23rd August

No sooner had the wind shifted into the northeast - and freshened on very conspicuously for the morning at least - then both variety and numbers really perked up, with a Melodious Warbler trapped at the Obs and a passing Marsh Harrier on West Cliffs the pick of the arrivals. On the ground, Willow Warblers and Wheatears totalled 75 and 60 respectively at the Bill, where new Robins were much in evidence and the likes of 3 Redstarts, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Reed Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat provided additional interest. Numbers overhead included 400 Swallows, 100 Sand Martins and 40 Yellow Wagtails, with 10 Tree Pipits, 2 Snipe and a Golden Plover in with the mix. After their poor showing so far thus summer and early autumn a bumper haul of 325 Balearic Shearwaters passing the Bill was a very welcome return for the seawatchers, who also chipped in with 5 Gadwall and singles of Great and Arctic Skuas amongst others.

Several Bluefin Tuna and at least 20 Common Dolphins were off the Bill during the morning.

Immigrant moth numbers increased with overnight totals at the Obs that included 45 Silver Y (the highest total since 25th July) and 5 Vagrant Piercer Cydia amplana (the highest total this year).

This morning's Melodious Warbler - by our reckoning Portland's 230th record! © Martin Cade: