2nd June

With the plethora of Acrocephalus warblers arriving in the country, we felt that today surely had to be our day. It certainly was a day filled with Acros as we experienced a passage of Reed Warblers seeing the day total reach 13 birds (the majority of which were singing males and is likely to be an underestimate of the true presence). A couple of nice surprises accompanied the Reed Warbler influx with a pair of Redstarts trapped at the Obs, a persistently calling Bullfinch and two fly-over Spotted Flycatchers. Once again, much of the focus on the sea centred around the gull flock with three Balearic Shearwaters joining the action, along with a selection of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, two Sandwich Terns and a single Puffin.

Today obliged with a good spread of Reed Warblers (there's even a bonus Willow Warbler trying to get in on the act in the background of this one that was in good song in the Obs garden this morning)...

Portland Bird Observatory · Reed Warbler, Portland Bill, 02062020

...but two new Redstarts was a bit random - you'd think it was far too late for them to be fresh arrivals in the UK but neither showed any sign of having made a breeding attempt that might have indicated they were actually early leavers © Martin Cade:

Sadly, the best migrant passed us by unseen: this Quail migrating over the Obs just before midnight was picked up on last night's nocmig recording:

Portland Bird Observatory · Quail, Porrtland Bill, 010620, 2351hrs

The current warm weather has been providing us with plenty of lepidoptera interest. The first Silver-studded Blues of the year were on the wing yesterday © Ken Dolbear...

...whilst amongst the local special moths, Starry Pearl Cynaeda dentalis, is always appreciated when it makes its first appearance of the year © Martin Cade: