31st July

 

31st July: A short, sharp post-dawn rush of 200 Willow Warblers out of a crystal-clear sky was much appreciated even if the tag-along tally of 25 Sedge Warblers, 5 YLGulls and 5 species of wader wasn't really up to much. 32 Balearics were equally welcome returnees offshore, with 56 Sandwich Terns...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 31, 2026 at 10:45 PM

...46 Manx, 300 Med Gulls & the first 2 Common Gulls of the autumn also through on the sea. Ferrybridge quiet, with 2 Sanderling amongst a few commoner waders.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 31, 2026 at 10:47 PM

Quieter on the moth front overnight with no particular highlights amongst the Obs garden catch - kinda extraordinary that you can get so blasé when the totals incl 255 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Striped Hawks, 3 Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 Oak Processionary, Small Marbled, Comopolitan etc etc!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 31, 2026 at 3:42 PM

Freshwater Bay @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night gave Cosmopolitan (2), Ni (2), Vestal (2), Striped HM (2), Eastern Bordered Straw (1), Scarce BS (2), Bordered Straw (6), Jersey Mocha (1), Small Marbled (1), this would have been remarkable a year ago, but not now @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 31, 2026 at 8:25 PM

Bordered Straw, Scarce Bordered Straw and Eastern Bordered Straw from Freshwater Bay @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night; the 'new normal' - they really didn't want to line up for a photo - very poorly behaved!

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 31, 2026 at 8:09 PM

30th July

30th July: Nice little drop of new arrivals today incl 50 WW, 10 Sedge W, a Grasshopper W & a Garden W at the Bill + a Curlew Sand at Ferrybridge; movement of 150 Swifts over Ferrybridge in the evening. Sea still quiet, with 6 Balearics, 26 Sandwich Terns & 2 Arctic Skuas thru off the Bill.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 30, 2026 at 10:43 PM

Big moon and clear sky again overnight but it remained warm and moth numbers/variety jumped back up at the Obs. Big increase in Small Mottled Willows; influx of 6 Oak Processionary surely likely to be cross-Channel migrants; Lesser Pearl verticalis only the second modern record for Portland

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 30, 2026 at 12:17 PM

Another great night of field trapping at Eight Kings Quarry on Portland, with migrant highlights of 3 Purple Marbled, Small Marbled, Beautiful Marbled, 3 Oak Processionary (part of a small influx), 2 Striped Hawkmoths, & Bordered Straw #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) July 30, 2026 at 5:44 PM

Numbers increased 15 small mottled willow 1 eastern bordered straw 2 hummingbird hawk moth .

— dunccrip.bsky.social (@dunccrip.bsky.social) July 30, 2026 at 7:40 PM

Finally! no longer a bridesmaid and another first for the garden , might be a tardy specimen but they all count.

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— dunccrip.bsky.social (@dunccrip.bsky.social) July 30, 2026 at 7:37 PM

29th July

29th July: Today's birding likely suffered in much the same way as overnight mothing had, with the clear sky and full moon counting against there being an arrival of grounded migrants. At the Bill, a few WWs & Sedge Ws were dropped & the first Tree Pipit of the autumn passed over...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 10:47 PM

...offshore, shearwaters consisted of just 2 Balearics, with 43 Sandwich Terns & 2 Arctic Skuas the pick of the movers.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 10:49 PM

With an enormous full moon and cloudless sky last night felt a lot like being out in semi-daylight and not at all conducive to a big moth catch. That said, there were still a few notables trapped at the Obs overnight incl only our third ever Oak Processionary and another Eastern Bordered Straw.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 2:08 PM

Not a big deal in UK terms these days but this Gypsy Moth from our garden at the Grove last night is only the second for Portland; the first record was of one at the Obs way back in 1986 - an era when South Coast records were thought to relate to migrants from the continent rather than introductions

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 10:11 PM

28th July

28th July: A couple of surprises today with an adult male Black Redstart particularly unexpected at Reap Lane - might they have bred nearby?; a juvenile Marsh Harrier over the Bill was quite early for the autumn's first 'migrant' raptor. Otherwise, just low numbers of routines on land and sea.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 28, 2026 at 10:18 PM

In decidedly more clement catching conditions migrant moth numbers were on the up again at the Obs overnight. No particular surprises amongst the varied catch and also no evidence of a fresh arrival of primary migrants...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 28, 2026 at 1:07 PM

...main interest for us concerned a few wandering local specials that we rarely see at the Obs, the best of which were Scarce Zebra Moth lutatella (in the UK only on the extreme edges of Portland and Purbeck) and Eyed Tortrix pupillana (frequent amongst Wormwood further up-island but v local in UK)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 28, 2026 at 1:15 PM

27th July

27th July: Another pulse of departing WWs saw 60 logged at the Bill, where 10 Sedge W, 3 Yellow Wags & 2 YLGulls were also about. Lots of Med Gulls still offshore but little actually moving on the sea & again no more than a single Balearic Shearwater.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 27, 2026 at 10:45 PM

Another across the board drop in moth numbers at the Obs overnight wasn't a surprise what with the stiff northwest breeze and waxing moon but still plenty of scarce migrant interest incl 3 Striped Hawks and singles of Many-lined, Convolvulus Hawk, Cosmopolitan and Eastern Bordered Straw.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 27, 2026 at 10:49 AM

Cosmopolitan, White-speck and Ni Moth were all quality migrants from @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social on 25/7/26:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 27, 2026 at 8:14 PM

Scarce Bordered Straw - 2 of the 3 trapped at Freshwater Bay, Portland on 24/07 to show the incredible variation in this species - my first of the year but which should become more frequent over the autumn @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 27, 2026 at 8:15 PM

Last few from @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social on 24/7 - (yet another!) Eastern Bordered Straw, Olive Pearl (my first of the year), Beach green Carpet (isolated outpost here) and Blackthorn Blister Moth (many thanks to MC for this one - a tiny thing!)

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 27, 2026 at 8:17 PM

26th July

26th July: Poor coverage today - not helped by a nagging northwesterly. Only reports from the Bill were of a few WWs, a YLGull & a Yellow Wag on the ground & 3 Balearics - the first for several days - on the sea. Small inc in waders at Fb incl 54 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling, a Knot & a Com Sand.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 26, 2026 at 10:27 PM

This evening's Knot at Ferrybridge was positively glowing © Martin Cade:

Depleted moth numbers at the Obs on a much windier night but still plenty of nice migrants about even if very few at the moment are probably 'primary' arrivals. The first Purple Marbled for a long time the highlight, with 5 Striped Hawks and a Ni the best of the rest

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 26, 2026 at 12:35 PM

Rosy Underwing, Freshwater Bay, Portland 27/07/26; I saw the resident population further east in Dorset last year but it was exciting when this one appeared on the cliff face and made a break for freedom! Perhaps the third for Portland and likely local disperser: @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 26, 2026 at 3:56 PM

Many-lined @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social on 25/07/26 - one of the many weekend moth highlights and many thanks to MC for potting this one, my first of the species; patience required for it to settle for pics - next target to trap my own! @saturdaycatbird.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 26, 2026 at 4:34 PM

Purple Marbled x3 (!) - all in the same trap at Freshwater Bay, Portland and of the same 'non purple' var. so again probably locally bred in this remarkable moth summer: @saturdaycatbird.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 26, 2026 at 4:24 PM

25th July

 

25th July: It was a bit short and sharp but the first hours of the mrng saw the best arrival of migrants so far this autumn, with 100 WW, 30 Sand Martin, 10 Sedge W, 5 Yellow Wag, 4 Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plover & a Grasshopper W at the Bill. Sea busy incl 550 Med Gulls, 29 LBBGulls south & 8 Mallards

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 25, 2026 at 10:55 PM

Still lots of reward from the Obs garden moth-traps with the picks from last night's catch being 3 Striped Hawks, 2 Eastern Bordered Straw & singles of Many-lined, Convolvulus Hawk, Cosmopolitan & Ni. Moth-trap total certainly doesn't reflect the prodigious numbers of Silver Ys nectaring at dusk.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 25, 2026 at 11:25 AM

More sensational moth trapping last night on Portland at Freshwater Bay - These 7 Striped Hawkmoths were presumably locally bred:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 25, 2026 at 12:25 PM

24th July

 

24th July: Not a bad migrant tally at the Bill, with the first obvious aggregation of c100 Sand Martins of the season, along with grounded totals of 30 apiece of Sedge W & WW. Singles of Teal & Bonxie + 150 Med Gulls the best from the sea; still no return of Balearic Shearwater to local waters.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 24, 2026 at 10:52 PM

Another successful ringing day at the Bill: 131 new birds incl migrant totals of 19 Sedge W, 17 WW & 4 Sand Martin; also another 3 Storm Petrels overnight. News back on one of our 'control' Storm Petrels from two nights ago - it had first been ringed just the night before on the Isles of Scilly!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 24, 2026 at 10:47 PM

Great to join the crew at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night and see three new Storm Petrels being ringed. Brilliant little pelagic birds with phenomenal recovery rates of ringed individuals between breeding/ringing sites. Magic! #seabirds #ukbirding @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 24, 2026 at 10:23 AM

Another panopoly of July migrants/dispersers overnight in the Obs garden moth-traps. Chief interest for us in the form of the year's first Convolvulus Hawk although in any other year star-billing would have gone to the likes of 2 more Striped Hawks and further singles of Eastern Bordered Straw & Ni

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 24, 2026 at 1:43 PM

23rd July

 

23rd July: Some post-dawn haziness looked to drop a few migrants this mrng, with 20 WW, 5 Sedge W, 2 Grasshopper W & a Garden W new in at the Bill; at least 6 Yellow Wags still there and a pre-dawn nocmig Green Sand also of note. Another shearwater-less sea; 2 YLGulls & an Arctic Skua the best there

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 10:56 PM

On the ringing front the return of the prodigal @slashercutts.bsky.social from World Cup duty saw full effort resume today as Culverwell was brought back into action. Night/day total of 134 birds was pretty respectable; 12 WW the highest migrant total; 3 controls amongst the night's petrels was nice

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 10:40 PM

Some notable increases in common migrant nos in the Obs garden moth-traps overnight incl 178 Small Mottled Willow, 127 Silver Y, 46 Rusty-dot Pearl & 39 Rush Veneer; decent variety of other migrants/dispersers incl another Striped Hawkmoth.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 2:26 PM

A few more bits from around @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this morning with Wheatear being ringed, Lesser Whitethroat x2 in skulking mode, 10+ Yellow Wags and a few Willow Warblers scattered around the recording area - a nice start. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 11:52 AM

Little Owls and a male Barn Owl enjoying the evening sun yesterday at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social - the second picture being a rare occasion (for me) to photo two spp of owl with one click. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #ukbirding #owls

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 1:39 PM

notable numbers of painted lady in tout and footpath from it, 3x CY - one dingy helice i almost trod on escaped to a taped off working area. plenty of grayling still, couple of late marbled white and lulworth skipper. lots of chalkhills but no 2nd gen adonis yet.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 6:36 PM

Painted Lady Ferrybridge

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 23, 2026 at 1:47 PM

22nd July

 

22nd July: With sea & wader interest having dropped right off eg zero shearwaters off the Bill & just 2 Sanderling at Ferrybridge it was left to a small flurry of migrants at the Bill to save the day incl 8 Yellow Wagtails, the first Reed W of the autumn & a handful each of the other expecteds

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 22, 2026 at 10:50 PM

Slightly diminished returns again on the moth front but still plenty of migrant interest in the Obs garden moth-traps overnight: 3 Striped Hawks and 2 Ni the best of the scarcities, with a Tufted Tortrix cristana the most infrequent of the 'rare here' dispersers (fewer than 10 Portland records ever)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 22, 2026 at 11:36 AM

Nice little selction of warblers on morning walk today at Culverwell @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social: a showy Garden Warbler, a camera-shy Sedge, 4+ Willow and several local Common Whitethroat. All fun stuff! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #UKBirding #BirdMigration

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 22, 2026 at 10:07 AM

A few raptors around the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social recording area yesterday, inc. Sparrowhawk, Buzzard catching a House Sparrow, a very grey-headed Buzzard and a Kestrel. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #ukbirding

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 22, 2026 at 10:33 AM

Several feeding Swifts over @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night including this adult with a largish food bolus, a saliva-bound 'parcel' of insects, nearly ready to take back for the kid's dinner... @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding #DorsetBirding

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 22, 2026 at 10:48 AM

21st July


21st July: Great weather to be out birding but far too nice to drop much in the way of migrants. Just single figure totals of YLGull, Yellow Wagtail, Grasshopper W, Sedge W, Garden W & WW grounded at the Bill. Sea passage terrible with just a single Manx. Fb waders: 48 Dunlin, 19 RP, 6 Sanderling.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 21, 2026 at 11:43 PM

Wacky and very unexpected addition to the Portland ringing tally - a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull lured in with stale bread rolls from last weekend's Obs AGM and caught in our giant drop-door trap (constructed years ago in a futile attempt to catch Ravens but now repurposed for gull catching)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 21, 2026 at 12:39 PM

Grasshopper Warbler ringed at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this morning and then refound sunning itself in the Crown Fields this evening. Top birds! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #DorsetBirding

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— Baldbirder: Ross Newham (@baldbirder.bsky.social) July 21, 2026 at 9:56 PM

Two nice scarcities amongst an otherwise slightly reduced catch of migrants/dispersers in the Obs garden moth-traps last night: Marbled Clover and Toadflax Brocade were the fourth and fifth records respectively for Portland.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 21, 2026 at 1:03 PM

Last three from Portland 17/07/26: Toadflax Brocade (rare here), Barred Rivulet and Tree Lichen Beauty - not in that order - always amazed at the green of the TLB! @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 21, 2026 at 8:53 PM

20th July


20th July: An underwhelming migrant selection at the Bill incl 8 Sedge W, 5 Yellow Wags, 5 WW & a GSWoodpecker on the ground; 61 Sandwich Terns, 7 Dunlin, a Balearic, a Curlew & a YLGull thru on the sea. Ferrybridge waders incl 33 Dunlin, 10 Sanderling, 3 Black t Godwits, 2 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM

The Black-tailed Godwits amongst a Ferrybridge miscellany this morning © Pete Saunders:



Two more nights of plenty in the Obs gdn moth-traps - probably nothing that's a great surprise these days but maxima of 210 Small Mottled Willow, 107 amplana, 10 Small Marbled and scares incl Big Snout, Vestal, Gem, Striped Hawk, Ni, Eastern Bordered Straw etc. The new normal!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 20, 2026 at 12:11 PM

...of course, that should be Bog Snout - a first for the Obs garden after the first for Portland a few days ago for @dunccrip.bsky.social at Weston

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 20, 2026 at 1:14 PM

Wakeham - 17 Jul 26 Saturday was another good mothing night with 183 moths of 54 species. Below are a few images of some of the lifers I had. I don't mind being corrected on some of those on the blog, including the possible Ear Moth (Amphipoea oculea) below. 😊 homandway.blogspot.com/2026/07/eigh...

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— Port and Wey (@portandwey.bsky.social) July 20, 2026 at 5:49 PM

A few more from Portland on 17/07/26 - Ni Moth (No 5 and No 6!), Crescent Dart and Lesser Spotted Pinion; Toadflax Brocade (not pictured) was a good record (less than 10 records) @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 20, 2026 at 7:55 PM

Ni Moths - Freshwater Bay, Portland 17/7/26 - having failed to trap one previously, I caught SIX (!) in one night, alongside a huge number of Silver Y (500+) in / around the traps. Much darker than the late May-June arrivals so presumably locally bred @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 20, 2026 at 8:04 AM

19th July


19th July: The first cloudy dawn for a long time dropped a small flurry of migrants at the Bill incl 10 each Sedge W & WW, 3 Grasshopper Ws, 2 Yellow Wags & a Redshank. Sea v quiet, with 3 Balearics and a YLGull the best at the Bill. Ferrybridge waders incl 46 Dunlin & 15 Sanderling.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 11:44 PM

Seems to have been a big arrival and/or hatch of Painted Ladies and Hummingbird Hawks around the island today - the mint-fresh Painted Ladies are perhaps most likely locally-bred but the four Hummingbird Hawks trapped overnight in the Obs moth-traps suggests some of them might be new migrants

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 6:26 PM

Broadcroft Quarry to the prison, Portland 19 July Dozens of Painted Lady many fresh - easily 200+ - I now wish I'd counted. 10+ Silver-Y 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoth Bordered Straw Moderate numbers of Chalkhill Blues now out @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 8:36 PM

Eastern Bordered Straw - presumably locally bred, trapped at Freshwater Bay, Portland on 17/07/26, one of a small number seen along the south coast this week - more to come presumably .. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 11:02 PM

Dark Crimson Underwing - 3 of this stunning species trapped overnight Friday 17/7/26 at Freshwater Bay, Portland, presumably indicative of dispersal for this expanding species @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 10:55 PM

18th July


18th July: Little bit of migrant interest at the Bill incl 26 Sand Martin, 10 WW, 5 Sedge W, 4 Yellow Wag & a Cuckoo; 150 Med Gulls, 44 Sandwich Terns & 2 Balearics on the sea. Waders at Ferrybridge incl 36 Dunlin, 9 Sanderling, 8 Redshank, 2 Knot & Whimbrel.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 12:14 AM

17th July

17th July: A few migrants on a calm and at times very warm day at the Bill, with 3 Sedge W, 2 Yellow Wags, a Grasshopper W & a WW grounded + 65 Sand Martins & an LRP overhead. Just 4 Balearic Shearwaters on the sea, with 75 Med Gulls, 25 Cormorants west, 2 Sanderling & 2 YLGulls the best on the sea.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 11:46 PM

Their passage is already well underway at the 'better habitat' South Coast watchpoints but our first Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn just now from the mist-nets in the decidedly less optimal Crown Estate Field

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 8:11 AM

Willow Warbler's another bird that in comparison with points not too far away has been a tad slow to make it to this part of the South Coast - this is our first autumn youngster today from the CEF mist-nets. A final far from special migrant tally from the nets of 3 Sedge W, 1 Grasshopper W & 1 WW.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 2:27 PM

Ferrybridge this morning Knot, Whimbrel, Sanderling, 3 Turnstone

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 8:21 AM

Our 1st summer/autumn Knot at Ferrybridge this morning

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 3:21 PM

16th July

A reminder for Obs members of this year's AGM that'll be held at the Obs at 4:30pm this Saturday - 18th July - BBQ and other refreshments to follow the meeting.



A far less windy dawn allowed for better coverage of the land that revealed far less than might have been hoped and certainly far less than is already on the move through nearby hot-spots. A single Sedge Warbler was the leanest of rewards on the ground at the Bill, where 100 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails and singles of Grey Heron and Little Egret headed through overhead; 3 Sanderlings were the best of the waders at Ferrybridge. Some better variety out to sea there included amongst others 60 Mediterranean Gulls, 52 Sandwich Terns, 15 Balearic Shearwaters, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Shelducks, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Ringed Plovers, 3 Arctic Skuas and a frustratingly too distant 20 or more small waders that defied identification.


Dark Crimson Underwing was a new moth for me this morning, courtesy of the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social traps. A richly coloured & much-wanted species, completing my haul of the resident UK Catocala species #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) July 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM

15th July

With the stiff northeasterly of dawn abating quicker than in recent days there was at least a little attention paid to the land, with singles of Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Sedge Warbler coming out of the woodwork at the Bill where another trickle of Swifts and Sand Martins passed through overhead. The sea was conspicuously quiet for long periods, with little more 3 each of Balearic Shearwater, Arctic Skua and Yellow-legged Gull to show at the Bill.

Another good moth catch at the Obs last night: a Many-lined the best migrant, with Silver-spotted Veneer a decent back-up; lots of dispersers/recent colonists incl 14 Rusty Acorn Piercer amplana...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM

Puzzled enough by this early and not-quite-right 'Rhomboid Tortrix' to keep it and check it out and looks like a good candidate for Fen Tortrix A shepherdana - is that right anyone who knows it? If it is one, certainly new for Portland and seemingly pretty rare anywhere in these parts

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM

The new for Portland moths keep coming: we're guessing this is a rather plain/dark form of Bog Snout Spaganothis pilleriana that @dunccrip.bsky.social has just brought us - caught last night in his garden at Weston. A heathland/east Dorset species in these parts.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 2:37 PM

...also, it's an excellent year for Four Spotted, one of the local specials here, 50 from the Obs traps this morning is likely the highest ever single night total

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 12:21 PM

14th July

The fact that howling winds have scuppered any chance of getting amongst passerine migrants on each of the last few mornings has been made all the more frustrating by the gradual calming through each afternoon and evening. This morning's passerine rewards at the Bill consisted of just a lone Yellow Wagtail and a handful of overhead Sand Martins. Waders were a little better, with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Sanderling and a Whimbrel overhead/passing at the Bill and the long-staying Little Ringed Plover still at Ferrybridge. Now routine fare on the sea included 50 Mediterranean Gulls, 20 Sandwich Terns and 16 Balearic Shearwaters, with at least 5 Yellow-legged Gulls alternating between feeding offshore and loafing in the fields. Additional randoms included a Mute Swan over Ferrybridge and a Grey Heron over the Bill.

This morning's Mute Swan over Ferrybridge © Debby Saunders:


A few from Ferrybridge the past few days

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 14, 2026 at 5:31 PM

Dark Crimson Underwing, new for the garden

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 14, 2026 at 2:55 PM
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