18th October

Despite a stiff north-westerly that made for uncomfortable birding there was a lot more about today, even if the vast majority were overhead rather than on the ground. Visible passage wasn't comprehensively covered but more than 700 Linnets, 250 Goldfinches, 200 Meadow Pipits and 150 alba wagtails passed through in quick time at the Bill where 2 Merlins were also in attendance. A bitsy selection on the ground included 3 Ring Ouzels at Coombefield and another at the Bill, 2 Firecrests at the Bill and the Hen Harrier that was still about at the Bill, but common migrant numbers dwindled still further and even the likes of Chiffchaffs were only very thinly spread. The Ferrybridge selection included 300 Mediterranean Gulls, 120 Dark-bellied and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 23 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Sanderling.

Immigrant moth numbers (in fact moth numbers generally) remained very low, but the 16 individuals at the Obs did include singles of Radford's Flame Shoulder, Delicate and White-speck; elsewhere, the second Barred Sallow of the autumn was of note at the Grove.

Hen Harriers rarely linger for long at Portland so the five day stay of this youngster - we'd presumed since it was so big that it had to be a female and Chris's photo confirms that it is as it has a dark eye - is pretty unusual © Chris Minvalla:

Ferrybridge has been rather neglected in the recent absence of Pete and Debby Saunders so their return to get amongst the Pale-bellied Brents, Bar-tailed Godwits and the like is very welcome © Pete Saunders

After our blistering start in this year's Radford's Flame Shoulder stakes we've been overtaken by Scilly and The Lizard so our sixth of the season was quite welcome:

...in typical Portland fashion Barred Sallow is actually a much rarer visitor to the island than Radford's Flame Shoulder:

And finally, a bit of video of the harrier: