Whilst still way, way short of East Coast levels of interest there's just the beginnings of positive signs of better quality migrants trickling down to our part of the world, with a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Culverwell and Yellow-browed Warblers at Avalanche Road and Thumb Lane today's minor highlights - we can only hope it'll keep getting better. Back-ups of note included the year's first Jay at Old Hill and - presumably the same individual - later over Easton, the first Redwing and Dartford Warbler of the autumn at Barleycrates Lane and the Bill respectively and 4 Firecrests, 2 Hobbys, a Merlin and a Ring Ouzel scattered about. Most areas of cover around the centre and north of the island were dripping with Chiffchaffs although other grounded arrivals weren't particularly numerous or varied, with only odds and ends like a late Spotted Flycatcher of note at the Bill. Overhead passage was stronger in places, with 1000 Swallows per hour estimated from sample counts at the Heights and 485 Linnets, 300 Swallows, 250 Meadow Pipits and 110 Goldfinches the most numerous movers over the Bill. The sea continued to tick over, with 1200 auks, 67 Mediterranean Gulls, 48 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Sooty Shearwater and a Great Skua the pick of the Bill totals.
Overkill on the Red-breasted Flycatcher photo front (with apologies to everyone else who also sent us photos) © Joe Stockwell (top), Nick Hopper (middle) and Roger Hewitt (bottom):
My last full day at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social started with strongish S winds which increased after midday Then with sunshine only 26 birds of 10 species ringed, 2 Firecrest and a late Spotted Fly, the RBF at Culverwell avoided nets but seen well by many observers + 10 Chiffchaffs and 5 Robin
— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 5, 2024 at 8:40 PM
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