26th July

Despite the clear sky and benign conditions there was a small arrival of migrants uncovered by the few observers out looking today. Willow Warblers crept into double figures for the first time this autumn at the Bill, where 20 Sand Martins, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Whimbrel and singles of Turnstone, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Wheatear also showed up. Nothing of any consequence was reported from the sea there. Ten Sanderling, a Knot and a Whimbrel were amongst the waders at Ferrybridge.

The Knot at Ferrybridge - a nice looker in the dawn sun © Pete Saunders:


This morning's Great Spotted Woodpecker - always a peculiar sight in full flight over the Bill... 


...adult (above) and juvenile (below) Sedge Warblers - we sometimes have to try harder to tell some look-alike species apart then we do to distinguish the two age-classes of Sedge Warbler at this time of year...



...and a nice bright young Willow Warbler - looking very different to the adults we were seeing back in the spring © Martin Cade:


Still not much to report on the migrant moth front but the first Rusty Acorn Piercer Cydia amplana of the year from the Obs traps this mrng - a former rarity that may or may not be established here these days

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 26, 2024 at 8:40

25th July

Almost a surprise that there's anything to report, what with another bucketload of rain and seriously reduced visibility to cope with for a good chunk of the day. The waders again saved the day, with 60 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plovers, 13 Sanderling, 11 Turnstones, a Knot and a Redshank  at Ferrybridge; 4 Shelduck were also there and an Arctic Skua passed overhead. Another 2 Shelduck passed the Bill where a Balearic Shearwater and 20 Common Scoter were lingering offshore and a Willow Warbler was in the Obs garden; several sightings of Yellow-legged Gulls there may or may not have involved more than one individual.

The Arctic Skua just visible through the gloom at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders:


We're finding ourselves having to go back as far as perhaps 1993 for a year as poor as the current one for migrant moths; of course there's plenty of time for things to change but right now numbers and variety really are pitifully low. A Blair's Mocha from John Lucas' garden at Southwell has been this week's highlight - this species seem to be getting established along other parts of the Dorset coast so is no longer the rarity it once was but this one was our first for the year...


...perhaps the only (formerly) scarce migrant that's been better represented than usual so far this summer has been Olive-tree Pearl but we do wonder if they haven't got established not too far away


...on the local scarcity front the year's first Wormwood was on the wing this week - as far as we know Portland remains the only Dorset location with a resident population of this nationally scarce moth © Martin Cade:

24th July

A fair day all round: passerine migrants might have fallen just about as far short of Nanjizal numbers as was possible but at least a tiny handful deigned to drop in, waders continued to increase in numbers and variety, whilst the sea saw the strongest movement of Gannets of the year. Passerine arrivals included the autumn's first Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Willow Warblers and 2 Wheatears on the ground and 83 Sand Martins through overhead, whilst waders included 65 Dunlin, 32 Ringed Plovers 5 Sanderling, 2 Turnstones and singles of Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel and Redshank at Ferrybridge and 2 Whimbrel, a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin at the Bill. After yesterday's poor showing the sea was the day's surprise package, with 400 Gannets (in three hours - with plenty more unquantified movement later on), 55 Common Scoter, 30 commic terns, 5 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Manx Shearwater and a Great Skua through or loitering off the Bill.

Sadly, less of a familiar sight these days than they used to be a few decades ago when falls of well into three figures weren't at all unusual in late July, it was still nice to see a few young Willow Warblers today © Martin Cade:

The first Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn from the Crown Estate Field nets this mrng - slightly oddly, a worn adult and not a sparkling fresh youngster

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 24, 2024 at 7:00

The Ferrybridge wader selection included singles of Little Ringed and Grey Plovers © Martin Cade:



23rd July

An improvement in wader numbers provided the bulk of migrants today, with 63 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling, 2 Turnstones and a Whimbrel at Ferrybridge and a Whimbrel through off the Bill. Passerines consisted of a handful of hirundines and a Willow Warbler at the Bill, where a Yellow-legged Gull was also about; seawatching there drew a comprehensive blank. Elsewhere, the Great Spotted Woodpecker remained at Wakeham.

What with poorish weather, preparations for the Obs AGM and preparing the Obs garden and Crown Estate Field for the autumn ringing season we haven't had a lot of time for birding in the last few days. However, a nice duo of Swifts came our way in unexpected circumstances - the juvenile sadly succumbed after grounding elsewhere on the island and the adult was a serendipitous catch in a mist-net at Culverwell - and are worth having a closer look at; here are their heads, upper wings and upperparts © Martin Cade:








Wakeham Meadow this afternoon and only my second Black Mining Bee (Andrena pilipes) I have seen on Portland. This is a nationally scarce species in the UK and is probably why the last one I saw was in June 2018 at Church Ope Cove. youtu.be/uMNtHg_8jgs?...

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— Port and Wey (@portandwey.bsky.social) Jul 23, 2024 at 20:05

21st-22nd July

21st July

Pretty hopeless at the Bill today: 7 Sand Martins through overhead and 53 Common Scoter, 24 Manx Shearwaters and 9 Black-headed Gulls through on the sea.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 21, 2024 at 22:28

22nd July

Still very quiet. Three Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Turnstones and 2 Arctic Skuas passed by off the Bill where a Willow Warbler was new on the land. The Ferrybridge wader tally consisted of 14 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers and singles of Whimbrel and Turnstone.

20th July

With chunks of the day lost to the Obs AGM and another bucketload of rain today wasn't the easiest day for meaningful fieldwork - and what there was revealed little to excite on land or sea. Odds and ends at the Bill included a new Wheatear and singles of Whimbrel, Redshank and Grey Wagtail on the land and 9 Manx Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater and a Yellow-legged Gull on the sea. A meagre wader return from Ferrybridge included 15 Dunlin and 12 Ringed Plover.

This colour-flagged Dunlin at Ferrybridge this morning was evidently first marked in Spain - full details when we receive them © Pete Saunders:


Talking of colour-marked birds, earlier this summer we had a really nice run of such sightings to report but our idea of mentioning them all together was scuppered by not hearing back in a timely manner on this Kittiwake...


...We're pretty sure this individual that turned up in the breeding colony at the Bill is from Brittany, France, but it's frustrating that it arrived here, paired-up, built a nest, laid eggs, brooded the eggs until just before hatching before they were taken by the b****y Raven and has now gone and we still haven't had a reply regarding the original ringing details despite the project being contacted on the very first day the bird was sighted. We appreciate that perhaps this colour-ringing project revolves more around breeding biology than movement but has someone really not had a few seconds to spare in the last two months to get back to us with the ringing details? © Jodie Henderson

Two birds that we do know the ringing details for are this Little Tern PJ4 that was in the Ferrybridge breeding colony back in May - it was ringed as a nestling at Gronant, north Wales, on 26th June 2021 and is only the second Welsh bird known to have taken up residence at Ferrybridge © John Dadds...


...and this Oystercatcher that was at the Bill in early May - it was ringed at Dawlish Warren, Devon, in July 2022 (and seen there subsequently until at least February 2023); it was actively looked for after the first sighting - and surely wouldn't have been missed for long beforehand as there are so few Oystercatchers at the Bill - but couldn't be found again so we're none the wiser as to whether it was a late migrant or just on a brief foray from Dawlish © Jodie Henderson:

19th July

A very underwhelming selection on offer today, even if the blistering heat of the morning was a significant disincentive to actually getting out and about looking. Nothing by way of grounded passerines materialised and overhead passage consisted of just a few departing Swallows and, rather oddly, a Kestrel watched arriving from far out to the south. The Ferrybridge wader selection dropped away to just 6 Dunlin and a Sanderling, with seasonal peak to date of 310 Mediterranean Gulls of additional note there. A Balearic Shearwater and at least 2 Yellow-legged Gull lingered amongst the gull flock off the Bill and a few Common Scoter heading west were additional to the summering flock still in residence offshore.


18th July

A reminder for PBO members of our AGM taking place at the Obs this Saturday, 20th July For those interested there'll be a short pre-meeting walk to inspect a recent land purchase that'll be formally announced at the AGM - this walk will commence at the Obs at 3.45pm...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 18, 2024 at 16:49

...the AGM will commence at 4.30pm and will be followed by the customary BBQ and other refreshments Should the Obs carpark be full there'll be overflow parking available in the Crown Estate Field drive.google.com/file/d/1hDg-...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 18, 2024 at 16:54

Two Roseate Terns that pitched in from time to time amongst the loafing gulls at Ferrybridge were a not altogether surprising highlight today, with the wader tally there consisting of 18 Ringed Plovers, 6 each of Curlew and Dunlin, and singles of Whimbrel, Sanderling and Redshank. At the Bill a brisker breeze saw to it that the day's visible migrants was considerably more active than many of yesterday's, with few of the 50 or so Sand Martins and miscellaneous tag-alongs overhead lingering long in the increasingly hot sunshine; grounded arrivals looked to be entirely absent there. The sea ticked over largely uneventfully, with 29 Common Scoter, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Balearic Shearwaters and 2 Manx Shearwaters lingering and 2 Arctic Skuas, a Whimbrel and a Puffin through off the Bill.

If you like your fill of gratuitous physical violence you can always eschew Strictly Come Dancing for the Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge © Martin Cade:

17th July

Really pleasant conditions with barely a waft of a breeze saw Sand Martins get moving in some quantity during the morning when more than 200 passed through at the Bill; both Swifts and Swallows were represented in this southbound trickle although both in far lower numbers. Sadly, what was favourable for the diurnal movers had also no doubt been good for their nocturnal counterparts that saw no reason to pause their migration on our headland, with just a single new Sedge Warbler of note at the Bill; at least 3 Yellow Wagtails scattered about were presumed to be dispersing from the mainland rather than planning a cross-Channel movement; whilst further interest on the land concerned a/the Great Spotted Woodpecker at Wakeham (where it's evidently been ensconced since 15th), singles of Redshank and Common Sandpiper at the Bill and 3 Black-tailed Godwits and a Sanderling amongst the meagre wader selection at Ferrybridge. Given the balmy conditions not much was expected of the sea so the first 2 Balearic Shearwaters for a while, a passing presumably non-local Puffin and a single Yellow-legged Gull were a fair reward amongst more routine fare off the Bill.

The migrant moth situation perked up a little with an arrival (presumably an arrival rather than a hatch?) of Silver Ys evidenced by fair catches in all of the garden moth-traps around the island - the highest of these was 69 at the Obs; other routine migrants were represented in low single figure totals, with an Olive-tree Pearl at the Obs the night's only minor scarcity.

A few of the day's Sand Martins paused for a while allowing for a small take from the Crown Estate Field mist-nets but the majority were very active migrants that scorched straight through; all of those handled and all of those seen well overhead were sparklingly fresh youngsters like this one - hopefully the adults are well underway with their second brood now that these first-brood youngsters have been sent on their way © Martin Cade:

16th July

 

Slowly improving conditions but the birding remained uneventful today: after a shearwater-free spell a few Manx got moving off the Bill + at least 1 lingering YLGull there. 4 Sand Martins the day's only passerine migrants there. Ferrybridge: 7 Sanderling.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 16, 2024 at 22:37

Moth migrants still extremely sparse and for the most part of the lowest quality so the first Scarce Bordered Straw of the year a little unexpected from the Obs moth-traps last night

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 16, 2024 at 9:56

15th July

Largely rained off today with a small influx of at least 8 Yellow-legged Gulls the only event of note at the Bill.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 15, 2024 at 23:09

The first of the juvenile Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls have been arriving at Ferrybridge over the past few days

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 15, 2024 at 10:40

The 2 Sanderling on the harbour's edge at Ferrybridge this morning

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 15, 2024 at 10:42

14th July

A little bit from all departments today, with a good showing of Sand Martins overhead - including 130 through at the Bill, the first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year on the land, the first Greenshank of the autumn amongst the waders and Mediterranean Gull numbers on the up everywhere. In the absence of grounded passerine migrants a thin spread of waders made up the bulk of variety on the ground with, besides the Greenshank on the Harbour shore, 10 Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Whimbrel at Ferrybridge and singles of Ringed Plover and Redshank at the Bill. Additional to the Sand Martins, overhead passage included 7 egrets arriving from the south at the Bill that were too far away for a firm identification. The sea was for the most part very quiet but 100 Mediterranean Gulls joined the gull flock off the Bill, with another 66 at Ferrybridge.

The Greenshank on the Harbour shore © Pete Saunders:


The Great Spotted Woodpecker - one of this year's youngsters - trapped at the Obs. After a decade of increasing frequency when there were even thoughts of an imminent breeding record, the fortunes of the Great Spotted Woodpecker look a right hit last year when there only five records in total around the island and none at all were trapped © Martin Cade:


It's that time of year when young Sand Martins exhibit their knack for balancing precariously atop mist-nets without getting trapped - and almost looking as though they're taunting the ringer for imagining that they might be so stupid as to lose their balance and tumble into the net © Martin Cade:


Portland Harbour and The Fleet Ferrybridge: 0630 onwards; Greenshank, Sanderling 8, Ringed Plover 2, Turnstone, Dunlin 8, Little Tern 40+ 🦉#birds #ukbirding #ornithology @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Dorset Bird Tours (@dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social) Jul 14, 2024 at 17:11

12th-13th July

12th July

A very quiet day, as much because other commitments saw to it that there was precious little serious fieldwork. 7 Swallows, 5 Sand Martins and 2 Grey Herons left to the south at the Bill.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 12, 2024 at 22:25


13th July

Waders, Swifts and hirundines might have been moving for a while but nice to see the first Sedge Warbler of the autumn this mrng

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 13, 2024 at 8:01

Good passage of terns off the Bill this mrng: 39 Sandwich, 25 commics and a Little; 28 Common Scoter and 2 YLGulls lingering + 5 Shelducks and 2 Whimbrel thru. Trickle of Swifts and hirundines still departing overhead but no other grounded migrants beside the Sedge Warbler.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 14, 2024 at 0:17

11th July

It was a fair day to be out looking but, bar a scatter of waders and a few hirundines overhead, today wasn't especially rewarding. A total of 29 Sand Martins and 17 Swallows departing to the south from the Bill made up the bulk of the passerine migrants, with only singles of Wheatear and Grey Wagtail adding any variety there. After a fair selection in recent days wader numbers and variety dropped off, with just 24 Dunlin, a Sanderling and a Redshank at Ferrybridge and 2 Curlews through off the Bill. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were off the Bill but sea interest was otherwise minimal with, for example, not a single shearwater logged all day. 

Shelducks likely breed every year on the Harbour breakwaters but ultimate proof of that fact is usually lacking unless, as happened this evening, a family party is spotted making their way across the Harbour towards the mainland; we've witnessed this occasionally in the past and typically the birds made for Smallmouth and trundled on up the Fleet. Today's mother and ducklings stayed way, way out in the Harbour and when we lost them to sight they looked to be heading vaguely towards Sandsfoot Castle - an area that wouldn't be at all duckling-friendly! © Martin Cade:


Moth interest at the Obs remains so minimal that it's more akin to trapping in a crappy suburban garden than in a premier league migration hotspot. Cross-Channel movement seems to be almost non-existent and what very few non-locals we've been logging seem to have strayed out from the mainland; today these included a Pine Hawkmoth...


...whilst a couple of nights ago a Southern Wainscot was of minor note © Martin Cade:

10th July

After a couple of pretty miserable wet days today's sunshine was welcome, albeit always being slightly tempered by a brisk southwesterly. Waders continued to dominate the migrant tally, with 39 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpipers and 3 Redshank at Ferrybridge, 7 Common Sandpipers and 4 Dunlin settled at the Bill and another 13 Dunlin through on the sea there. Passerines were a dismal poor relation, with just a lone Sand Martin through at the Bill. The sea continued to provide a little interest, with 17 Common Scoter, 11 Sandwich Terns, 2 Puffins (perhaps 'outsiders' since the local duo haven't been reported for several days), a Manx Shearwater and an Arctic Skua amongst others through off the Bill. Eight Shelduck were also at Ferrybridge.

The good run of Common Sandpipers continued and with almost no coverage of, for example, the Harbour breakwaters and the shoreline below the East and West Weares the numbers being logged are surely only a proportion of those present around the island as a whole © Pete Saunders:


The weather was nicely conducive to getting amongst a good selection of commoner invertebrates; Broad-bodied Chasers at Culverwell © Roy Norris:



And plenty of lepidoptera around the north of the island:

9th July


Ferrybridge this morning 0600-0800 54 Dunlin, 7 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, Knot, 4 Sandwich Tern, 8 Swift south

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 9, 2024 at 8:11

Uptick in wader numbers as a result of today's yet more rain accounted for most of the day's land migrants: 6 Redshank (per JW) were additional to @debbyseamist.bsky.social's Ferrybridge nos + 2 Whimbrel thru at the Bill. Sea: 116 Com Scoter thru off the Bill + 17 Manx and 1 Balearic.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 9, 2024 at 22:42

Dunlin at Ferrybridge this morning

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 9, 2024 at 10:24

This juvenile Little Tern was having a go at fishing, Ferrybridge #ChesilLittleTerns

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 9, 2024 at 10:21

One of the day's Whimbrel - this one at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:

7th - 8th July

 7th July


A bit of a shocker at the Bill with no reports from the land and almost all sea interest fizzling out to the extent that there were just 2 Manx logged all day!

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 7, 2024 at 22:22

Ferrybridge this morning 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel , Redshank, 7 Sandwich Tern

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 7, 2024 at 7:23

Black-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge this morning

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 7, 2024 at 17:14


8th July


Still struggling for migrant interest at the Bill despite unexpectedly bird-able/net-able conditions: nothing by way of new passerines; single Common Sand the only wader; just 2 Manx and a Balearic from the sea

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 8, 2024 at 21:59

Ferrybridge this morning 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, Curlew, 2 Sandwich Tern, Great Northern Diver east

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 8, 2024 at 7:32

There's already a summering - immature? - Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour so the appearance of another individual - this one in summer plumage - over Ferrybridge this morning was very unexpected © Pete Saunders:

6th July

 

Portland Bill - 0815 to 1030 Sea-watch Manx Shearwater 2, Little Tern 6, Common Scoter 4 offshore, Kittiwake 3, Common Tern 6, Sandwich Tern 4, Fulmar 2, Shag 3 🦉 #birds #ornithology #ukbirding #seabirds

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— Dorset Bird Tours (@dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social) Jul 6, 2024 at 16:39

 

Ferrybridge this morning 20+ Common Sandpipers along the harbour, flock of 12 Shelduck west, 3 Turnstone, Dunlin

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 6, 2024 at 7:48

We couldn't recollect such a large aggregation of what eventually proved to be 23 Common Sandpipers along the Harbour shoreline this morning and were too footballed-out to take the time to check the stats but Grahame Walbridge has kindly reminded us that in days gone by there were actually several considerable higher counts: the Dorset county record total is 55 along the Harbour shore on 20th August 1983, whilst other good totals include 30 there on 18th July 1986 and 34 on East Cliffs at the Bill on 30th August 1974 © Pete Saunders:



The flock of a dozen Shelducks over Ferrybridge isn't a bad total either © Pete Saunders:

1st-5th July

Advance notice of this year's AGM that will be held at 4.30pm on Saturday 20th July - all members welcome. Post-meeting refreshments will be provided and there'll be a short pre-meeting walk to check out some recent land purchases drive.google.com/file/d/1hDg-...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 1, 2024 at 16:26


1st July

A little influx of Common Sands saw at least 4 logged at the Bill but otherwise it remained quiet today, with singles of Balearic Shearwater and Yellow-legged Gull the best from the sea.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 1, 2024 at 23:52



Black-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpipers at Ferrybridge this morning

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jul 1, 2024 at 16:58


2nd July

Most of today's interest was on or over the sea, with a Cattle Egret west off the Bill still a scarcity for here; also 45 Med Gulls, 25 Manx, 12 Com Scoter, 5 Balearics and a juv Yellow-legged Gull lingering and an Arctic Skua through. Land: 3 Sand Martins south + Common Sand and Blackcap new.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 2, 2024 at 22:47


3rd July

Another 6 Storm Petrels trapped at the Bill tip between midnight and 2am. Sea fairly quiet all day: 6 Balearics and a Yellow-legged Gull lingering off the Bill early morning but just a few Manx, Med Gulls and Com Scoters from later watches. Land: 2 Redshanks at Ferrybridge & a Grey Wag over the Bill

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 3, 2024 at 22:42


4th July

Hopeless in increasingly windy conditions: 2 Balearics through off the Bill the only report worth a mention.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 4, 2024 at 23:59


5th July

Remained very quiet today with a minimum of 3 Balearics offshore and singles of Pom and Arctic Skuas also through on the sea.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jul 5, 2024 at 23:18

