30th September

Sadly, a bit of a shocker with the much anticipated seawatch that it was believed would result from a vicious overnight gale that was still blowing for the best part of the day coming to next to nothing - can anyone actually remember a single really good seawatch at the Bill in such conditions? What rewards there were from the sea - 19 Balearic Shearwaters, 17 Common Scoter, 3 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Sandwich Terns and a Great Skua - resulted as much from the pointlessness of undertaking most other serious birding what with any patches of cover being completely blown out. The exception to these bleak prospects on the land proved to be vismigging, with decent totals of 1200 Swallows, 100 Meadow Pipits, 80 House Martins, a Merlin and a few other odds and ends battling through overhead at the Bill.

29th September

An increasingly wild day with a southeasterly freshening into a full-blown gale and accompanied by heavy rain from mid-afternoon. Early doors, it was possible to get amongst a steady flow of overhead passage, including 245 Meadow Pipits, 200 Swallows and singles of Little and Cattle Egret through at the Bill, along with a thin scatter of grounded Chiffchaffs and the like but soon seawatching was the only possibility. Watches at the Bill provided variety but not too much in the way of numbers save for 1000 auks and 220 Kittiwakes; 46 Balearic Shearwaters, 18 Common Scoter, 10 Arctic Skuas, 4 Knot, 2 Sooty Shearwaters and singles of Great Northern Diver, Manx Shearwater, Great Skua and Arctic Tern provided the best of the variety. A windswept Ferrybridge provided nothing beyond 52 Brent Geese, 30 Turnstones, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Sanderling.

Red sky in the morning...very appropriate in view of what followed later © Mike Trew:

Some of the Bar-tailed Godwits getting buffeted about at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:

Strong SE winds increasing after dawn with stronger gusts before rain in the afternoon @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social heavily restricted ringing to one or sheltered nets for a spell wth only 3 new Chiffchaffs.seawatching being the best option. 673 birds of 23 species ringed since last Monday.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 29, 2024 at 6:33 PM

28th September

After two rather blank days passage resumed in earnest in today's much finer conditions. It was perhaps a little too fine to have expected a big arrival of grounded migrants but Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were well represented everywhere, including more than 50 of each at the Bill; a presumed Siberian Lesser Whitethroat trapped at the Obs was a welcome scarcity, whilst Dunnocks, Robins, tits and other under-the-radar species appeared in decent numbers. The day's highest numbers were overhead, with 3170 Meadow Pipits, 2100 Swallows and 560 House Martins through along West Cliffs alone, with plenty more unquantified movement both at the Bill and elsewhere; Pied Wagtails, Skylarks and Chaffinches all got into the few dozens over the Bill for the first time this season and there was plenty of variety including a Short-eared Owl amongst the lower totals overhead. Offshore, auks were moving in numbers, with 730 through off the Bill, where 50 Balearic Shearwaters and a Great Northern Diver also passed by.

It's hard to believe that this afternoon's Lesser Whitethroat is going prove to be anything other than a blythi Siberian bird © Martin Cade:

Nice to have a lovely clear, windless Portland to wake up to… @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Glen Maddison (@orioleglen66.bsky.social) September 28, 2024 at 7:12 AM

Light northerly at dawn and clear still resulted in 155 birds of 15 species ringed at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social New 8 Dunnocks,4Robins and Tits new with departing CC 39, B'cap 30, Swallow 24, House Martin 9,Spot Fly 1 whilst real1st eastern migrant in putative Siberian Lesser Whitethroat.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 28, 2024 at 8:41 PM

27th September

There was a rude awakening at dawn as the first blast of cold, arctic air of the autumn had set in behind a weather front that had sunk southward overnight. The chilly northeasterly proved far too strong for comprehensive coverage of the land, where the first 2 Goldcrests of the season were perhaps to have been expected amongst the small arrival of new Chiffchaffs hunkered down in cover at the Bill; grounded numbers otherwise appeared to be quite low with singles of Reed Bunting at the Bill and Redstart at Barleycrates Lane as good as the quality got. Overhead passage was stronger, with Meadow Pipits topping 1000 at the Bill where 4 Grey Herons and a Hobby were amongst the other movers. A strong showing of Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill saw 234 logged in the first hour after dawn with another 60 or so trickling by during the rest of the day; 2 Arctic Skuas and a single Manx Shearwater also passed by.

Strong winds and rain curtailed any thoughts of mist net use on the 26th at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social Strong NW winds and showers also restricted action today but the CEField with the crops and 4 nets at the Obs gave a princely total of 9 birds ringed. 6CC,2B'cap& 1 Whitethroat.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 27, 2024 at 8:03 PM

26th September

Unwelcome turbulent conditions returned and the resultant southwesterly gale did no favours when it came to maintaining the passerine migration momentum that had been building over the last few days. A few migrants were still in evidence both on the ground and overhead but numbers were hugely reduced and, bar the long-staying Marsh Harrier, nothing of consequence was discovered. The sea was well-watched but with relatively few rewards: c100 Balearic Shearwaters passed or lingered off the Bill but 4 Arctic Skuas were the only other worthwhile loggings. At Ferrybridge, the autumn build up of Brent Geese continued with 62 present; 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Knot also lingered on there.

The customary autumn and winter sight of Brent Geese flighting into Ferrybridge © Debby Saunders:

25th September

It's oft-repeated that the Met Office use some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world to forecast our weather so when we eventually went to bed in the early hours of this morning it was safe in the knowledge that this esteemed organisation had assured us we'd wake to heavy rain that would last well into the afternoon - a much-needed lie in was guaranteed; in the event, seaweed or pine cones might have proved more reliable for dawn was dry and the day remained so until mid-afternoon. A lie in would also have been a grave mistake for the rush of common migrants from the mist-nets at the Bill was on a scale that tested even six experienced ringers to keep up for the first hour or so: rolling waves of Meadow Pipits swept through over land and sea and the bushes were leaping with Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs; sample counts of the pipits from several vantage points suggested c5000 stormed through during this period, whilst reports of the two warblers in abundance everywhere that was visited hinted at all-island totals approaching four figures for both. As for variety there was almost a feeling of not being able to see the wood for the trees: late-ish flurries of Tree Pipits and Whitethroats were evident, Skylarks, Stonechats and Linnets continued to become more prominent on the ground and overhead, 2 Short-eared Owls and the Marsh Harrier were still about and singles of Grasshopper Warbler and Firecrest from the nets were nice but surely there should have been more about by way of scarcities? In a freshening breeze there were hopes for the sea but the totals of 82 Balearic Shearwaters and 3 Arctic Skuas from the Bill were disappointing.

The Crown Estate Field and Culverwell provided the majority of the 227 birds of 15 species ringed at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social today. 68 Meadow Pipits, with 69 Blackcap&69 Chiffchaffs plus 8 Whitethroat. A Grey Wagtail took autumn record total to 72 with colour ringing Rock Pipits also done.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 25, 2024 at 6:36 PM

Whopping catch of mainly routine migrant moths at the Obs last night: another Marbled Fern nitidalis the best (second for Portland after the first three nights ago); other good totals incl 99 Rusty-dot Pearl, 31 vitrealis, 28 Delicate, 10 Small Mottled Willow, 6 Scarce Bordered Straw, 3 Convolvulus

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 25, 2024 at 1:49 PM

24th September

Another good day for the commonest migrants with the heavily overcast skies that followed a night of at times very heavy rain dropping a good arrival of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs throughout the island and seeing Meadow Pipits pass through in quantity; the sea also perked up, with Balearic Shearwaters passing by in their highest numbers since the first week of the month. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were dominant on the ground, with around 120 of each at the Bill and plenty more everywhere else that was checked; sadly though, migrant variety remained disappointingly poor: a small flurry of late Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers was evident at the Bill, but singles of Short-eared Owl, Grasshopper Warbler and Firecrest were the only new arrivals of any consequence; the long-staying Marsh Harrier and Pied Flycatcher were also both still at the Bill. Overhead passage saw Meadow Pipits dominant, with 1160 through along West Cliffs at the Bill and probably just as many on the move along other vectors where they weren't counted; just as was evident on the ground, variety overhead was limited and didn't include any surprises. For no obvious reason since the conditions were very benign, Balearic Shearwaters reappeared in quantity off the Bill where 292 passed by through the morning, along with singles of Manx and Sooty Shearwater, and Great and Arctic Skua.

Stonechat passage is beginning to gather a bit of momentum - there still haven't been any high counts worth a mention but small parties of them are beginning to crop up everywhere © Pete Saunders:

Another good ringing day at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with 147 birds of 17 species. Firecrest GrasshoperW,Greenland Wheatear,2Spotted Fly,6 each of Sedge& WW,main species 41Bcap,43 CChaff & 31 Meadow Pipits.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 24, 2024 at 8:35 PM

Surge in Balearics ongoing off the Bill: 200 so far and plenty still moving. A Maize Moth from the first moth-trap looked at - encouraging!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 24, 2024 at 8:40 AM

23rd September

Grounded migrant numbers have picked up nicely over the last couple of days but variety and scarcity interest remain extremely limited. Today's heavily overcast sky and constant threat of rain (in the event, that held off until the very end of the afternoon) downed a good spread of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs throughout the island - both exceeded 100 at the Bill - but there was remarkably little else about, with the lingering singles of Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher and Pied Flycatcher as good as it got at the Bill and precious little beyond the entirely routine anywhere else. It was too overcast/threatening for visible passage to get going, with 300 Meadow Pipits and 180 Linnets providing pretty well all the numbers over the Bill. In a fresher than expected southwesterly 41 Balearic Shearwaters trickled through off the Bill but a single Arctic Skua was the only other seabird of note. Elsewhere, an Eider was in Portland Harbour.

Rain Alarm often at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social today but no rain until1630 hrs, 3 sites ,Obs,Cef and Culverwell resulted in 101 birds of 13 species ringed. Blackcap 40 & 30 Chiffchaffs predominant species.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 23, 2024 at 9:48 PM

22nd September

All change with the weather and at least the beginnings of a change on the migrant front. A bucketload of rain from storms rolling across the Channel during the early hours downed improved numbers and variety, with Wheatears, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs numerous everywhere including up to 50 of each at the Bill. Mid-level interest came in the form of 4 White Wagtails, 2 Kingfishers and singles of Cattle Egret, Marsh Harrier (still the lingerer), Honey Buzzard, Hobby, Water Rail, Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart and Pied Flycatcher at the Bill, a grounded Great White Egret at Reap Lane, a Firecrest at Old Hill and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits and singles of Knot, Ruff and Sanderling at Ferrybridge.  Nine Balearic Shearwaters and more than 200 Mediterranean Gulls were off the Bill.

The Ruff and Grey Heron at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:

The Cattle Egret at the Bill © Martin Cade:

The Marsh Harrier and a Wheatear at the Bill © Joe Stockwell:

No Spotted Clovers flying for us last night but it was a good moth night at the Bill: Marbled Fern M. nitidalis from Martin King's LED trap in the Crown Estate Field was new for Portland (+ is the most westerly Dorset record; ta Paul Harris for the status update)...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 22, 2024 at 6:16 PM

...at the Obs a Plumed Fan-foot was the second for Portland (still rare in Dorset - maybe only one other county record?); other migrants incl 11 vitrealis, 11 Delicate, 8 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Gem

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 22, 2024 at 6:20 PM

21st September

Another repeat, with even some pretty heavy duty all-island fieldwork returning precious few rewards. Meadow Pipits and hirundines continued to trickle through in fair numbers - the former reaching the 500 mark at the Bill - but it was the numbers and variety on the ground that were the big disappointment, with singles of Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Firecrest at High Angle Battery, Great Spotted Woodpecker at Wakeham and Southwell, and Water Rail and Pied Flycatcher at the Bill - along with the wide-ranging lingering Marsh Harrier - providing what little interest there was amongst the very thin spread of commoner migrants. A few additions of note overhead included 16 Siskins, a Lapwing and a Snipe through at the Bill and a Great White Egret south over Ferrybridge. Offshore, Balearic Shearwater numbers remained at a low level with just 19 through off the Bill, where a single Arctic Skua also passed by.

20th September

We remained on repeat - or at least, a repeat that gets less fulfilling with each watching: more brisk northeasterly, more clear skies, less migrants. The overhead flow of Meadow Pipits and hirundines at the Bill diminished to a few hundred apiece - with 800 Swallow topping the totals - and 2 departing Kestrels and 2 Siskins were the only other noteworthy vismig sightings. It remained relatively quiet on the ground, with the lingering singles of Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher and Pied Flycatcher providing the best of the interest amongst the few new arrivals at the Bill. Variety from the sea there included 18 Balearic Shearwaters and singles of Brent Goose, Shoveler, Arctic Skua and Arctic Tern.

The tailspin into winter continued at Ferrybridge where the wader selection has remained largely unchanged all week; Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover there today © Roy Norris:

19th September

It's already feeling like we've got into a weather rut and a change would be for the best: the continuing brisk northeasterly, clear sky and searing temperature saw migrant numbers fall away to the extent that even hirundine passage lost a lot of momentum and the day's ringing total struggled to reach even double figures - all pretty grim for mid-September. Meadow Pipits and hirundines were still on the move over the Bill but none reached a higher per hour total than the 550 chalked up for House Martins; at least 3 more Hobbys passed through but most of the usually numerous tag-alongs didn't even manage a double figure total. On the ground, the day's tally included more lingerers than new arrivals, with a scatter of 7 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Firecests and singles of Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Kingfisher and Pied Flycatcher the best of it. Four Balearic Shearwaters and a Wigeon were all that could be mustered from the sea at the Bill.

A plusia flurry in the Obs moth-traps a bit unexpected on a night that seemed way too windy for productive catching: singles of Golden Twin-spot and Dewick's Plusia + 25 Silver Ys (this week's highest total)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 19, 2024 at 9:41 AM

18th September

With the northeasterly having upped a notch and scarcely a cloud in the sky the day's action looked likely to be upward - and so it proved with a veritable avalanche of hirundines on the move on the broadest of fronts (presumably they were coasting and strayed out to sea before heading back north on a front that at the Bill stretched from way out to sea off East Cliffs, right across to well beyond West Cliffs). Meaningful coverage of the passage was next to impossible but from sample counts it seemed likely that well in excess of 7000 Swallows and 2500 House Martins had passed through by 8am, with many more in the ensuing few hours; Meadow Pipits were surprisingly nowhere near as numerous with no more than the low hundreds through, whilst accompanying wagtails and the like weren't really at all well represented. Also overhead, there was uncertainty regarding how many individuals were involved in a series of Hobby sightings throughout the day, a Hen Harrier paused for a while over the Crown Estate Field, the Marsh Harrier was still about there and a party of 8 Raven heading west high over the Bill were an oddity. Despite the strength of the wind it remained remarkably warm all day and there was plenty of incentive to get out and about on the ground even if the rewards were negligible at best, with new arrivals few and far between and only lingerers like singles of White Wagtail and Pied Flycatcher providing interest at the Bill. The sea provided some further movement, including 30 Balearic Shearwaters, 10 Wigeon, 5 Arctic Skuas, 4 Teal and 2 Brent Geese through off the Bill.

The Hen Harrier was the third species of harrier hunting over the Countryside Stewardship crops in the Crown Estate Field in a little over a week; a Monties also visited the field a year or two back but, what with all the glad rags and aides he has to budget for, we're not sure that Mr Starmer is going to have enough dosh left in the kitty to keep funding our stewardship deal long enough for a Northern Harrier to make it a nice little quintet © Martin Cade:

The lingering Pied Flycatcher at the Obs © Martin King:

17th September

A squeezing of the isobars along the Channel coast heralded considerably brisker conditions to contend with and much of the day's migration involved fly-bys rattling through into the northeasterly. Hirundines and pipits accounted for the bulk of the numbers, with sample totals of 1500 House Martins, 600 Swallows and 400 Meadow Pipits through at Tout Quarry in 45 minutes, 1000 Swallows and 500 Meadow Pipits through at Ferrybridge and 1400 Meadow Pipits, 1120 House Martins and 750 Swallows through during a longer watch at the Bill; amongst the tag-alongs, a Golden Plover and a departing Sparrowhawk were of note at the Bill. It was far too clear overnight to have expected any sort of arrival on the ground but 3 Whinchats, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 White Wagtails and singles of Common Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher amongst the thinnish spread at the Bill, 2 Firecrests at Weston and singles of Pied and Spotted Flycatcher at East Weare provided at least some entertainment. The sea came up with plenty of variety that included 380 auks, 225 Mediterranean Gulls, 210 Kittiwakes, 16 Balearic Shearwaters, 16 Wigeon, 15 Knot, 3 Mallards, 2 Dark-bellied Brents and 2 Arctic Skuas through off the Bill.

So far, it's been a conspicuously poor autumn for wagtails and although today's numbers were not really much of an improvement it was good to at least see a few grounded Yellows and Whites © Martin Cade:

We've been fortunate to have had a whole host of ringing recoveries and colour-ring sightings reported this year and have been planning for a while to collate them all together in a blog-post here - if some of the colour-ring projects weren't so glacially slow in getting back to us with the ringing details of their birds that we've seen then this little project would have already seen the light of day. In the meanwhile, here's a taster from Pete and Debby Saunders who're always super-attentive to colour-ringed visitors at Ferrybridge. This Sanderling there on 28th July was ringed on its nest (the eggs later hatched successfully) in the Karupelv Valley, NE Greenland just 26 days before this on 2nd July..

...whilst this Sandwich Tern there on 14th September was ringed as a chick in the colony at the mouth of the Lymington River, Hampshire on 11th June; amazingly, of the 73 chicks ringed at this colony this year there have already been post-breeding dispersal sightings in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Carmarthenshire and Powys - how cool is that? © Pete Saunders:

16th September

With a veil of cloud overhead at dawn - the legacy of a weak weather front that sank slowly southward overnight - hopes were high for a drop of migrants and it was soon apparent that there was a lot more about than over the weekend. Sadly, it was equally soon apparent that most of this arrival consisted of just Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps that numbered 70 and 25 respectively at the Bill, with variety remaining relatively low everywhere that got attention. The Marsh Harrier was still about at the Bill but a new Pied Flycatcher was as good as it got there for worthwhile newcomers; waders fared little better with 40 Oystercatchers and 30 Turnstones the only obviously increased totals at Ferrybridge. The overhead tally was dominated by Meadow Pipits, including 300 or so over the Bill, whilst 25 Grey Wagtails was one of their higher totals there so far this autumn; the first few departing Skylarks of the season were also of note there as was a lone Hobby. The sea was quiet save for 220 Kittiwakes and 44 Balearic Shearwaters through off the Bill and the summering Great Northern Diver showing up for the first time in ages off Ferrybridge.

The Great Northern Diver off Billy Winters this morning; although there'd been a Great Northern Diver about in Portland Harbour until well into June we didn't learn until today that evidently it's been hiding away in the far northernmost corner of the harbour for the rest of the summer - presumably to get away from all the watersports disturbance © Pete Saunders:

Common Gull at Ferrybridge - there have been the odd few passing migrants through in recent days but it'll be a few more weeks yet before the winterers return © Pete Saunders:

Migrant moth nos up at Obs overnight incl 42 Rusty-dot Pearl, 27 Silver Y, 10 vitrealis, 7 Delicate, Vestal & Four-spotted Footman

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 16, 2024 at 9:48 AM

15th September

More lovely weather for fieldwork but even fewer migrants on offer today. A Cattle Egret overhead at the Bill that later showed up amongst livestock on Bill Hill was easily the day's highlight, with the lingering Marsh Harrier still about to provide what little other interest there was in the absence of anything more than the thinnest spread of grounded arrivals, a samey selection of waders and precious little overhead bar the first passing Siskin of autumn proper. The sea fared hardly any better, with 100 Kittiwakes, 90 auks, 12 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas and 2 Arctic Skuas through off the Bill.

Whilst no longer the day-salvager it would have been not too many years ago it was still an unusual sight to see a grounded Cattle Egret on the island © Martin Cade:

Ferrybridge this morning 5 Sanderling, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Redshank, 23 Turnstone, 30 Oystercatchers, Kingfisher

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) September 15, 2024 at 8:51 AM

The beautiful Gold Spot moth is an infrequent visitor @PortlandBirdObs, with last nights two individuals presumed to be migrants from elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/wR6voyAbXj

— Jodie mae Henderson (@JodiemHenderson) September 15, 2024

Just testing out the Bluesky video possibilities; we did see a Hummingbird Hawk today - that hasn't by any means been an everyday event this year - but this little slowmo clip was actually filmed in the Obs garden a couple of weeks ago

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 15, 2024 at 11:24 PM

14th September

Lovely weather, lots of fieldwork...no birds - well, that's a slight exaggeration but there was a lot less than might have been hoped on this date even if the conditions were way too nice to have expected a good drop of migrants. Grounded arrivals at the Bill did include 4 Whinchats, 2 Snipe, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Pied Flycatcher amongst the thin spread of more routine fare; the long-staying Marsh Harrier was also still there, whilst at Ferrybridge the Sanderling tally upped a notch to 10 and a Yellow-legged Gull was new in. Far more was expected overhead but in the event passage was really slow: a Honey Buzzard heading south over East Weare was nice and a Cattle Egret arriving from the south over the Bill was still a good island record but movement of pipits, wagtails and hirundines gathered no momentum at all and an early Reed Bunting over the Bill was the only other very minor oddity. Kittiwakes and auks were still moving in fair numbers off the Bill - 275 and 229 respectively were logged during the morning - with 53 Common Scoter, 9 Balearic Shearwaters and 5 Arctic Skuas also through there.

Despite record numbers trapped at Culverwell, overhead passage of Grey Wagtails has actually been well below average so far this autumn; we'd guess this ringed bird visiting a garden pond at Sweethill is one of the Culverwell birds and it'll be interesting to see if it hangs around - hitherto, none of the birds ringed on migration at the Bill have ever been either retrapped or suspected of wintering on the island (there is a small winter population here) © Debby Saunders:

13th September

Friday the 13th didn't go either way for us - fair weather was very welcome for fieldwork and there were birds about but ultimately the day just gently fizzled out all rather uneventfully. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were most numerous on the ground - probably reaching 30 apiece at the Bill - and it was noticeable that some of the typical September shorter-distance movers like Dunnocks, Robins and tits were getting conspicuous both in the field and from the mist-nets; by way of less-frequents, the Marsh Harrier remained at the Bill and there was again a Firecrest there, a Pied Flycatcher pitched up at Reap Lane and the first Dark-bellied Brent Goose of the season was at Ferrybridge. The clear sky was not as filled with visible migrants as might have been expected with only Meadow Pipits at all numerous over the Bill and even they dwindled away quite quickly after the dawn rush. The spectacle of constantly visible Bluefin Tuna provided most of the offshore interest; Kittiwakes and auks were moving steadily off the Bill - reaching 250 and 80 respectively - but 7 Balearic Shearwaters was otherwise as good as it got.

There was a return-to-summer feel to the weather but the birds were a lot more appropriate for the season - Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Harrier and Dark-bellied Brent Goose © Martin Cade:

The Fleet Ferrybridge - This morning on the Fleet Brent Goose (DB), Knot 2, Sanderling 2, Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Ringed Plover 100+, Dunlin17+, Turnstone 9, Sandwich Tern 6 @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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— Dorset Bird Tours (@dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social) September 13, 2024 at 5:30 PM

After some while searching I managed to find a Bastard-toadflax plant at Portland Bill today. I carefully watched it until, bingo, the hoped for Down Shieldbug appeared to soak up the sun. New for me and one I've wanted to see for ages. Thanks to @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social for invaluable video!

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— Paul Harris (@paulupwey.bsky.social) September 13, 2024 at 6:05 PM

12th September

IN FOCUS SOUTH WEST Optics day this Sunday 15th Sept @PortlandBirdObs @DorsetBirdClub 01225 891352 for further info @opticronuk @SwarovskiOptik @ZEISSBirding @hawkeoptics @VortexOpticsUK and more @DorsetWildlife hoping for a big Shearwater and a fall pic.twitter.com/l4t748DrWf

— IN FOCUS SOUTH WEST (@MortimerKe93304) September 12, 2024

More northwesterlies, fewer migrants and, not long after darkness fell, the first single digit temperature of the autumn - all in all pretty grim. The only migrant on the up - very predictably at this juncture - was Meadow Pipit, with 200 through overhead at the Bill; the other expected overhead movers were also all represented but none in anything like that sort of number. Grounded arrivals were only sparsely spread, with 2 Common Sandpipers and singles of Whimbrel, Garden Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Firecrest at the Bill (along with the lingering Marsh Harrier) and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers at Thumb Lane the best on offer around the south of the island; waders on the up included Knot, of which there were 9 at Ferrybridge. Sea passage remained very pedestrian, with 120 Manx Shearwaters, 92 Kittiwakes, 7 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua through off the Bill.

There are worse places to see the sun rise © Martin Cade:

Photo opportunities on the Obs patio this morning - Pied Flycatcher. Tree Pipit and Small Tortoiseshell © John Martin:

A few of the burgeoning Knot group at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:

11th September

Today reminded us why generally we're not great fans of brisk northwesterlies - it was rubbish! That's a slight exaggeration since the day's list wasn't too bad, but within it numbers were very much on the low side and the strength of the wind always made for uncomfortable fieldwork. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were surprisingly well represented in what sheltered spots there were but grounded migrants weren't otherwise at all plentiful, with 5 Whinchats, 2 Redstarts and singles of Marsh Harrier (the very long-stayer), Merlin, Whimbrel, Knot, White Wagtail and Firecrest about the best of it at the Bill; another 6 Knot were at Ferrybridge. The clear sky was bereft of much by way of visible passage save for more evidence of Meadow Pipits beginning to get going. The sea was given plenty of looks just in case but the rewards were negligible: a Sooty Shearwater passed by off the Bill but even the Balearic Shearwater tally there was reduced to a paltry 9.   

So rare these days as to be worth a mention in its own right: Small Tortoiseshell in the Obs garden this afternoon - think it's only the second one seen at Portland all year

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 11, 2024 at 1:36 PM

10th September

Talking of the new normal, it's long been thought that one of the most overdue additions to the Portland bird list was Pallid Harrier, so when we received a call from Charlie Richards reporting a small, pale ringtail harrier arriving in off the sea over Chesil Cove our interest was certainly piqued - all the more so when not long afterwards a report was called in of the same bird over the Slopes at the Bill. A small crowd assembled overlooking the nearby Crown Estate Field where the bird duly appeared shortly afterwards before heading off up the valley towards the Business Park; this was followed by a second appearance quite a while later but this time it was lost heading down towards the Bill - with no further sightings it seems likely it may have departed out to sea at this time. In the brisk westerly most of the coverage before this distraction had been of the sea but there was no repeat of yesterday's events: off the Bill the light trickle of Manx and even fewer Balearic Shearwaters - just 12 of the latter were logged - included in their midst 3 Sooty Shearwaters, with 40 Sandwich Terns, 6 Arctic Skuas, a Shelduck and an Arctic Tern also through there and a Caspian Gull briefly grounded on East Cliffs; 2 Arctic Skuas and a Red-throated Diver passed through off Chesil Cove. Searches for the harrier resulted in extensive coverage of the land but it was soon evident there were few passerine arrivals about; the Marsh Harrier was still lingering about at the Bill - with some evidence of a second individual there - whilst wader interest included a Knot at the Bill and a good array of the regulars at Ferrybridge.

