It goes without saying that moth interest dropped still further, with a Silver Y at the Obs and a White-speck at West Grove Terrace the only immigrants amongst the trap catches.
Spoonbills - Portland Bill, 30th September 2015 © Martin Cade
30th September
A day of visible passage overload, with a veritable torrent of migrants battling through overhead into the continuing stiff easterly. Numbers were impossible to quantify in full but an early morning 45 minute sample count at the Bill that came up with 800 House Martins, 650 Swallows, 400 Meadow Pipits, 250 Linnets, 80 Goldfinches, a Woodlark and a Siskin provided a mere snap-shot from just one spot of a passage that looked to be taking place on such a broad front that similar counts could have been made just about anywhere on the island; the pick of the quality overhead were 3 Spoonbills that flew east over the Bill before heading away north and later dropping in at Lodmoor, a Short-eared Owl at the Bill and a Lapland Bunting over Barleycrates Lane. There were perhaps slightly more grounded migrants about than in recent days but nothing was easy to get to grips with in the wind-lashed trees and the rewards got no better than at least 5 Firecrests and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Bill and another Firecrest at Southwell. The only seawatch report came from Chesil Cove where 15 Common Scoter, 14 Brent Geese and a Grey Plover passed by.
It goes without saying that moth interest dropped still further, with a Silver Y at the Obs and a White-speck at West Grove Terrace the only immigrants amongst the trap catches.
It goes without saying that moth interest dropped still further, with a Silver Y at the Obs and a White-speck at West Grove Terrace the only immigrants amongst the trap catches.
