21st April

Similar-ish conditions to yesterday brought forth another fair little flurry of mainly Willow Warblers, including 120 at the Bill. Variety, however, remained firmly at the disappointing end of the scale: an Osprey was a nice sight passing over Wakeham, but a tally of 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whinchats and 2 Lesser Whitethroats amongst the more routine fare around the whole of the southern half of the island was far below what might have been expected in the circumstances; elsewhere, a Greenshank was a first for the spring at Ferrybridge. The continuing offshore breeze kept the seabirds and waders that were logged in plenty further up-Channel well beyond our vision, with 3 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and singles of Great Northern Diver and Great Skua all that could be managed from the Bill.

The Little Terns are returning in force to Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:


Whilst most of our attention at this time of year is devoted to migrants there's plenty going on with the island's residents right now: noticing a Stonechat carrying food this morning quite quickly led to the discovery of its nest full of well-grown young © Martin Cade:



Moth interest remains at a very low level but a surprise overnight catch at the Obs was this Northern Drab - only the fourth island record of a moth that's no more than a local, low density resident across mainland Dorset © Martin Cade:


The world would be a poorer place without Little Egrets: they've become so familiar as to be taken for granted but, when you stop and look at them for a moment or two, there are few more animated, characterful birds to be seen at Portland © Martin Cade:


Osprey heading north up Wakeham around 9:50am pic.twitter.com/LH6bXs0oX5