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