7th June: Final totals from the sea incl 500 Manx Shearwaters, 70 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Arctic Skuas & a Storm Petrel. Flurry of late waders at the Bill incl 12 Sanderling, 7 Ringed Plovers and 2 Whimbrel but the only migrant of note on the land was a single Willow Warbler in song in Top Fields.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 7, 2026 at 10:42 PM
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7th June
6th June
6th June: Very stormy conditions for the time of year saw the sea super busy with shearwaters - nos difficult with movement in all directions but conservatively c2000 Manx & c50 Balearics; variety incl a few terns, 10 Com Scoter, a Storm Petrel & an Arctic Skua. Just 1 Sanderling at Ferrybridge.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM
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5th June
5th June: With the Bee-eaters seemingly having made their escape to Guernsey and the long-staying Turtle Dove at the Obs finally looking as though it had moved on, interest on the land was limited to a single new Chiffchaff at the Bill. Balearic Shearwaters continued to linger offshore all day.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 5, 2026 at 10:28 PM
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Mob-handed arrival of Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill this morning: minimum of 60 in from the east with many now feeding distantly with the gull flock; c600 Manx thru/lingering + Sooty Shearwater & 2 Arctic Skuas thru
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 5, 2026 at 8:41 AM
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4th June
4th June: Bee-eaters heard over Southwell were presumably the reappearing 5 from earlier in the week. Turtle Dove remained at the Obs. Seabirds tricky to count with lots lingering offshore incl c250 Manx, c15 Balearics, an Arctic Skua and at least 1 Storm Petrel; 4 more A Skuas & a Black Tern thru.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 4, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Terrible moth-trapping conditions but still a few decent migrants hanging on from last weeks excesses: this mrng at the Obs mostly very ragged singles of Olive-tree Pearl, Gem, Eastern Bordered Straw and Ni Moth the best.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 4, 2026 at 10:26 AM
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3rd June
3rd June: on a really windy day the uptick in Balearic Shearwaters continued with 14 through off the Bill along with c1000 Manx and a single Sooty; also an Arctic Skua through and a Sunfish briefly quite close off the Bill tip. Turtle Dove still in the Obs garden at least during the morning...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 3, 2026 at 11:07 PM
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...also still a few tardy waders at Ferrybridge incl 4 Sanderling and singles of Knot and Whimbrel
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 3, 2026 at 11:09 PM
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2nd June
2nd June: the 5 Bee-eaters made another two passes over the Obs during the morning and the Turtle Dove remained there; single WW the only arrival on the ground at the Bill; c1000 Manx, 8 Balearics & a Little Tern thru on the sea; 7 Sanderlings & a Knot at Ferrybridge.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM
The Bee-eaters over the Obs © Martin Cade:
And a few calls as they were disappearing in the distance:
Autumn's started: Willow Warbler just trapped at the Obs that's presumably a failed breeder with a big brood patch - not sure where the nearest breeders are to here but likely a good long way away these days
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 8:39 AM
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1st June
1st June: 5 Bee-eaters doing a lap of the island from the Bill to the Verne and back again provided the day's highlight; the Turtle Dove remained at the Obs, with a single Chiffchaff the only other new arrival at the Bill; trickle of Manx offshore + 45 Com Scoter, a Balearic & an Arctic Skua
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
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Obs moth-traps still quite busy last night despite the dip in temperature; 2 more Eastern Bordered Straw the best, with singles of Little Thorn (Portland's 4th ever and our 3rd in the last week) and Treble Brown-spot (fewer than 10 island records) good locally
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 1, 2026 at 12:58 PM
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A few more migrant moths from our Grove garden traps today incl a Purple Marbled; a Four Spotted was also only the third ever for this site. Weirdest catch was an orangey-coloured Xestia - struggling to see beyond it being an oddly-marked and v early Dotted Clay (v rare here) but comments welcome
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM
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31st May
31st May: birds played second fiddle to moths today, with very full moth-traps to inspect and a succession of fridge twitchers coming to inspect the rewards of recent nights to entertain; the Turtle Dove remained at the Obs, with c1000 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Balearics & a Greenshank passing on the sea
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Last night's migrant moth highlights at the Obs included 2 Silver-spotted Veneer and singles of Eastern Bordered Straw, Ni Moth, Vestal, Bordered Straw, Small Marbled, Purple Marbled, Gem and Little Thorn, with 385 Diamond-backs and 167 Small Mottled Willows amongst the routines totals
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 11:37 PM
I chanced my arm at some migrant action during my 1st ever overnight trapping session on Portland y'day, with my lone MV in the Sheat Quarry area on the East Cliffs... And it was amazing! Many thanks to Martin @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social for his helpful input - I'll definitely be back #TeamMoth
— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 4:55 PM
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I (finally!) caught my own Eastern Bordered Straw, in the Sheat Quarry area on Portland last night, with one netted alongside a tiny Ni Moth on Red Valerian. 3 Small Marbled were also recorded, a sublime Striped Hawkmoth (that blundered out of the trap), Gem, Vestal, 10 SM Willow, & 10 Diamondback
— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 5:17 PM
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Despite searching for dayfliers in the field at Portland on many occasions previously, I've somehow never managed to find a Four-spotted, so this individual (kindly potted for me by Martin @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) was much appreciated this morning #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 7:43 PM
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An Oblique Carpet, courtesy of @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social trap this morning - a new species for me & presumably a wanderer from the continent (not a Many-lined sadly, as previously reported by this rueful & sleep-deprived moth-er) #ManyLinesButNotManyLined
— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 7:38 PM
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Overnight trapping on Portland (2 MVs, 1 Lepi-LED) on Friday night was my most successful migrant moth haul to date, with a Striped Hawk-moth, a stunning Mediterranean Brocade (first for @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social, 14th for Britain), an Eastern Bordered Straw and 4 Bordered Straw:
— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 10:21 PM
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I was like a kid in a candy shop exploring the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social Fridge of Wonder, which hosted Alan Lewis's sublime Mediterranean Brocade, Purple Marbled, & multiple EB Straw & Striped Hawkmoth, with Martin also supplying a Ni Moth & 2 Euchromius ocellea from today's traps #TeamMoth
— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 6:27 PM
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Yeolands Quarry 31 May in fairly cool conditions. Red Veined Darter 2m 1 f-type on slopes. I think this is Brooklime at the pond. If ID is ok it's not in the BSBI atlas for the island so may be new for Portland. An ichneumon making photography something of a challenge. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 5:49 PM
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And back to a couple of days ago for some more photos of that day's scarcities:
30th May
30th May: quiet save for the lingering Turtle Dove at the Obs & a brief Tree Sparrow - yesterday's bird? - also at the Bill; singles of Chiffchaff & Spot Fly the only new passerine arrivals there; 300 Manx Shearwaters still offshore + singles of GNDiver, Balearic & Arctic Skua thru on the sea
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Still plenty of migrant moths last night but the overall catch at the Obs was noticeably reduced; Eastern Bordered Straw, 3 Striped Hawks & Small Marbled the best there along with 102 Small Mottled Willow & 170 Diamond-backs. Exciting up-island news from @alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social to follow...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 12:14 PM
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Permission to steal @alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social's thunder as he's currently indisposed birding elsewhere: fantastic reward for him after sticking to his usual trapping spot at Freshwater Bay, Southwell, in what looked to be unpromisingly cooler, breezy conditions with a Mediterranean Brocade...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 1:52 PM
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...a Portland first and think it's about the 12th for Britain. Also there for Alan an Eastern Bordered Straw and a Striped Hawk.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 1:55 PM
The island's Eastern Bordered Straw tally advances to 9 in the last two nights with 2 more from last night in our garden at the Grove; also another Striped Hawk from there.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 1:27 PM
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Red-veined Darter numbers at Yeolands Quarry much improved since last weekend - must have been a good 20 if not more scattered about the slopes beside the pool this afternoon although none seen in tandem or egg-laying
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 11:03 PM
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30th May
30th May: the Turtle Dove remained at the Bill and a brief Tree Sparrow there may have been yesterday's bird reappearing but new passerine arrivals consisted of just singles of Chiffchaff & Spot Fly; singles of GNDiver, Balearic Shearwater & Arctic Skua passed by on the sea, with at least 300 Manx also still offshore.
