11th October

Another day of lovely birding conditions and, although not quite as good as yesterday for numbers, certainly packed with bags of variety both on the ground and overhead. Chiffchaffs fell back to about the 100 level at the Bill where Blackcaps only managed half that total, but it was variety that was to the fore with 3 more Yellow-browed Warblers and singles of Hen Harrier, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cetti's Warbler and Dartford Warbler there and 2 Ring Ouzel, a Black Redstart and another Yellow-browed Warbler (the latter at Verne Common) available further up-island. Overhead passage included good early showings of Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws including 2880 and 265 respectively over the Bill and more from other watchpoints; further Bill totals included 650 Meadow Pipits, 205 Pied Wagtails, 200 Swallows, 125 Chaffinches, 50 House Martins, 25 Stock Doves, 22 Starlings, 7 Bramblings, 3 Redpolls, a Barnacle Goose and a Golden Plover. The sea wasn't entirely outdone, with 1500 auks, 300 Mediterranean Gulls, 54 Common Scoter, 20 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Northern Divers and singles of Brent Goose, Teal, Arctic Skua and a likely Caspian Gull through off the Bill.

The Barnacle Goose high over the Obs © Joe Stockwell:

Our sound recorder was running at the time the bird flew right over Obs and captured the moment that it calls loudly and then Joe, who was in the adjacent hut fields, shouts equally loudly - despite this it was missed by everyone on the Obs patio!

Ring-tail Hen Harrier top fields seen from Sweet Hill campsite couple of mins ago @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

— TAC Birds (@tacbirds.bsky.social) October 11, 2024 at 6:28 PM

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— TAC Birds (@tacbirds.bsky.social) October 11, 2024 at 8:47 PM

Portland this morning with an early mid autumn friendly Black Redstart

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— philc72.bsky.social (@philc72.bsky.social) October 11, 2024 at 4:51 PM

Another good ringing day at the Bill: total of 108 between the Obs, Crown Estate Field and Culverwell included 2 more Yellow-browed Warblers and the first Dartford Warbler of the year; 65 CCs made up the bulk of the numbers with a late Tree Pipit among the lower totals

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 11, 2024 at 11:41 PM

Quieter mothing at the Obs in cooler conditions overnight although a Figure of Eight a good record for here (fewer than 10 island records); Mallow also a first for the year

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 11, 2024 at 4:55 PM