19th December

A moth stole the show today, with Portland's first Eastern Bordered Straw the pick of the overnight catch at the Obs; the immigrant tally otherwise consisted of just singles of Rush Veneer and Small Mottled Willow at the Obs and Dark Sword Grass at the Grove.

Bird-wise, despite there being plenty of passing Redwings and Song Thrushes audible overnight, by day late finch passage dried up; 4 Short-eared Owls were again about at the Bill/Southwell, with further interest coming in the form of 5 Purple Sandpipers and a Merlin at the Bill, single Black Redstarts at the Bill, Blacknor and Portland Marina, a Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour and 6 Red-throated Divers through off the Bill.


Eastern Bordered Straw - Portland Bill, 19th December 2015 © Martin Cade