29th May
29th May: beyond today's two scarces - the Melodious Warbler & Tree Sparrow (the Turtle Dove was also still about at the Obs) - there was still a little migration evident, with 3 each of Reed Warbler & Chiffchaff + a single Spot Fly new at the Bill; 550 Manx, a GNDiver & an Arctic Skua thru at sea
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Pretty quiet in the nets, so this Melodious Warbler was a real treat this morning #birdringing #culverwell @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
— Mark Cutts (@slashercutts.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 7:13 AM
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Never really understood why this is a good time of year for Tree Sparrows because you'd have thought they'd all be off breeding far away from here (this one had a big brood patch so has tried to breed somewhere) but May's always been good for them and here's another just now from the CEF mist-nets
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 11:37 AM
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Lyme Bay pelagic from Portland @naturetrektours moulting ad Balearic Shearwater, 2 Storm-petrel, 7 Puffin, Little Tern, 55 Manx Shearwater, 7 Mediterranean Gull, 60 Kittiwake, ca500 Guillemot, 40 Razorbill, 30 Gannet, Ocean Sunfish. Data to @MARINElife_UK pic.twitter.com/djbzFpunUY
— Tom Brereton (@tom_m_brereton) May 29, 2026
Interesting start to the round of the Obs garden moth-traps with what looks to be a new species for the island on the vanes of the lepi-led trap (...not the easiest spot to pot it from!) - Pale Oak Beauty that we're guessing has strayed over from a French woodland
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 7:45 AM
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So totally expected after yesterday's events further west that we weren't even surprised to find an Eastern Bordered Straw on top of another moth-trap at the Obs - how come the sparrows hadn't eaten that?...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 9:18 AM
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...and then inside that trap another EBS, a Purple Marbled & a Striped Hawk. How times have changed - can still well remember Bernard Skinner massively gripping us off in May 1992 by showing us Britain's 4th EBS (& the first for 30+ yrs) that he'd caught the night before at Durlston!
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 9:23 AM
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Final Obs garden migrant moth totals for last night: 237 Diamond-back, 230 Small Mottled Willow, 19 Rusty-dot Pearl, 6 SY, 4 Striped Hawk, 3 Eastern Bordered Straw, 2 Rush Veneer, singles Vestal, Bordered Straw, Dark Sword Grass & Purple Marbled + the Pale Oak Beauty and several other misc strays.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 12:25 PM
More migrant moths for last night's tally: singles of Eastern Bordered Straw from John Lucas' garden at Southwell and from our garden at the Grove + a Striped Hawk at the Grove; among the commoner migrant totals there were 53 Small Mottled Willows at the Grove
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 6:30 PM
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28th May
28th May: a quieter afternoon but with a notable addition to the earlier totals in the form of Quail flushed from the edge of the Obs garden; 17 Sanderling the best of a few waders at Ferrybridge.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 28, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Fortunately migration at a slightly better level than this Budgie that's just flown past the Obs - Little Stint thru with 32 Sanderling on the sea + 350 Manx, 25 commic tern, 2 Balearics & singles of GNDiver & Bonxie; Turtle Dove still about at the Obs + 2 Spot Fly & Reed W
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 28, 2026 at 10:27 AM
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27th May
27th May: Turtle Dove still at the Obs; Quail new at the Bill + 3 CC, 3 Spot Fly, 2 Little Egret & a Reed W; inc in Med Gulls to 40 off the Bill, with 30 Com Scoter, 25 commic terns, 4 Grey Plover & singles of GNDiver, Balearic Shearwater & Black Tern thru on the sea; 10 Sanderling at Ferrybridge
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 28, 2026 at 1:25 AM
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The Turtle Dove lingered all day in the vicinity of the Obs © Martin Cade:
Spectacular lightning-filled cumulonimbus cloud off to the east of Portland this evening
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 28, 2026 at 1:09 AM
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26th May
26th May: despite some epic fieldwork by @dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social the expectation of Bee-eaters galore came to nothing, with the day's migrant tally at the Bill consisting of grounded singles of Turtle Dove, Bcap & CC and 27 Com Scoter, 13 commic terns, 2 GNDivers & a Balearic thru on the sea
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 26, 2026 at 11:07 PM
This spring's very unexpected flurry of Turtle Doves is extremely welcome although it should be borne in mind that these numbers still fall far short of those logged even a decade or two ago that were described at the time as woefully low. Today's sightings seem to refer to one individual that was first sighted beside the Obs, later turned up at Sweethill where this photograph was taken and then returned to the Obs garden during the evening © Nick Stantiford:
25th May
25th May: stiff easterly breeze prompted some tern passage with 108 commics, 5 Blacks and a Little thru off the Bill; singles of Arctic and Great Skuas also thru offshore; passerine arrivals at the Bill limited to yet another 3 CCs + 2 Spot Flys; Ferrybridge waders: 27 RP, 18 Sanderling & 10 Dunlin
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Chief prize from overnight mothing was a Little Thorn - the first at the Obs and only the second for Portland after we were gripped by @birdbeard.bsky.social finding one last year on East Weare when he wasn't even seriously mothing! 471 Diamond-backs & 114 Small Mottled Willows amongst the Obs catch
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 11:31 AM
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More migrant moth news: the second Many-lined in as many nights - this one from last night from John Lucas' garden at Southwell
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 8:56 PM
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Overnight trapping @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social gave this lovely Ni Moth (out of the fridge, courtesy of MC), with best of the self-trapped at Freshwater Bay including Puss Moth (2, inc. egg laying female), migrants inc. a single Small Marbled and 25 Small Mottled Willows:
— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 9:01 PM
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Last fews day have started to really improve in the moth trap with my second ever beautiful marbled and new for garden 2x euchromius ocellea 11 small mottled willow and 122× diamond back
— dunccrip.bsky.social (@dunccrip.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 11:53 PM
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most butterflies wings shut today in the breeze like this adonis blue. a fair few lulworth skipper out on the E side where they always seem to show up first, probably been on the wing a while i would imagine. first yellow belle and mother of shipton for me on the moff front.
— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 9:14 PM
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male and female black tailed skimmer, broad bodied chaser, emperor, also saw a demoiselle that was flying away from me at the back, probably beautiful i guess. blanked on red veined darter after oli's single yesterday and martin's two the day before.
— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 25, 2026 at 9:24 PM
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Some Ferrybridge Sanderling action © John Dadds:
24th May
24th May: uneventful on the bird front with a handful of Chiffchaffs and Spot Flys along with singles of Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail making up the passerine migrant tally; waders at Ferrybridge included 30 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plovers and 14 Sanderling; 600 Manx and a single Balearic off the Bill
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 24, 2026 at 11:33 PM
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Also on the migrant front, the Obs nocmig recorder picked up a passing Quail overhead in the early hours:
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 24, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Rich reward again on the migrant moth front with the chief prizes at the Obs being a Many-lined - Portland's 10th record of this decent scarcity - and 7 Silver-spotted Veneer E ocellea. Among the commoner things a big arrival of 376 Diamond-backs was of note, with Small Mottled Willow also up to 204
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Another decent migrant moth: the island's first Ni Moth this year from our garden trap at the Grove last night - a very smart specimen too
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 24, 2026 at 1:30 PM
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Just a single Red-veined Darter seen above Yeolands Quarry, Portland this afternoon. Several Hairy Dragonflies and Norfolk Hawkers on the wing at Radipole.
— Oli Mockridge (@yeovilbirder.bsky.social) May 24, 2026 at 6:56 PM
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23rd May
23rd May: a few new grounded migrants incl 5 Spot Flys and singles of Reed W, LWT & Firecrest at the Bill, Spot Fly at Broadcroft and 27 Sanderling & a Wheatear at Ferrybridge; 350 Manx, 33 BhGulls, 20 Med Gulls, 10 commic terns, 4 Eider, 3 GNDivers, a RtDiver & a Pom Skua through off the Bill.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 10:41 PM
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A Firecrest an unseasonable early catch at the Obs this morning
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 7:14 AM
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Yesterday's daytime arrival of Painted Ladies and Hummingbird Hawks proved to be the precursor to a decent overnight migrant moth catch at the Obs that included a Striped Hawkmoth & 139 Small Mottled Willows; 5 Green Oak Tortrix & Delicate of note amongst the back ups.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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Our garden moth-trap at the Grove contained more of the same migrant-wise with the addition of the island's first Vestal of the year. Also an additional Striped Hawk for the tally from John Lucas' garden trap at Southwell.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 1:07 PM
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Wakeham 64 moths of 29 species, with my first ever Striped Hawk-moth (Hyles livornica). A lot of interesting firsts as well, plus I'm getting confused with Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) and Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua), if anyone can help. homandway.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-f...
— Port and Wey (@portandwey.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 9:16 PM
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Striped Hawkmoth nectaring on Red Valerian this evening at the Obs
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 9:39 PM
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At least 2 Red-veined Darters on the Yeolands Quarry pool this afternoon - both fully coloured-up and no tenerals found so uncertain whether they're more likely fresh immigrants or the result of last year's breeding. Black-tailed Skimmers also the wing there - the first we've seen this year.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 4:44 PM
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