Whilst we're sure that the last knockings of autumn are still a fair way off yet there was no doubt that today's happenings had a distressingly pedestrian, end of season feel in comparison with last week's bountiful offerings. The explanation wasn't in any way opaque since the crystal clear sky and chilly northerly breeze were never going to have dropped migrants in numbers and in combination are rarely productive here on the vismig front either at this time of year. A few flocks of pigeons overhead totalled just into four figures, with the
Wood Pigeon to
Stock Dove ratio looking to be around 10:1;
Redwings and
Chaffinches also trickled through, with each reached into low dozens totals, but none of the other overhead movers managed double figures and quality consisted of just 2
Lapwings, 2
Redpolls, a
Woodlark and a late
Swallow. It was even quieter on the ground, with little more than 2
Chiffchaffs and a
Blackcap new at the Bill where 2
Black Redstarts and a
Moorhen were still about.
Far better conditions for the mainland coast than for Portland at this time of the year: the cloudless sky and brisk northerly would have been spot on in spring but weren't so helpful for us in November. Redwings, a couple of Lapwings and a Woodlark were some of today's overhead movers © Martin Cade:
By the middle of the day it had got surprisingly warm out of the wind and butterflies were still on the wing in some numbers - most were Red Admirals but a late-ish Small White was of note © Martin Cade:
