10th October

What with a nagging, stiff northwesterly a constant feature routine birding wasn't easy again today but there was some movement to tap into, notably including the first signs of Wood Pigeons getting going, with 360 leaving to the south at the Bill. The Red-backed Shrike lingered on to entertain weekend visitors, with a continuing Short-eared Owl also on offer at the Bill. Sheltered spots still harboured plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs but beyond these and the likes of a Redstart and a Goldcrest at the Bill there wasn't really much to excite in the common migrant line. A lone Balearic Shearwater was the only worthwhile sighting on the sea.

9th October

A stiff westerly that set in overnight freshened towards gale force as the day went on and scuppered most serious fieldwork today. The Red-backed Shrike was still present in the Crown Estate Field, singles of Merlin and Short-eared Owl were new at the Bill and 2 Purple Sandpipers were still present there but otherwise little more was logged on the land than a scatter of Chiffchaffs in sheltered spots and the Ferrybridge Brent Goose flock that had increased to 116. Singles of Balearic Shearwater and Arctic Skua passed through on the sea at the Bill.

A settled Short-eared Owl in Top Fields a nice find for Verity on her way down to the Obs this morning; ta to Jack Crowe for the photo

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 9, 2026 at 9:37 AM

Ferrybridge this morning 116 Brent Geese, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Wheatear

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) October 9, 2026 at 10:05 AM

Strong SW winds and rain overnight with gale force winds aii day at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social curtailed any mist netting and ringing. In this my last missive before return to Cardiff I must thank 'birdwhisperer' Martin Cade & Jodie Mae Henderson for company & the pictures used over 13 days.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM

Southern Bridled Green @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social photographed 08/10/26 with a Brindled Green for comparison taken on the same day at Dartford, thanks to @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social - a handful of records from Dorset and a recent one from Scilly. @saturdaycatbird.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) October 9, 2026 at 8:22 PM

8th October

While quantity was again a feature, with Blackcap and Chiffchaff both topping 150 on the ground at the Bill alone and lots of overhead passage to get amongst, quality won out today with a new Red-backed Shrike trapped in the Crown Estate Field stealing the show. As has been the case so far this month, Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Linnet dominated the grounded totals, but further interest at the Bill included singles of Snipe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cetti's Warbler and Dartford Warbler. Overhead totals at the Bill included 850 Meadow Pipits, 375 alba wagtails, 360 Linnets, 140 Goldfinches, 50 Chaffinches, 35 Skylarks and 16 Song Thrushes, with a lone Woodlark the best of the oddities. Offshore, 2000 auks and 400 Mediterranean Gulls passed the Bill but there was precious little else of note.

On the ground, Chiffchaffs are still pretty abundant and are popping up all over the place, often well away from their usual haunts in the trees...


...but, scarcities aside, a lot of today's interest came from overhead passage with, amongst others, the strongest passages of alba wagtails and Song Thrushes so far this autumn and yet another Great Spotted Woodpecker © Martin Cade:


Red-backed Shrike and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the hand this morning © Nick Hopper:



Dawn at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with lightish N wind saw an exciting day of ringing with a 1stYm Dartford Warbler followed by a 1Y Red backed Shrike then Comm Snipe and GS Woodpkr. 133 birds of 14 species.incl 60CC, 53 Blcp, 3Song Th. were ringed. Oct. total now is 1061 birds of 36 spcs.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 8, 2026 at 6:51 PM

7th October

Today saw a rather unhelpful set of conditions to contend with as persistent bands of rain for the better half of the morning were gradually replaced by an increasingly blustery and cold northwest wind. Despite this, it was clear that the overnight rain had dropped a few migrants our way, with Chiffchaffs once again in bountiful supply as well as a single Redwing from the Obs garden and, from the comparative shelter of private gardens at Southwell and Weston respectively, new arrivals in the form of both Barred Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler. Whilst the looming grey clouds seemed to dissuade many of the routine diurnal movers from departing over the island, several scarcer birds were recorded overhead with singles of Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Short-eared Owl and Marsh Harrier at the Bill/Southwell. Unsurprisingly there were those that decided to stick it out in the dreary weather, with the lingering Cetti's Warbler still at Culverwell and yesterday's Hobby continuing its aerial assault on the migrant Red Admirals.

This morning's Cattle Egret over the Bill - still nowhere near frequent enough here not to demand attention © Jodie Henderson:
  

Heavy rain overnight not clearing until noon was followed by gusty N/NW winds at PBO. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social Limited to only a few nets 32 birds eventually ringed, 22 CC, 8 Blackcap, 1 Wren & 1 Song Thrush. Crown Estate field with cover and two new ponds excavated. Hobby obs bird of the day.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM

6th October

It was another busy autumnal day with a plentiful spread of new arrivals that included several on-cue firsts for the season, with 1 or more Dartford Warblers at the Bill along with singles of Redwing and Ring Ouzel in the middle of the island. Whilst Blackcap numbers appear to have waned in the recent settled weather, the same could not be said for Chiffchaffs, with 400 recorded from the Bill alone and reports of many more from the denser vegetated patches further up island. A varied list of less frequents were also on offer, with 2 Pied Flycatchers, a lingering Cetti's Warbler plus singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat and Common Sandpiper present as well as 3 Woodlarks, 2 Golden Plovers and a Hobby overhead. The sea was comparatively poor, with just 15 Dark Bellied Brent Geese of note.

One of two Pied Flycatchers present around the island today © Nick Hopper:


Cloud cover at dawn PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with 179 birds of 15 species ringed. Primarily CC 132, 18 Blacap, 7 Stonechat, 2 Song Th, 1 of GardenW, GrasshopperW, Whinchat,Goldcrest & Blackbird of note +Rtrp CettisW. Pond creation at PBO haven for bathing & preening migrants,Spring& Autumn.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 6, 2026 at 7:59 PM

Portland - First Redwing of the Autumn near The Hump. Wheatear 3, Linnet 160, Goldfinch 75 Top Fields. Chiffchaff 100+, Grasshopper Warbler Culverwell ringing station. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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— Dorset Bird Tours (@dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social) October 6, 2026 at 9:10 PM

Obs moth-traps quietened a little last night but still a pretty decent catch of migrants with a Toadflax Pearl catalaunalis the best of the new arrivals

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 6, 2026 at 11:43 PM

5th October

A pretty ripping morning saw a good cloud cover and no more than a waft of a breeze drop a succession of scarce migrants that included 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Little Bunting, a Siberian Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler at the Bill and another Yellow-browed Warbler at Southwell; the long-staying Barred Warbler was also still at the Bill, whilst a further miscellany of irregulars around the island that included the likes of multiple Great Spotted Woodpeckers and singles of Hobby, Woodlark and Firecrest all added to the excitement. These goodies arrived in tandem with a hatful more Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps - including 300 and 150 respectively at the Bill alone - and lots of other grounded routine migrant variety, along with a steady if numbers-wise less impressive flow of visible migrants overhead; the tardy or interesting in other ways list from around and about included 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Redshanks, 2 Purple Sandpipers and singles of Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, White Wagtail and Whinchat. There were rather too many distractions for full attention to be paid to the sea but off the Bill a resurgence in departing Lesser Black-backed Gulls was noted along with the recently customary 2000 or more auks and singles of Sandwich Tern and Arctic Skua.

This morning's Little Bunting - small but very perfectly formed! © Martin Cade:




Full cloud cover and light W wind at dawn PBO. #Portlandbirdobservatory A fall resulted in 212 birds of 14 species+ 1 ssp ringed. CC 115+ SibCC, Blackcap 65,Other Sibs included Yellow browed warblers 3 and 1 Little Bunting. 7 Stonechat broke the year ringing record with 113 this year.(107 in 2025).

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 5, 2026 at 7:46 PM

A third Yellow-browed Warbler of the day - this one for @slashercutts.bsky.social at Culverwell - all these are being colour-ringed as part of a national project to track their subsequent movements

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 5, 2026 at 12:40 PM

Sadly the Sorcerers weren't on the wing for us last night but in all other respects it was an excellent night for migrant moths at the Obs, with a bumper catch of routine fare together with our second ever Southern Brindled Green + another Porter's Rustic

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 5, 2026 at 2:25 PM

...just realised we forgot to post the night's full totals

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 5, 2026 at 6:11 PM

4th October

The loveliest of days to be out birding in unbroken sunshine and summer warmth - conditions that wouldn't usually be viewed as favourable for a good drop of migrants but in the event there were birds in quantity everywhere. The trio of Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff and Blackcap accounted for a good proportion of the groundings - reaching totals of 1000, 300 and 200 respectively at the Bill alone - but there were strong showings of good range of other arrivals amongst which shorter-range migrants such as Dunnock, Robin and Stonechat were particularly prominent; thrushes have barely figured at all so far this autumn so the first Song Thrush of the season was hopefully the vanguard of plenty more to come. Overhead passage wasn't quite so prominent with hirundines rather oddly almost completely absent, but totals of 800 Meadow Pipits, 280 alba wagtails, 200 Linnets, 65 Skylarks and 35 Chaffinches were all worthwhile at the Bill, with singles of Great White Egret and Woodlark there and 2 Bramblings and a Ring-necked Parakeet over Coombefield adding some spice. Sea interest perked up a little, with 3000 auks, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 18 Wigeon of note off the Bill.

Another Great White Egret was amongst today's overhead movers at the Bill © Jodie Henderson:


Lesser Emperors continue to be seen at the Bill - this was another posed after it had been successfully extracted from a mist-net in the Crown Estate Field © Martin Cade:

Light N wind and clear dawn saw migrant influx at PBO. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social 245 birds of 17 species ringed. Warblers, CC 98, Blckap 76 plus 1 of Sedge, Grasshopr, Lesser W, Whitethroat,2 WW. Dunnock 8, Robin 6, Stonechat & Great T 4. Pied, Grey Wagtail plus first Song Thrush of the Autumn.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM

A selection of moths today from @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social - the rare Maize Wainscot, 1 of 2 Ni Moths seen and a fine purple Purple Marbled, all of which were trapped at the observatory:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) October 4, 2026 at 10:43 PM

Highlights from trapping overnight 3-4/10/26 at Freshwater Bay, @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social included a pristine Brindled Ochre (now very scarce in Dorset), 4 Golden Twinspot and a worn Silver-spotted Veneer (Euchromius ocellea); also here 15+ Palpita vitrealis, 1 Bordered Straw, 3 Vestal

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) October 4, 2026 at 10:51 PM

3rd October

A veil of light cloud overhead that marked the dreg end of a weak weather front departing very slowly southeast did us a favour today and dropped a steady arrival of a varied selection of mid-autumn migrants. Amongst the routine fare there were a couple of best-forgotten frustrations in the form of a likely non-British Yellow Wagtail flying straight through and a maybe Olive-backed Pipit heard and watched dropping into Culverwell but subsequently vanishing; scarcities that got a better grilling were limited to a presumed Siberian Lesser Whitethroat trapped at Culverwell and an Osprey departing to the south off the Bill, whilst less frequent migrants included 10 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Firecrest at the Bill and 2 Pied Flycatchers and a Woodlark around the centre of the island. Although the likes of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs weren't especially well represented there were a lot of other seasonable migrants to get amongst, including good groundings of alba wagtails and Meadow Pipits together with burgeoning flocks of off-passage Linnets and big increases in Robins and Dunnocks in particular. Overhead passage at the Bill included 700 Meadow Pipits, 220 Linnets, 130 alba wagtails, 24 Skylarks, 23 Chaffinches and 7 Greenfinches, whilst the sea remained quiet there with little more than 130 Mediterranean Gulls, a Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Skua to show.

Although there were one or two scarcer migrants on offer included the departing Osprey © Martin Cade and a couple of Pied Flycatchers © Joe Stockwell...



...today was mainly about getting amongst routine early October fare © Joe Stockwell:



Something of a really frustrating "one that got away" this morning. This Yellow Wagtail appeared to be tagging a flock of Skylark, giving quite an odd, buzzy type call, followed by more descending flava'ish calls. Immediate thought was thunbergi but sadly without better views it wasn't clinched.

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— Joe Stockwell (@joestockwell.bsky.social) October 3, 2026 at 4:13 PM

Light SSW with some overcast at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social did the trick today with 190 birds of 19 species ringed. MeadowPip 81, Bcap 30 & CC 26 predominant. 10 LTTit unusual.Good variety with Skylark, Whinchat& Firecrest. Lesser White (sib?) ReedBunt,Dunnock & Greywag completes Autumn fare.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 3, 2026 at 8:20 PM

Couldn't manage three nights running for Maize Wainscot but overall improved migrant numbers/variety at the Obs last night. Porter's Rustic the highlight + 2 Convolvulus Hawks, Ni Moth & Golden Twin-spot.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 3, 2026 at 1:23 PM

2nd October

No great change in our fortunes today, with overhead passage a little more conspicuous but grounded arrivals notably inconspicuous. Visible passage over the Bill included 600 Meadow Pipits, 310 Linnets and 130 alba wagtails, with 2 Merlins and a Hobby amongst the tag alongs; elsewhere, the autumn's first Redpoll was over Coombefield. The decidedly thin spread of arrivals on the ground included another autumn first in the form of a Short-eared Owl at the Bill, a Firecrest at Coombefield/Thumb Lane and a late Whimbrel at Ferrybridge but only very low totals of more routine fare; a brief Barred Warbler at the Bill was likely to be the lurking lingerer although it couldn't be established if it was a ringed bird or not. Auks and Kittiwakes totalling 1500 and 580 respectively made up most of the numbers off the Bill, with 3 Balearic Shearwaters the only particularly worthwhile sightings amongst them.

