13th July

With the northeasterly gusting up around gale force at dawn passerine migrant seeking/trapping was all but out of the question and a trickle of passing Sand Martins was all that could be mustered through the day in this line. The sea or the gathering of gulls provided most of the day's interest at the Bill, with a few lingering Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas and a Tufted Duck the best offshore and perhaps as many as 6 Yellow-legged Gulls kicking about either offshore or loafing in the fields. Waders continued to provide interest, with 52 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Sanderling amongst the offerings at Ferrybridge.

When they're not feeding offshore, there's now a pretty decent flock of loafing gulls gathering below Culverwell:

Yellow-legged Gulls are beginning to build up and today included a sub-adult amongst the customary juveniles - we don't very often see any other age classes accompanying the youngsters northwards at this time of year:


There was also the unusual sight of a flock of Mediterranean Gulls dropping in - albeit very briefly - before they migrated off into the distance; Med Gulls can be pretty abundant at times offshore but they're a really rare sight actually settled in the fields © Martin Cade:



Always nice to see fresh juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls - one of four noted at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social yesterday. Beautiful evening light #ukbirding

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— Thomas Miller (@tmbirding.bsky.social) July 13, 2026 at 5:46 PM

With it very windy overnight moth numbers/variety were well down on recent nights but singles of Dark Crimson Underwing and Rusty Acorn Piercer amplana - both first for the year - were catches of interest at the Obs.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 13, 2026 at 1:48 PM

 Many's the time we've been far more gripped by a snatched photo or video of questionable quality than we have by the pin-sharp, cropped-to-death offerings of the camo-clad brigade and a case in point was Lauren Fairfax's little digiscoped phone video clip of a Sunfish just off the Bill tip this morning! © Lauren Fairfax:

12th July

With the wind having strengthened several more notches birding on the land became hard and unproductive work today, with only a distinct uptick in waders at Ferrybridge to show for the efforts; totals there included 48 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and singles of Redshank, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper, with the 5 Redshank also showing up at West Weare and an additional Whimbrel was logged at the Bill. Passerine passage was limited to passing Sand Martins, that included 60 through at Ferrybridge. Yellow-legged Gull passage gathered momentum, with up to 4 settled at the Bill and some of the same or others seen over the sea there. Also at sea, the Balearic Shearwater total got to around 20 and an Arctic Skua was amongst the other loggings.

Another Whimbrel dropped in at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders:


11th July

Scorchingly hot again today with the cloudless sky not looking at all likely to have dropped new grounded arrivals. The Serin was still about from time to time at the Obs but in the absence of passerine newcomers it was left to a selection of waders to provide grounded interest, with amongst others 11 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 2 Turnstones and a Whimbrel joining the long-staying Little Ringed Plover at Ferrybridge. It was busier overhead, with the 96 Sand Martins logged over the Bill through the morning looking to be just part of a heavier passage of both them and Swifts, with additional signs of the first few Swallow getting moving. Big increases in Mediterranean and Lesser Black-backed Gulls off the Bill - at least 160 and 40 respectively headed west - were a feature on the sea, with a slightly tardy first 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls of the summer also logged; 20 Balearic Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua were among the other sea totals.

This morning's three Redshanks at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:


The Ferrybridge Little Ringed Plover is a leggy, characterful little bird that's been entertaining for more than a week now © Martin Cade:


Moth numbers and variety noticeably down on an increasingly breezy night at the Obs; however, a LepiLED session by Thomas Miller in the nearby Crown Estate Field turned up a first for Portland in the form of a Reed Veneer Chilo phragmitella


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

10th July

The fierce heat continued, being only slightly tempered by an easterly breeze that freshened a little through the day. Routine fare at sea included 150 Manx and 19 Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill, where 29 Common Scoter and 15 Sandwich Terns were the best of the movers. On the land, the Serin lingered on in the vicinity of the Obs but migrant interest was mainly overhead, with 86 Sand Martins, 23 Swifts and singles of Curlew and Whimbrel through. The Little Ringed Plover remained at Ferrybridge, with the first 2 returning Turnstones, 2 Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper among the few other waders present.

We could hardly believe our eyes when on investigating what colour-ring project this juvenile Ringed Plover photographed by Pete Saunders at Ferrybridge this morning came from it looked nailed-on that it hailed from the Netherlands. A juvenile Ringed Plover coming that far before the middle of July seemed so unlikely that we assumed we must be making a mistake. However, thanks to Sander Lilipaly's quick response to our enquiry, we soon discovered it really had already made that journey as it had been ringed as a fledgling on a beach near Ritthem, The Netherlands, on 2nd June; amazingly, one of its siblings from the same nest was still present today with its parents at the breeding site - what's the mechanism that prompts one youngster to up and leave on a pretty monumental journey (Sander doesn't think there have been any previous foreign recoveries of juvenile birds from his project in the first half of July) whilst its brother/sister is still sitting it out at the natal site? What a fantastic record and huge thanks to Pete for spotting the bird and getting a readable photo of the ring and to Sander for ringing it in the first place and for letting us know the ringing details! © Pete Saunders:


...and for added interest, here's the bird on the day it was ringed © Sander Lilipaly:


To put further context on how unexpected this record is, John Dadds has sent us through a photo he'd taken only yesterday morning of two recently fledged Ringed Plover chicks on Chesil - these have got ages to go before they're going to be in any fit state to undertake a movement like the Dutch bird has already made © John Dadds:



How loud is this Curlew passing more or less right overhead at the Obs this morning? - and if you listen carefully, in the background there's the bonus of the first calls of the day of the Serin:



More rammed-full moth-traps at the Obs last night: ongoing influx of Willow Ermines accounting for 536 of the night's total; migrants incl 118 Small Mottled Willow, 10 Small Marbled & first Beautiful Twitcher micalis of the yr; dispersers incl 2nds of Scarce Spindle Ermine & LS Pinion this week

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 10, 2026 at 3:06 PM

9th July

9th July: Despite heat-restricted coverage there was increased variety at the Bill today, with 34 Sand Martins, 2 LRP (1 by day & 1 via nocmig), 2 Com Sands & singles of Grey Heron, Grey Wag, Sedge W & Serin on the land; sea quiet with shearwaters virtually absent. LRP & Whimbrel at Ferrybridge.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 11:15 PM

The Serin's just pitched in a tree-top at the Obs

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 8:51 AM

First departing juvenile Sedge W of the autumn from the Crown Estate Field nets just now; male Serin's again put in a couple of appearances at the Obs this mrng

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 8:25 AM

With the Ferrybridge sandflats hosting the usual hot weather miscellany of dog-walkers, watersport afficionados and other customary oddballs the waders don't get much of a look in other than very early or very late - this Whimbrel was there early doors © Pete Saunders:


A Many-lined the pick of a bumper catch in the Obs gdn moth-traps last night; big influx of 550 Willow Ermines; 161 Small Mottled Willows, 3 vitrealis, 2 Small Marbled & a Vestal among the migrants; lots of nice dispersers with Lesser Cream Wave & Lesser Spotted Pinion about the best for here.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 12:18 PM

Grass Emerald, not a rare moth but new for Sea Mist. No. 382 macro moth for the garden

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM

8th July

8th July: Two surprises out of the heat today, with an early doors Serin at the Obs and the serendipitous flushing of a Quail on East Cliffs at the Bill. Double figures of Balearics remained offshore, an Arctic Skua passed by and a Yellow Wagtail and more Sand Martins were overhead.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM

The nocmig recorder was still running when the Serin did an early morning fly past of the Obs patio - nearly but not quite drowned out by the cacophony of Goldfinches and Wood Pigeons:

 

Another evening, another local micro. @jameshammond.bsky.social's sighting of a few at the weekend reminded us we hadn't seen Coast Groundling Caryocolum vicinella this century so we checked out the Sea Campion and adjacent shingle on Chesil at Ferrybridge for them at dusk...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 11:21 PM

...we remember them being pretty numerous there back in the 1990s and they still were this evening, with a lot of them happily settled right out on the bare shingle that was no doubt still comfortingly warm after all of today's hot sunshine.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 11:26 PM

7th July

7th July: Beginning to get pretty hot again which curtailed fieldwork. A raft of 18 Balearic Shearwaters becalmed off the Bill at dawn likely accounted for the majority of their later reports, with 12 Common Scoters the only movers of note on the sea. Overhead, 26 more Sand Martins departed south.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 12:19 AM

Last couple of night's mothing at the Obs have been good for variety although not particularly busy on the migrant front. Small Mottled Willow back up to nearly 200 last night, also Blair's Mocha a first for the yr; less than annual waifs and strays incl things like Gold W, Mocha & Bulrush Wainscot

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 4:15 PM

Another evening dusking for the super-rare tineid Little Ghost borreonella - this time on the screes above Chesil Cove where it's never been recorded before - was successful with 3 netted and sev others seen. Likely been here since time out of mind without ever before being seen by human eyes!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 12:58 AM

Never a dull trip to Portland! This Ischnoscia borreonella was definitely the stand-out moth of the weekend, a real surprise to @josscarr.bsky.social @hwitts.bsky.social and I as we failed to find Eudarcia richardsoni

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— James Hammond (@jamesehammond.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM

In classic Portland fashion there was interesting stuff everywhere we went, like these Small marbled / Eublemma parva larvae and adults, feeding on Golden samphire / Limbarda crithmoides along the rocky shore

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— James Hammond (@jamesehammond.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM

A particularly interesting sighting was half a dozen Caryocolum vicinella on Chesil beach. I never see any Caryocolum in numbers, so seeing so many is a real event. Most were resting on the shingle after dark, or even roosting within the rocks, with us disturbing them as we dug pitfall traps

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— James Hammond (@jamesehammond.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM

Another springtail to find this summer! ☀️ Fab photo from @josscarr.bsky.social of Fasciosminthurus quinquefasciatus from Dorset yesterday. The 1st UK record outside Cornwall, where it was found new to Britain 2 yrs ago! www.researchgate.net/publication/... Can we track its expansion further?

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— James McCulloch (@jamesimcc.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM

6th July

6th July: Samey conditions and samey birds today, with the only new migrants at the Bill being 46 Sand Martins leaving to the south & 16 Common Scoter through on the sea; a few Balearic Shearwaters were offshore with the gull flocks but for the most part they were settled and tricky to count

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 10:56 PM

A fair-sized whale lingering in view - tail flukes seen several times - for 5 minutes c2 miles west of the Coastwatch lookout at the Bill at 8.45 this evening per Dave Parker. Just having a look for it now at last light but nothing immediately visible.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 9:33 PM

Fun last couple of evenings on the Penn's Weare screes, initially with James Hammond and others from the @britentsoc.bsky.social group ostensibly seeking Richardson's Case-bearer at its classic location. No joy with richardsoni but a tineid potted by James turned out to be Ischnoscia borreonella...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM

...aka Little Ghost - great vernacular Messrs Parson & Sterling! - perhaps the first time it's been seen at this site for more than 100 yrs. Returned last evening and on an adjacent scree potted three more and saw sev others flying - seems as though it's far easier here than at the only currently...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM

...known site at Sheat Quarry, Southwell. As usual, plenty of other bonus local specials incl sev Beech-green Carpets (think that Portland's still its only site in Dorset) & lots of Portland Ribbon Waves

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:10 PM

5th July

5th July: A few arrivals on the land today incl a GSWoodpecker at the Bill, 9 Swifts & 2 Sand Martins leaving overhead & 11 Dunlin & 10 Ringed Plovers joining the lingering LRP at Ferrybridge. Still c40 Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill, an inc to c300 Manx + 28 Com Scoter & 18 Sandwich Terns thru

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 12:41 AM

Feel for moth dispersal/migration getting a bit of momentum last night incl a big arrival of Garden Grass-moth culmella and Marbled Piercer splendana at the Obs; Small Mottled Willows up to 70, with 4 Small Marbled & singles of Vestal & Bordered Straw amongst the scarces there...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 1:05 AM

...best rarity of the night a Scarce Spindle Ermine irrorella at LepiLED on the Penn's Weare screes whilst targeting local micros - only the fourth for Portland after the first three last year

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM

Big thanks to Gavin Broad and Mike Wilson for organising such a successful @britentsoc.bsky.social weekend at the Obs - so many really exciting discoveries to report in due course!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 5, 2026 at 6:41 PM

4th July

5th July: Balearics dominated the returns on the shearwater front, with at least 62 logged at the Bill, where Med Gulls were still on the up & 13 Com Scoter & singles of Great & Arctic Skua passed thru. Quiet on the land, with a Dunlin at the Bill, an LRP at Ferrybridge & a few more departing Swifts

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 5, 2026 at 12:59 AM

3rd July

A diary date for Obs members: it's only a fortnight until this year's AGM that'll be held at the Obs at 4:30pm on Saturday 18th July - if the mental stimulation of the meeting isn't enough for you then we will have very good refreshments on offer afterwards! drive.google.com/file/d/1437W...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 3, 2026 at 4:20 PM

3rd July: More in the way of numbers at the Bill today, with 2 Common Sands & a Greenshank on/over on the land & 200 Manx, 46 Balearics, 36 Med Gulls, 23 Sandwich Terns, 13 Com Scoter & 2 Arctic Skuas thru on the sea. Also an LRP at Ferrybridge & a Com Scoter in Portland Hbr.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 3, 2026 at 11:34 PM

A bit like last year, we're struggling to get amongst the Storm Petrels at the moment: another luring attempt at the Bill tip last night saw a few attracted - up to 3 at a time after midnight - but only a single trapped. It got better later in the summer last year so still hopeful for better rewards

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM

2nd July

2nd July: A little bit busier at the Bill today, particularly offshore where the Manx & Balearic Shearwaters totals were back up to c500 & c25 respectively; 17 Common Scoter & 2 Curlews also thru on the sea. Singles of Dunlin & Common Sand grounded at the Bill, with a trickle of Swifts overhead.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM

1st July

1st July: Only cursory coverage of land and sea at the Bill today, with 9 Balearic Shearwaters & an Arctic Skua through offshore and 5 Sand Martins departing overhead the only worthwhile sightings

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM

30th June

30th June: The sea's providing most of the interest at the moment, with 237 Manx & 43 Balearic Shearwaters, 56 Med Gulls, 37 Com Scoter & 36 LBBGulls among the day's totals at the Bill. The sad sight of departing Swifts continued but there was otherwise little of note on/overhead on the land.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 12:10 AM

Not a bad migrant catch in last night's Obs moth-traps incl a notable arrival of 8 Small Marbleds; 38 Small Mottled Willows and a Vestal the best of the rest

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 30, 2026 at 10:11 AM

Probably should have run more than just the one moth-trap last night in our garden at the Grove: another 3 Small Marbleds to add to the night's tally + another Small Ranunculus - the second of the latter in the last three nights so maybe they're heading towards getting established in these parts

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 30, 2026 at 6:09 PM

29th June

 

29th June: Just one early doors appearance of a Serin at the Obs today. c50 Balearic Shearwaters remained off the Bill, with singles of Great and Arctic Skua also on the sea. A Little Egret overhead at the Bill was the only report of note from the land.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 29, 2026 at 11:05 PM

bit samey today but nice weather to be out in. silver studded blue m & f, lulworth skipper and small copper. saw one late battered 1st gen common blue and more surprisingly a fresh 2nd gen (both males)

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) June 29, 2026 at 10:40 PM

28th June

28th June: Apart from the continuing Serin(s), today's only real interest concerned 48 Balearic Shearwaters thru off the Bill during the morning; Manx numbers have plummeted with their total barely matching the Balearics today.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 28, 2026 at 11:32 PM

Although the Serins do settle from time to time, the majority of encounters - as they often are at Portland - are of the birds flying over calling; here's a snippet of one over the Obs this morning, with it sounding like there's a second bird in the background (this recording was being made with the recorder unattended so we probably weren't close by at that moment to see what was going on):

Mothing slowing up after last week's excesses: last night at the Obs saw migrant interest dwindle, with eg Small Mottled Willow down to 60; a Silver-spotted Veneer ocellea was the first for a few weeks but the best catch was the second Dock Streak Monochroa palustrella in the last three nights

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 28, 2026 at 11:19 PM

News from yesterday of two serendipitous migrant moth finds by Glen Maddison, Katie Chapman & a Bath Nat Hist Soc group during the day at the Bill: a Bright Wave on East Cliffs & a nectaring Ni Moth; Bright Wave in particular a real Portland rare with just a couple of previous light-trap records.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 28, 2026 at 11:02 PM

Portland 28 June: An early Grayling at Tout Quarry Elsewhere on the island the white form of Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis var. albiflora. I've seen tens of thousands of the pink form but can't recall seeing this form so erring on the side of caution wrt location. @ukorchids.bsky.social

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) June 28, 2026 at 10:18 PM

27th June

27th June: Apart from the rash of Serins today's happenings at the Bill were rather routine, with 40 Balearic Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua the best on offer offshore and a couple of Sand Martins through overhead. Elsewhere, a Greenshank dropped in briefly at Ferrybridge.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 27, 2026 at 11:29 PM

The Serin situation's getting a bit confusing: a settled bird seen just now in the Crown Estate Field (that then flew off north and was lost to view) is a male of some sort but clearly not the bright adult male seen earlier in the week; suggestions also of a seemingly non-yellow bird about this mrng

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 27, 2026 at 11:20 AM

On the moth front, looks like firsts for Portland on consecutive nights from our garden at the Grove: last night's offering a Small Ranunculus - they've been slightly expected as there's been a big range expansion; however, it remains rare in Dorset and hitherto unrecorded from Weymouth/Portland

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 27, 2026 at 1:46 PM

A few nice bits & bobs courtesy of the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social trap & Crown Estate Field this morning: the Nationally Scarce Selania leplastriana (Coast Piercer), Cochylis roseana (Rosy Straw), Four-spotted, & Sitochroa palealis (Sulphur Pearl) #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) June 27, 2026 at 1:32 PM

26th June


 

Last night's electric storm did precious little for us on the migrant moth front: lots of routine variety at the Obs including 10 Small Mottled Willow, 2 each tumidana & Small Marbled, singles verellus & Splendid Brocade but for us the pick of the catch was a Lappet (still fewer than 10 records)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 2:31 PM

Bramble Bronze Agolamprotes micella an expected and probably overdue addition to the island moth list from our garden moth-trap at the Grove last night - small but very perfectly formed!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 6:58 PM

trying to run the survey of silver studded blues on portland again, if anyone has any records with location please let me know. around 20 seen today in windy conditions, only 1x kingbarrow, the rest in tout. only 2x females.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 6:44 PM

15 species in tout n kingbarrow, grayling in kingbarrow was a new spot for me albeit not unexpected. after struggling to get out all of grayling, gatekeeper, ringlet were nfy and small tort was first portland sighting of the year for me.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 6:51 PM

how few years do we go back before the thought this was the highlight of tout quarry today would seem absurd! once thought to be the victim of the parasitic fly sturmia bella, would now just seem to be another victim of global warming as uk population moves north searching for cooler climes.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) June 26, 2026 at 6:22 PM
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