For observers at the Bill, the harrier was rather distant and the first impressions were of a very fast, agile, lightly-built bird, with the extremely pale underparts and narrow blackish wedge on the underside of the primaries resulting in it immediately being called as a second calendar year Pallid © Martin Cade...

...however, subsequent examination of the photographs obtained led to some doubt creeping in - these three © John Martin...

...three more © Max Barrey:

...and this one © Jodie Henderson:

The hesitancy came about as a narrow dark Montagu's Harrier-ish wing-bar seemed to be visible on the upperwing greater coverts, the head/upper breast looked oddly hooded and there was a feeling/surprise that a second calendar year male would still have such female-like dark upperparts. However, these doubts were quite soon allayed when scrutiny of the literature showed that this freshly-moulted plumage is quite variable and what we were seeing fell well within this variation.

The East Cliffs Caspian Gull - so striking even when most of it isn't visible! Did we really used to overlook things like this or were they just not here? © Matt Ames:

And a non-Ferrybridge Knot for a change © Matt Ames:

Ferrybridge this (windy) morning 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 45 Dunlin, 160 Ringed Plover, Redshank, 12 Sandwich Tern

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) September 10, 2024 at 8:38 AM

9th September

Once in a lifetime events - in fact in today's case, before last year a hitherto never in a lifetime event - really are becoming the new normal. For the second year in succession an extraordinary Great Shearwater event unfolded off the Bill in the most unexpected of circumstances, when in a stiff northwesterly 700 piled through without any warning in little more 30 minutes; in view of the conditions we'd imagine that this was a food-related event and that a huge flock of Greats that had gathered somewhere way out in Lyme Bay chose this moment to en masse up and head off looking for opportunities elsewhere - who'd bet against repeats with increasing frequency? The sea was otherwise well worth attention, with c1000 Manx and plenty (more than 100) of Balearic Shearwaters through along with c100 Sandwich, 20 Common and an Arctic Tern, 7 Arctic and 4 Great Skuas, 6 Sooty Shearwaters and a Wigeon;  The land was also a surprise package, with far more about than had been expected: Wheatears, Blackcaps and both phylloscs were well-represented on the deck where the likes of a scatter of Whinchats, a Firecrest and the long-staying Marsh Harrier at the Bill, a Nightjar at Wakeham and the Little Stint and a good miscellany of other waders at Ferrybridge added a bit of spice to proceedings; overhead, Tree Pipits, Grey and Yellow Wagtails, and hirundines were all relatively numerous and singles of Golden Plover, Merlin, Short-eared Owl and another Swift were logged. Why is that we're not keen on northwesterlies?

Everyone present at the Obs was so in awe of the Great Shearwater event when it suddenly unfolded that it was difficult to tear yourself away and hotfoot to the Bill tip for photo opportunities - we eventually did and arrived just in time to see one not far off the Obelisk but were so excited by the crippling view that we messed up photographing it...and you guessed it - that was the very last one seen! We're not sure that all that many of them had been coming that close in but there were other nice sights like Arctic Skuas so close that from our viewpoint at the pumping station they were disappearing from view below the Obelisk © Martin Cade:

An interesting sight at Ferrybridge on recent evenings has been a good selection of specimens of presumed tundrae Ringed Plovers - the dark, dinky little things that breed in Lapland and northern Russia - one or two (seemingly all juveniles as far as we can see) have been really startling, plain chocolate brown-coloured birds...

...contrast those with this selection of presumably nominate hiaticula - the larger, paler things that breed both locally and across a huge range from northeast Canada to western Europe © Martin Cade:

With a few August ringing records over the years, this male Firecrest is still rather early for this traditional late autumn migrant. #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Mark Cutts (@slashercutts.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2024 at 7:34

Surprisingly fair overnight catch of migrant moths at the Obs incl an arrival of 13 Scarce Bordered Straws (previous highest total so far this month = 6); also 1 Convolvulus Hawk. By day, Clouded Yellow in the Crown Estate Field = only the second at Portland this yr (only other at Church Ope in May)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2024 at 13:29