30th September

A post-dawn shower was a very brief blip in otherwise clear, sunny skies that were again busy with visible passage: a 50 minute sample count of 450 Meadow Pipits, 380 Goldfinches, 160 Linnets and 90 Swallows through at the Bill was representative of a strong movement that continued for several hours there. Grounded arrivals were still very much the poor relation, with 30 Wheatears and 15 Chiffchaffs making up the bulk of what little there was by way of numbers at the Bill; the ever-present Wryneck, together with singles of Merlin, Turtle Dove and Firecrest provided the only quality there. Portland Harbour came up with an unlikely seawatch highlight in the form of a Sabine's Gull heading though rapidly during the morning; a lone Pomarine Skua was the best on offer at the Bill.

Immigrant moth interest dropped right away on a windy night, with 13 Rush Veneers and a single Silver Y the only captures at the Obs.