30th June

First juv Yellow-legged Gull of the season off the Bill this evening along with the only Balearic Shearwater of the day; sea otherwise uneventful. Trickle of departing Swifts, 4 Whimbrel, a Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail the best from the land. Summering GNDiver still in Portland Harbour.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jun 30, 2024 at 22:14

30 June - Silver Washed Fritillary at the Naval Cemetery, Portland. No photo but underside of hind wing seen well when perched. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social New Ground/Verne Bee orchids mostly finished but Pyramidals everywhere. Gentians starting. Burnet moth sp larva and Mother Shipton #teammoth

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) Jun 30, 2024 at 16:46

Three more Black-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders:

In what's proving to be a rather indifferent breeding season for a lot of species it was good to see today that one of the pairs of island Buzzards has a nest full of seemingly thriving youngsters © Steve Mansfield:

29th June

 

Many thanks to Don Ainsworth for just popping us through his photos of the Red-footed Booby off the Bill on Monday afternoon - grippingly it was settled not far off Pulpit Rock! These were taken at 14:48 so a few hours before it turned up settled on a boat off Purbeck during the evening.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jun 29, 2024 at 21:59

No surprises today and no sign of a return in Balearics with just a single - along with 26 Manx - off the Bill this mrng; Med Gull nos continued to increase offshore + 18 Com Scoter settled and 7 Mallards and a Whimbrel thru. Singles of Ringed Plover and Grey Wagtail the best from the land.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jun 29, 2024 at 23:25

Ferrybridge this morning 140 Med Gulls, Black-tailed Godwit (ad)

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jun 29, 2024 at 7:29

This morning's Black-tailed Godwit at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders: 




28th June

 

Seems like most of the Balearics have headed off across Lyme Bay - just 11 from various watches at the Bill today; also c150 Manx through west off there. A Greylag Goose overhead the best from the land today.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jun 28, 2024 at 23:17

27th June

An exodus of Balearics today with just 2 logged off the Bill; freshening wind through the afternoon saw a few dozen Manx getting moving offshore. Steady trickle of Swifts sw over the Bill through the mrng. First Grayling of the yr on the wing at Tout Quarry

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jun 27, 2024 at 22:03

Roseate Tern just gone east off the Bill

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Jun 27, 2024 at 7:46

Little Ringed Plover south over the Bill 0620, Wheatear about as well

— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) Jun 27, 2024 at 7:06

After a few weeks of not really bothering with systematic recording we've been giving the nocmig recorder a few outings this week as the early autumn wader season gets underway. Waders might have proved to be hard to come by but there's been some entertainment in the form of Guillemots audible through each night. We could get far better recording of these seasonable vocalisations by going over to the auk colony on West Cliffs but the weather's been so calm and birds so noisy that the nocmig recorder deployed at the Obs - several hundred metres from the sea - has been picking up some of the action as the little jumplings and their attendant parents are carried away eastwards on the tide off East Cliffs. In this sequence from just before midnight last evening the adults are presumably making the braying calls (this is the same call they use to call the youngsters off the cliffs) to keep in touch in the darkness with the youngsters that can be heard giving bursts of their shriller piping calls; we don't know how many youngsters left the cliffs last evening but the last contact calling between them and the adults was faintly audible way off in the distance at 03.25am:

The warm and increasingly humid nights earlier this week saw moth interest pick up quite dramatically. A good selection of local specials are now on the wing including Samphire Knot-horn Epischnia asteris...


...and Crescent Dart:


However, immigration - at least from the continent - was almost non-existent, to the extent that we're tempted to wonder if the small flurry of Olive-tree Pearls Palpita vitrealis didn't derive from a not very away breeding event (last year's total of them here was more than twice that of any previous year so they're massively on the up these days):

The main interest from our point of views concerned the selection of strays and dispersers that are customary in this sort of weather. The most interesting of these was what looks to be a Yarrow Pug from John Lucas' garden at Southwell; we do have at least one now long-ago previous record for the island that maybe ought to be revisited but it looks as though any records for Dorset are good ones - the county website mentions only 6 records in total:


More conventional fare included a good selection of woodland wanders, amongst which Mottled Oak Tortrix Zeiraphera isertana is quite a regular in hot spells...


...but Yellow Oak Tortrix Aleimma loeflingiana...


...Grey Oak Knot-horn Acrobasis consociella...


...and Gold W Argyresthia brockeella are all less frequent visitors to these parts © Martin Cade:

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