31st August

Although we've had more than our fill of rain in the last fortnight the latest dose was welcome for dropping a good quantity of migrants around the south of the island; this, taken with the continuing presence of two of yesterday's scarcities, provided plenty of bank holiday entertainment. The Rosy Starling didn't get south of Southwell today but remained ensconced around the houses at Reap Lane; the Bill Wryneck was usually more obliging and remained on station at the Pulpit Bushes all day. Good coverage of the Bill area came up with 100 Wheatears, 60 Willow Warblers, 40 Whitethroats, 30 Spotted Flycatchers, 25 Yellow Wagtails, 15 each of Tree Pipit and Whinchat, and 6 each of Redstart and Pied Flycatcher, whilst amongst the lower totals there were 2 Grasshopper Warblers and singles of Snipe, Short-eared Owl and Black Redstart; elsewhere, interest came in the form of a Green Sandpiper at Ferrybridge, another Black Redstart at Blacknor and 2 Nightingales at Suckthumb Quarry. The sea was quieter than of late, with just 18 Balearic Shearwaters and 6 Gadwall of note off the Bill.

The calm, damp conditions overnight saw some notable immigrant totals reported from the moth-traps, with, for example, year peaks to date at the Obs of 61 Rush Veneers, 26 Dark Sword Grass and 5 Scarce Bordered Straw; another Convolvulus Hawk-moth also made it into the traps there, with further individuals visiting Nicotiana flowers there and at the Grove after dark.





Rosy Starling, Wryneck, Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit - Southwell and Portland Bill, 31st August 2015 © Duncan Walbridge (Rosy Starling) and Peter Moore petermooreblog (Wryneck, Spot Fly and Tree Pipit)