Stiffiish SW going more S overnight, with ..again a warm, sunny day did little for new birds at PBO. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social . A tardy total of 13 birds from CEF, with 5 from the garden! in 9 hrs! Robin4, MeadpIp 6, Blakcp2, CC 3, & Swallows 3. Retrap Robins order of the day and Grey Wagtail.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 2, 2026 at 8:44 PM

The second Maize Wainscot in two nights from the Obs moth-traps this morning.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 2, 2026 at 9:41 AM

1st October

Sharing a first for Dorset moth (see below) was an exciting start to the day but unfortunately the bird interest wasn't at that level at all, with grounded migrants still only relatively thinly spread. There were probably a good 50 Blackcaps at the Bill where the evidence from the mist-nets suggested there was also a decent arrival of Robins, but beyond these and the now ubiquitous spread of Chiffchaffs in small numbers it was hard going, with island-wide highlights of just another Great Spotted Woodpecker and the lingering Cetti's Warbler at the Bill, singles of Hobby, Lesser Whitethroat and Pied Flycatcher around the north of the island and 11 Wigeon and a Caspian Gull at Ferrybridge. Meadow Pipits and alba wagtails dominated the overhead tally and even they weren't particularly numerous, with hirundines in particular strangely absent from the inviting-looking clear sky. Sea interest has dwindled right away as the week's gone on, with a single Arctic Skua the best of it off the Bill.

This morning's Great Spotted Woodpecker doing its Portland thing and looking completely lost on an electric pole © Martin Cade:


This morning's flock of Wigeon heading through at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:


When we checked out the identification of this second-winter Caspian Gull with Thomas Miller he suggested it might just be the similarly-aged bird he found at the Bill on 20th September - that may be case but unfortunately it only dropped in at Ferrybridge for a minute or two before dusk and we didn't actually see the same side of it that was on show at the Bill so couldn't check out the minutiae of plumage detail © Martin Cade:

Strong West winds continued througout the night and day at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social although overnight rain abated to give hot sunny 20 degrees. Slow ringing due to weather but still 51 birds of 8 species. Blacp 25, Robin 10, CC 9,Stonechat & Dunnock 2 and first Reed Bunting of the autumn.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 1, 2026 at 8:50 PM

Very happy with this: just minutes after being gripped off by news of @paulupwey.bsky.social's Maize Wainscot we find there's one in our moth-traps as well!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 1, 2026 at 10:51 AM

Maize Wainscot records this past week. Truly amaizing! Bonchurch, Isle Wight on 23/9 (6th British record) Lewes, Sussex on 29/9 Weymouth, Dorset on 30/9 Portland Bird Obs, Dorset on 30/9 Bracklesham, W. Sussex on 30/9 Photo J. Halsey #teammoth

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— Migrant Lepidoptera (GB & Ireland) (@migrantmothuk.bsky.social) October 1, 2026 at 5:23 PM

30th September

Another day that promised considerably more than it produced, with the a night of southeasterlies and rain dropping no more than the thinnest of scatter of grounded migrants, whilst the airflow that originated far to south failed to act as a conveyor for insect vagrants of any quality. A couple of Firecrests around the centre of the island and a Lesser Whitethroat at the Bill were the only noteworthy arrivals on the ground and even overhead passage was surprisingly lacking once the skies cleared after dawn. In the still fresh breeze the sea was more rewarding, with 425 Kittiwakes, 17 Balearic Shearwaters, 13 Arctic Skuas, 3 Little Gulls and a Sooty Shearwater through off the Bill.

After a blustery S wind with only a heavy shower at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social dawn was clearing but with little recompense in migrants 17 birds of 7 species 6 CC, 4 Blackap,1 LesserWT, Luckily enough plus Robin,& Blue tit for Martin to enthuse a visiting group about ringing and our work.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 30, 2026 at 8:40 PM

29th September

Portland was far from the best positioned UK bird observatory today and we felt no influence from the propitious weather conditions benefitting points northward. In a stiff easterly, migration slowed to a snail's pace with grounded arrivals consisting of a scatter of Blackcaps and barely more than ones and twos of other routine fare; a Pied Flycatcher at Avalanche Road was easily the pick of the discoveries. Overhead, the first push of Linnets included 490 through over the Bill where 350 Meadow Pipits and 200 Swallows made up the bulk of the rest of the movers; also overhead, 3 Glossy Ibis west over Portland Harbour were the day's highlight on all fronts. Expectations that the strength of the wind might bring the seawatchers more reward proved well wide of the mark with almost nothing worth mentioning moving off the Bill.

Strong easterly winds limited the number of mistnets opened at PBO. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social Only 11 birds were ringed, despite seven hours on duty in the garden!! Blackcap 7, Chiffchaff 2, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Robin. In a sultry 20 degrees a day for watching Gannets & Tuna fishing offshore.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 29, 2026 at 8:19 PM

Tuna hunting Garfish at Portland Bill today

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— Phil Cheeseman@bsky.social (@philcheeseman.bsky.social) September 28, 2026 at 4:46 PM

28th September

It was very much a classic mid-autumn day at the Bill with the lightest of northeasterly breezes and some substantial cloud cover resulting in a nice fall of grounded migrants that aside from another wodge of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps also included 50 Stonechats, 10 Sedge Warblers, 10 Willow Warblers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, singles of Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and Goldcrest as well as the lingering Barred Warbler; elsewhere singles of Pied Flycatcher and Garden Warbler at Thumb Lane plus multiple Firecrests at Suckthumb and Wakeham helped round off a varied list. Overhead migration remained unusually poor, with 300 Meadow Pipits the only passage of note, whilst out to sea a total of 54 Balearic Shearwaters, 7 Arctic Skuas, a Little Gull and a Great Skua were also logged. Finally, at Hamm Beach, the first 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese of the autumn joined the lingering 2 Pale-bellied Brents. 

Today was all about Chiffchaffs - again; after last autumn's excesses it seems like they're continuing their quest to inherit the Earth once the present dominant species finishes making a pig's ear of its tenure and is out of the equation © Martin Cade:


Overcast morning with light variable breeze contributed to 158 birds of 16 species ringed today at PBO. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social . CC 72 & Blacp 56 with Sedge, Grasshopr, WWarbers, Whitethrt & Redstart other migrants leaving 1st Goldcrest of autumn with 6 Stonechat & 2 GSW added to variety.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 28, 2026 at 8:31 PM

Long-tailed Tit are a uncommon visitor to this end of the island. #culverwell #portlandbill @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Mark Cutts (@slashercutts.bsky.social) September 28, 2026 at 12:01 PM

A few of the more interesting moths from last night’s trap

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) September 28, 2026 at 10:58 AM



Also from today, a gluttonous Wheatear at Ferrybridge and one of a few Wall Brown butterflies that are still on the wing © Ralph Todd:



And finally, back to yesterday for some extra photos. You'd think that in this era of lightning fast connectivity it would be possible to transmit and receive an email between Southwell and the Obs in an instant but it seems not - who knew it'd actually be quicker to send homing pigeons carrying individual pixels between the two sites. Well, Pete Saunders' photos did eventually get through to us today after being sent yesterday afternoon and they included the adult Curlew Sandpiper at Ferrybridge...



...and a few things from the morning seawatch at the Bill - two of the Teal, an Arctic Skua and a Balearic Shearwater © Pete Saunders:





27th September

The beginning of a more unsettled period of weather began today with a brisk southeasterly airflow seeing attentions largely focused out to sea, with a productive morning from the various watchpoints around the Bill recording a combined total of 3,500 auks, 45 Arctic Skuas, 30 Common Scoters, 17 Ringed Plovers, 14 Balearic Shearwaters, 14 Common Terns, 10 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Teal, 2 Arctic Tern and singles of Puffin, Sooty Shearwater, Great Skua, Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe and Pochard. If any grounded passerine migrants were present, they went largely undetected hidden away in the windswept bushes, with a trickle of departing Swallows the only visible signs of migration overhead; additionally, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were grounded on East Cliffs. Away from the Bill, another Arctic Skua was logged over the harbour, with 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Curlew Sandpiper present at Ferrybridge. 

The chief prize from our visit to the Bill was this drake Pochard high over the top of Pulpit Rock- a hardly even annual sight out here...


...whilst amongst the more routine fare there was a nice mix of juvenile and adult Arctic Skuas...



...a trickle of Balearic Shearwaters and Common Scoters...



...and plenty of Gannets demanding attention now there's such a miscellany of boobies and tropicbirds that could be tagging along with them:


The day's multitude of auks looked to be predominantly Razorbills:


Finally, a couple of variations of first-winter Yellow-legged Gull grounded in the Culverwell gull flock this afternoon © Martin Cade:


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