20th July

Portland Bill Sand Martin 150, Swallow 40, Swift 6, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Portland Bill seawatching Manx Shearwater 56, Cormorant 9s, Mediterranean Gull 6, Yellow-legged Gull 4, Sandwich Tern 2w, Whimbrel 1w, Black-headed Gull 1.

PBO nocturnal passage Dunlin 4 flocks + 1 single, Oystercatcher 1 flock + 1 single, Common Sandpiper 1, Green Sandpiper 1.

Blacknor Greenshank 1s.

Ferrybridge Dunlin 45.

Butterflies Portland Bill Clouded Yellow 2.

Moths PBO Silver Y 49, Diamond-back Moth 12, Engrailed 1, Barred Red 1. Sweethill Silver Y 153.

Being frequenters of the rocky/shingly shores of the island we always get the impression that Common Sandpipers are rather under-recorded by day at this time of year but they've certainly been on the move at night just lately; several, including this small flock, passed over the night before last...




...whilst this single - that was so close overhead that we heard it out of the office window at the same moment it was picked up by the microphone - passed over early last night:



Despite being a common woodland insect on the mainland Engrailed very rarely strays to Portland: there are a couple of old 1960s records that may or may not be genuine but, prior to today's single at the Obs, just two confirmed modern records - both in 2011; it's a bug that looks to have a plumage pattern that's a perfect match for Portland stone so maybe it's about time the species reconsidered its stay-at-home lifestyle © Martin Cade:


Barred Red used to be a very infrequent stray to the island from its usual coniferous haunts but latterly it's become something that's tolerably regular during spells of dispersal © Martin Cade: