A beautiful still morning on Portland meant ideal conditions for birds in the nets and the anticipation of an early Melodious or Aquatic Warbler. Alas to no avail, The days ringing effort produced 18 Willow Warblers, 14 Sedge Warblers and a single Whitethroat. Other early movers were singles of Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail.
A mid-morning appearance of a Green Woodpecker was a rare sight for Portland. The bird moved around the bill area and briefly visited the obs garden where it successfully managed to avoid the nets.
A species that previously bred on the island, the only ringing record was way back in late July of 2000, when a juvenile spent a few days around the obs.
A constant seawatch effort was rewarded with an early Cory's Shearwater going east. Over 50 Balaeric Shearwaters throughout the morning, 18 Manx Shearwater, 20 Mediterranean Gulls and 53 Kittiwake. Whimbrel and Redshank were also seen. Also of note were a pod of over 30 Common Dolphin and a Harbor Porpoise.
Our own John Lucas has taken on the responsibility of checking the moth traps and he was rewarded with the first Convolvulus Hawkmoth of the year.
Convolvulus Hawkmoth Mark Cutts
Finally Martin King has struck again ! Whilst packing his car he found this Horsefly in the obs carpark.
Talking to the warden and some of the Portland veterans they can recall no records of Horseflies being found on the island. My ID is by no means 100% certain but I believe this maybe a Band-eyed Brown Horsefly.
