Today was a bit of a surprise package: despite apparently promising-looking conditions at dawn with plenty of cloud in the sky and a weather front not too far to the west, grounded and overhead migrants looked to again be few and far between; however, a strong passage of hirundines developed by mid-morning that saw gatherings of up to 1000 House Martins, 400 Swallows and 250 Sand Martins develop over the Bill and elsewhere, with some significant passage of all three also occurring well out over the sea. What relatively few other migrants were about did include a trickle of the usual wagtails and pipits overhead everywhere, and 2 Reed Warblers and singles of Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier (the long-staying lingerer), Snipe, Whimbrel, Garden Warbler and Pied Flycatcher at the Bill and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls at Ferrybridge. The sea remained worth attention, with 120 Kittiwakes, 110 Mediterranean Gulls, 80 Balearic Shearwaters, 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua through off the Bill.
Topsy-turvy ringing day at the Bill: literally more ringers than birds for a few hours after dawn before a big passage of hirundines developed that saw 232 House Martins, 74 Sand Martins and 27 Swallows ringed. Final total of 363 (+ a UK control Whitethroat) ringed is this year's highest to date.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 28, 2024 at 23:23
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