Weather-wise, a repeat of yesterday whilst on the bird front there was less in the way of both numbers and interest. A
Red Kite over Ferrybridge and a
Continental Coal Tit at the Bill were easily the best of the day's oddities, with 3
Little Ringed Plovers over Chesil also a belated addition to the year list.
Wheatears topped 40 at the Bill but the two routine
phylloscs were the only other common migrants even managing double figure totals there; 3
White Wagtails, 2
Redpolls and a
Hobby were of minor note at the Bill, with a late
Merlin of further interest over Chesil. In almost millpond calm conditions 3
Red-throated Divers and singles of
Great Skua and
Arctic Skua passed through off the Bill, whilst 80
Whimbrel and 15
Sanderling were the best of a more varied passage off Chesil.
A single
Brimstone butterfly flying north along West Cliffs at the Bill had all the look of being an immigrant.
A single
Rusty-dot Pearl was the only immigrant moth trapped overnight at the Obs.
A window seat on a flight to Gibraltar provided a nice view of Portland bathed in sunshine today © Steve Copsey:
It's been a good spring for Coal Tits, with all those that have been sub-specifically identified - like today's bird on the Slopes at the Bill - proving to be ater Continental birds © Erin Taylor:
The warm sunshine has at last seen butterflies on the wing in some quantity, with Orange-tip and Holly Blue both featuring today © Ken Dolbear:
