Another day of moderate North-easterly winds, saw a small arrival of thrushes, with a minimum of 10 Song Thrushes and 3 Redwings pitched in around the Bill. A total of 3 over-wintering Chiffchaffs were recorded around the obs area, with an additional 2 at Southwell whilst the Purple Sandpiper count was back down to 6 around the obelisk. A busy morning's seawatch was dominated by Auk movement, with approximately 550 heading east in a 10 minute timed count. A further 13 Red-throated Divers, 6 Common Scoters, 3 Velvet Scoters and a Little Egret were recorded past the bill. A total of 3 Great Northern Divers were present at Ferrybridge, with an additional 5 Common Scoter, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Black-necked Grebe in the harbour.
11th December
10th December
Today's bitter North-easterly wind seemed to do the trick, with a nice variety of birds present for so late into the month. The highlight of the day was a Snow Bunting at Ferrybridge; this was only the second record this year after the subliminal fly-over bird back in October. Additional new arrivals from around the Bill included singles of Chiffchaff, Redwing and Redpoll whilst a total of 8 Purple Sandpipers was the most seen this winter. At sea, a total of 16 Red-throated Divers, 5 Common Scoters, 2 Brent Geese and 2 Velvet Scoters were recorded.
Today's Snow Bunting proved much more obliging, as it pitched in for around an hour along the shingle beach across from Ferrybridge before being lost further along the shore © Pete Saunders
9th December
Portland Bill: Red-throated Diver 9w, Common Scoter 6e, Great Northern Diver 1e, Chiffchaff 2.
Ferrybridge: Common Gull 4, Great Crested Grebe 4, Goosander 2, Great Northern Diver 2w, Lapwing 1.
Today's Common Gulls and Great Northern Diver from Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders
8th December
With a second day under the effects of Storm Darragh, it seemed that most of the birds had the good sense to remain well under cover, with a total of 2 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and a Water Rail heard but not seen from around the Bill. Overhead, a Grey Heron was carried out to the tip of the Bill, before battling its way back Northwards. Elsewhere at Ferrybridge, 2 Great Northern Divers, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Sanderling were present.
Today's Sanderling and Pale-bellied Brent Goose from Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders
7th December
6th December
Despite the wind currently rattling against the office window marking the arrival of Storm Darragh, the majority of the day was surprisingly mild and settled. Totals from around the Bill included 2 Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff in the obs garden, 2 Water Rail and a Redwing at Culverwell and a single Purple Sandpiper below the Obelisk. A quiet morning seawatch resulted in just 3 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver heading west. Across the harbour, a total of 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver and a Kingfisher were logged. Additional Black Redstarts were seen at both Chiswell and Hamm Beach Road, whilst the Portland Castle bird remained among the barmy swimmers and sauna. Lastly, the Wheatear was still present at Ferrybridge.
Another exceptionally late record of Painted Lady from today © Jodie Henderson
5th December
Portland Bill: Woodcock 1, Purple Sandpiper 6, Turnstone 2, Red-throated diver 3, Great Northern Diver 1.
Harbour: Common Scoter 5.
Ferrybridge: Wheatear 1.
4th December
3rd December
2nd December
1st December
30th November
Whilst the continuing mild weather made for pleasant birding, there appeared to be little in the way of new arrivals, with a total of 3 Song Thrush, a Reed Bunting and a Chiffchaff recorded around the obs. The oddity of the day came in the form of a Little Egret which was first seen at Southwell before dropping in at several sites around the Bill including the obs pond. Elsewhere, a total of 6 Purple Sandpipers were at the tip of the Bill and a Water Rail was heard calling from Culverwell. At sea, just 2 Red-throated Divers and 16 Common Scoter were recorded. At Ferrybridge, 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit were still present, with a group of 19 Greenfinch of note.
Whilst the moth traps were undoubtedly busier with migrant activity, with a total of 4 Rusty Dot Pearl, 2 Silver Y, 2 White Speck, 2 Rush Veneer and a Small Mottled Willow, it was hard not be a tad disappointed when compared to some of the other rarities turning up around the county!
Today's Great Northern Diver and Bar-tailed Godwit from Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders
29th November
An overcast day with temperatures back up into double figures saw a small arrival of migrants join the already lingering birds around the obs garden. Presumed newcomers included a total of 4 Chiffchaffs, 7 Redwing and a Lapwing whilst at least 2 Goldcrests and the male Blackcap were also present. At Ferrybridge, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit were recorded, whilst a total of 5 Common Scoter, 4 Great Northern Divers, 2 Black-necked Grebes and singles of Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe and Black Redstart were seen from the various watchpoints along Portland harbour.
28th November
27th November
Today marked a return to winter, with both cooler temperatures and decidedly fewer birds. Around the Bill a total of 7 Purple Sandpipers and a Black Redstart were present whilst 3 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Northern Divers were all seen heading west. At Ferrybridge, a total of 4 Common Scoter and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits were also recorded.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 6:28 PM
26 November
With the wind dropped right away to a light breeze and the temperature clinging to double figures, many of today's birds were actively feeding up in the relative calm. In the garden, a total of 2 Goldcrests, a Firecrest and a Blackcap reappeared from their sheltered hiding spots, although new Chiffchaffs at both the Obs and Southwell suggested there may have also been a small overnight arrival. Elsewhere at the Bill, a total of 3 Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone were present and a lone Velvet Scoter was the highlight of the morning's seawatch. Amazingly, another 5 Painted Ladies were recorded around the Bill, where a Red Admiral was also on the wing.
One of the day's new Chiffchaffs was busy feeding around the Crown Estate pond where a Reed Bunting also dropped in © Jodie Henderson
25 November
24 November
23rd November
22nd November
21 November
Whilst we may have escaped the snowy conditions that seemed to have blanketed large swathes of the country, a rather persistent band of sleet-like rain put a halt to any real birding opportunities till well past midday. A late Manx Shearwater was the highlight of the seawatching with just a single Brent Goose and 9 Common Scoter also of note. Around the Bill, a total of 4 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones and a Knot were also recorded. The lingering Blackcap was again observed visiting the apple provisions in the Obs garden.
We're not particularly aware that Knots are associated with cold weather at spots like Ferrybridge and you never really see them flying past or over the Bill during cold spells but as soon as the temperature plummets it's the safest of bets that one will turn up on the wave-cut platform below the crane on East Cliffs - and so it came to pass today! © Jodie Mae Henderson:
20th November
19th November
18th November
17th November
16th November
15th November
IN FOCUS OPTICS South West open this Wednesday 13th Thursday 14th and Friday 15th November @bristolbirding @Southglosbirds @GlosterBirder and @PortlandBirdObs Sunday 17th @opticronuk @SwarovskiOptik @ZEISSBirding @VortexOpticsUK @hawkeoptics and more pic.twitter.com/19w8o7N0u0
— IN FOCUS SOUTH WEST (@MortimerKe93304) November 10, 2024
What's not to like about a millpond calm and overcast dawn in mid-November? - quite a bit on the strength of today's happenings: it was beautifully birdable and netable but if migrants were on the move they gave us a pretty wide berth today. A steady passage of 150 Chaffinches passed overhead at the Bill but beside them it was unexpectedly quiet on all fronts. Six Redpolls, 5 Bramblings and 4 Siskins also passed over there but the fact that Redwing didn't even manage a double-figure total was evidence enough about the state of play overhead. It wasn't much different on the ground at the Bill where 7 Reed Buntings, 3 Blackcaps and a Bullfinch were new but many if not all of the likes of Black Redstarts, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were lingerers; elsewhere, a Firecrest was at Avalanche Road. Gulls weren't quite a prominent offshore as in recent days but 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Balearic Shearwater did provide some interest off the Bill.
Very nice to have an excuse (Trustees' meeting!) to enjoy a day's bird ringing at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social 23 birds of 10 species with Redwing and Redpoll especially nice. A fine day in contrast to last few in South Wales with good sunset and full super moon.Business tomorrow!
— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) November 15, 2024 at 6:17 PM
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Pushed the phone to plane window , cracking view of Portland Bill as we departed UK for Canaries this morning @PortlandBirdObs pic.twitter.com/bOyO0oHgGo
— Duncan Dine (@duncan_dine) November 12, 2024
14th November
The return of some cloud cover was welcome and led to a small uptick in migrant numbers, most of which passed through overhead. At the Bill, totals included 200 Chaffinches, 91 Redwings, 17 Fieldfares, 6 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Bramblings, a Merlin and a Redpoll, with at least 3 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs new on the ground; lingerers there included 4 Goldcrests, 3 Black Redstarts and singles of Water Rail and Moorhen. Auks, Mediterranean Gulls and Common Gulls were again in abundance offshore but 12 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Brent Goose were the only movers over the sea. A largely customary selection at Ferrybridge included 741 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Pale-bellied Brents and the lingering Common Scoter.
It's that time of year when incoming Blackcaps squabble over the apples we provision them with © Martin Cade:
13th November
12th November
11th November
Overnight mothing at the Obs didn't really reach the hoped-for level: a recurvalis a nice new arrival but migrant numbers otherwise fairly samey
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 11, 2024 at 10:15 AM
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Not bad for migrant #moths last night with Scarce Bordered Straw, Gem, 2 Olive Tree Pearl and 15 Rusty-dot Pearl
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) November 11, 2024 at 4:01 PM
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10th November
Weekend mothing at the Obs relatively mundane although quite fair increases in Rusty-dot Pearls (286 = highest total this year), Diamond-backs and Silver Ys last night. Also last night another Marbled Fern nitidalis and a late/migrant Nutmeg of interest.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 10, 2024 at 12:13 PM
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9th November
Lots of nice variety today but in quieter, less windy conditions overall numbers of migrants dropped off a little. The Pallas's Warbler lingered for another day at Avalanche Road but the best of the day's newcomers were single Hawfinches at the Bill and Southwell, a Great White Egret departing to the south from the Bill, 3 Bullfinches, a Ring Ouzel and a Yellowhammer there, and a late Willow Warbler at May Bower Gardens; a scatter of at least 15 Black Redstarts, 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs and 3 Firecrests - several of each were lingerers - further ensured there was plenty of scarcity interest for weekend visitors. Goldcrests continued to trickle through, with 15 or more through at the Bill and several aggregations approaching that number elsewhere around the island; a few new thrushes, Stonechats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were also in evidence but in general grounded totals were on the low side. Overhead passage was also a little subdued, with 180 Chaffinches, 156 Stock Doves, 80 Redwings, 75 Skylarks, 50 Meadow Pipits, 20 Song Thrushes, 13 Golden Plovers (another 7 were grounded at Barleycrates Lane) and few single figure totals of the less common species through over the Bill. The sea was also relatively quiet save for 430 Mediterranean Gulls through off the Bill; 3 passing Wigeon were the only oddities there.
8th November
A busier second morning at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with EGI students today. The wind having dropped a little, overhead movement less obvious, but a clear influx of Goldcrests & Blackbirds with some nice extra species including Brambling and, to end the day, a fine Siberian Chiffchaff #UKBirding
— Ben Sheldon (@sheldonbirds.bsky.social) November 8, 2024 at 9:39 PM
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