Summer's returned with a vengeance over the few days and while the numbers of grounded migrants have been far from impressive it's at least been a pleasure to get amongst what has arrived in lovely quiet conditions and warm sunshine. Today's clear, blue sky had looked very raptor-friendly from the outset and duly produced a
Honey Buzzard that looked to arrived in off the sea at the Bill before continuing northward to at least Weston; the long-staying
Marsh Harrier was also enjoying the conditions and was an almost constant presence at the Bill through the morning, The other surprise, given the offshore breeze, was another really strong movement of shearwaters off the Bill, where an absolute minimum of 3000
Manx and 215
Balearics passed by in quick time. Migrant-wise, it was a day of variety rather than numbers, with 75
Yellow Wagtails, 30
Tree Pipits, 30
Wheatears, 15
Swifts and 10
Grey Wagtails the only non-hirundine double figure totals from the Bill; 3
Pied Flycatchers, 2
Redstarts, a
Grasshopper Warbler and a
Whinchat were the best of the less-regulars. Ferrybridge continued to tick over, with 2
Common Sandpipers the pick of the waders and flock of 30
Cormorants heading away west also of note. Shearwaters aside, the sea didn't come up with much beyond 2
Great Skuas, 2
Arctic Skuas and a
Teal.
Always a fine sight over Portland, the Honey Buzzard looked to be a adult male © Duncan Walbridge:
The Marsh Harrier was also enjoying the sunshine and was in view nearly every time we did a round of the mist-nets in the Crown Estate Field © Martin Cade:
Variety increasing on the ringing front even if numbers remain low: 44 birds of 20 species today. 10 Willow Warblers the only double figure total; 2 each of Tree Pipit & Pied Flycatcher + singles of Grey Wagtail, Whinchat &Grasshopper Warbler the best of the less regulars.
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 30, 2024 at 23:39
Not exactly a sight of great beauty but seems to be becoming the new normal: total of 8 Porter's Rustics from the Obs moth-traps overnight
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 30, 2024 at 13:42
Last night's Obs moths: apart from the Porter's Rustics, migrants incl 28 noctuella, 13 ferrugalis, 10 Silver Y, 7 vitrealis, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Convolvulus Hawk. Plenty of nice local specials about too incl season's first Feathered Brindle + 2nd brood Samphire Knot-horn & Yellow Belle
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Aug 30, 2024 at 15:39
