Another incremental improvement to start the new month - at least for a little while early in the morning before the continuing heat saw activity diminish rapidly - saw
Sedge and
Willow Warblers chip in with tallies of more than 20 apiece in the vicinity of the Obs; at the same time
Swallows were departing at a fair rate that eventually accumulated into their first three-figure total of the autumn. Variety wasn't a conspicuous feature on the ground or overhead, with 2
Grasshopper Warblers, a
Yellow Wagtail and a
Lesser Whitethroat easily the pick of the also-rans at the Bill. The waders provided a few extras, including 3
Common Sandpipers, 2
Little Ringed Plovers and 2
Black-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge and 2
Whimbrel and an audible but unseen party of
Ringed Plovers high over the Bill.
Gannets continued to dominate offshore, with 481 through off the Bill where 10
Balearic Shearwaters and singles of
Manx Shearwater,
Sooty Shearwater and
Arctic Skua provided further interest.
This evening's Little Ringed Plovers at Ferrybridge © Martin Cade:
Huge and very varied moth catches at the Obs last two nights. A Shining Marbled P. candidula last night best of the national rares, Hook-tipped Grass Moth P alpinella also last night best of the Dorset scarces; counts incl 248 Silver Y night before last & 22 amplana last night; lots of nice strays
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 1, 2024 at 17:02
