffin logged at the Bill and 4 certain Arctic Terns amongst a small movement of commic terns off Chesil..

Not before time but nice nonetheless: the first Redstart of the spring from the Crown Estate Field mist-nets just now. Also news of a male Ring Ouzel at Reap Lane per Sean Davies and Graham Bright

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 9:30 AM

The Crown Estate Field mist-nets being bountiful on the year-tick front this morning - now the spring's first Grasshopper Warbler

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 11:03 AM

Another nice arrival popped up in the nets: a Cetti's Warbler in the Obs garden - ta to Phil Chapman for the photo. Also in the meanwhile a fly-by Serin at the Obs.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 12:32 PM

 

After I reported it at 1313 it flew East across the middle track from the daisy field to the field that is above Culverwell..no sign after that..sorry just got home.

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— CourtauxBird (@courtauxbird.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 3:28 PM

After the customary wader hiatus during late March and early April it was nice to see some evidence of passage getting going today, with the first flock of Bar-tailed Godwits through off the Bill this morning and a couple of Dunlin arriving in over Chesil and this Sanderling settled at Ferrybridge this evening; small beginnings...© Martin Cade:


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