14th June


14th June: In very benign conditions there were a few new arrivals/movers incl 4 Reed Ws on the land & 50 Com Scoter, 43 commic terns, 10 Canada Geese, a Black Tern & an Arctic Skua thru off the Bill; shearwaters still conspicuous with c1000 Manx & 50 Balearics off the Bill...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 11:11 PM

...also good to see that pair of Wheatears in the Bill Quarry have bred successfully - 2 fledged youngsters there this evening...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 11:13 PM

...also not too difficult to have the best ringing day of the month so far - hitherto the weather's been shocking! 29 new birds ringed were mostly local youngsters but the total did include two Reed Warblers and the fourth Greenfinch of the year (only one Greenfinch was ringed in the whole of 2025)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 11:23 PM

Three Knots at Ferrybridge this morning that we forgot to include in today's highlights © John Dadds:


Considerably improved overnight mothing at the Obs - not a great variety of migrants but such a huge increase in Large Yellow Underwings that you got the feel there was something going on with them. A Striped Hawk, a Delicate and 11 Small Mottled Willow best of the conventional migrants

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 10:43 AM

Dotted Fan-foot, I believe a good moth for Dorset #mothsmatter

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 10:55 AM

Seabirds at Portland Bill after a long bike ride this morning - Manx (left) were closer than the Balearic Shearwater (top right) which stayed a long way out. Guillemot and Razorbill also on the sea and a few flocks of Common Scoter east @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Peter Moore (@moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 10:42 PM

only around 10-12 red veined darter at yeolands quarry, also present common blue and blue tailed damselfly, emperors, broad bodied chasers, black tailed skimmers, martin thought he had a ruddy darter too.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) June 14, 2026 at 10:55 PM

13th June

Apart from the putative Blyth's Reed W, the Serin's only been seen once this mrng - pre-6am in flight over the Obs - also a Spot Fly new there & a Sand Martin overhead + a Hobby thru at Blacknor. Manx much reduced offshore but 28 Balearics, a Bonxie & a Storm Petrel thru.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 13, 2026 at 11:14 AM

Interesting acro trapped in the Crown Estate Field this mrng - suspect it's going to turn out to be a Blyth's Reed but certainly a pretty subtle one - plumage not too bad, decent biometrics, poor p4 emargination etc. No field views & no calls.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 13, 2026 at 9:35 AM

Still lots of Red-veined Darters active around the Yeolands Quarry pool this afternoon but again none actually seen egg-laying; House Martins constantly visiting the pool were presumably local breeders from the Grove housing estate

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 13, 2026 at 11:18 PM

And a bit more on the Blyth's Reed Warbler. To be truthful, we rather optimistically thought this just might be a Blyth's Reed before we even reached it in the mist-net - it was laying upside down and looked so white beneath that it really didn't look like it'd be a Reed Warbler. However, in the harsh light of blazing sunshine it was surprisingly hard to interpret the colour of the upperparts so we took a quick wing measurement that at 61mm was massively pro-Blyth's Reed...  


The spanner in the works though was quickly revealed to be the utter lack of an emargination on the 4th primary of the right wing (the usual wing that a right-hander examines) that a spring Blyth's Reed should always show. At first glance the left wing wasn't a lot better although closer scrutiny showed that rather than a classic-shaped emargination on the 4th primary there was in fact a noticeable progressive  narrowing of the outer web of the 4th primary that was a little more positive (...even if this did require looking at the right angle as is apparent in these two photographs!). With little wrong with the other biometrics we're pretty confident this is a Blyth's Reed even if the emargination issue saw to it that it wasn't the sort of bird we were happy to put straight out as 100% certain. With any luck the DNA from a couple of dislodged feathers will eventually confirm our tentative identification © Martin Cade:


12th June

 

12th June: Still blustery all day and still shearwaters moving throughout - c3000 Manx & 49 Balearics west before many started lingering offshore to confuse the situation; 27 Fulmars a Storm Petrel & an Arctic Skua also through. The Serin made regular reappearances without ever settling for long.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 12, 2026 at 10:03 PM

Serin flew north over Crown Estate Field towards Higher Light at 14:49. A few Balearic Shearwater off the bill, 2 fresh Silver-studded Blue and a worn Adonis Blue in Tout Quarry @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding #dorsetbirds

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— Oli Mockridge (@yeovilbirder.bsky.social) June 12, 2026 at 7:21 PM

11th June

 

11th June: Miserable drizzly, cool & increasingly windy conditions produced another bumper total of Manx with likely up towards 10000 passing the Bill; Balearics much reduced with 6 logged, also 2 Arctic Skuas. The Serin again at the Obs; 2 Sanderling & 1 Dunlin the only waders at Ferrybridge

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 11, 2026 at 9:44 PM

Some of this morning's shearwater action at the Bill © Pete Saunders:







 

10th June

 

10th June: Although the Serin appeared again - 3 times all briefly overhead at the Obs - and singles of Grey Heron and Reed W were new arrivals it was Manx Shearwaters that again stole the show with likely well in excess of 2500 thru off the Bill; also on the sea 20 Balearics & an Arctic Skua...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 10, 2026 at 10:42 PM

...waders still trickling thru incl 10 Sanderling, 6 RP, 3 Dunlin & a Turnstone at Ferrybridge. A Common Darter on the wing at Culverwell was the second earliest ever for Portland - beaten only by last year's exceptional single on 17th May

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

9th June

9th June: A couple of surprises from the land today with a Serin over the Bill lighthouse and a late Hobby in/off. Steady flow of Manx offshore - 500 through the morning and plenty more later - along with at least 30 Balearics & an Arctic Skua; also a miscellany of tern rpts incl both Black & Little

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 9, 2026 at 10:57 PM

Not sure what the current thoughts on the specific status of Langmaid's Yellow Underwing are but in the past things looking like them have always emerged earlier for us than Lesser Broad-borders. Singles yesterday and today were our earliest ever but the first (y'day) looked a lot like a LBBYU...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 9, 2026 at 10:16 PM

...whilst today's specimen looked better-ish for a Langmaid's. Probably just a dodgy split and we're working too hard to try and consistently separate them by appearance.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 9, 2026 at 10:20 PM

8th June

 

8th June: A wet morning but bright, sunny afternoon with a few waders the best of the new arrivals incl 9 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin & a Golden Plover at Ferrybridge. Sea quieter today with 300 Manx, 25 Balearics & 2 Arctic Skuas the best off the Bill. youtu.be/D0fPdCtyq6c?...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 8, 2026 at 11:42 PM

Popped over to RSPB Lodmoor for an evening check out of what looked to be a good call by @davidturner1967.bsky.social for a Purple Heron there earlier in the day and treated to bizarrely fabulous views when after an hour or more of looking it suddenly appeared almost directly overhead!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 8, 2026 at 10:57 PM

Wakeham 51 moths of 18 species, with Heart & Darts peaking at 31 moths. A Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni) was a lifer for me. Plus some very worn moths!! homandway.blogspot.com/2026/06/back...

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— Port and Wey (@portandwey.bsky.social) June 8, 2026 at 2:52 PM

7th June

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.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 7, 2026 at 10:42 PM

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.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM

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.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 5, 2026 at 10:28 PM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 5, 2026 at 8:41 AM

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.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 4, 2026 at 10:26 AM

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...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 3, 2026 at 11:07 PM

...also still a few tardy waders at Ferrybridge incl 4 Sanderling and singles of Knot and Whimbrel

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 3, 2026 at 11:09 PM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 8:39 AM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 1, 2026 at 12:58 PM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM

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

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 4:55 PM

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

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 5:17 PM

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

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 7:43 PM

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

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 7:38 PM

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:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 10:21 PM

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

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 6:27 PM

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

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) May 31, 2026 at 5:49 PM

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...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 12:14 PM

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...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 1:52 PM

...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.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 1:27 PM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2026 at 11:03 PM

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

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— Mark Cutts (@slashercutts.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 7:13 AM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 11:37 AM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 7:45 AM

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?...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 9:18 AM

...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!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 9:23 AM

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

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2026 at 6:30 PM
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