April continues to tick along in a largely underwhelming manner, with most species turned up more or less on cue but for the most part in far lower numbers than might be hoped. Today did see a slightly stronger arrival of
Willow Warblers, including 75 at the Bill, whilst variety included a handful each of the likes of
Whinchat,
Lesser Whitethroat and
Garden Warbler together with the lingering
Pied Flycatcher at Sweethill and a
Black Redstart at the Verne; overhead, a steady arrival of
Swallows had 6
Yellow Wagtails, a
Hobby and a
Swift tagging along (we also received belated news from yesterday of the first 2
Swifts of the year through over Southwell). The day's particularly miscellaneous selection of oddities included a
Mandarin at Rufus Castle, a
Green Sandpiper over the Bill and singles of
Great White Egret and
Canada Goose through on the sea there; more conventional sea passage was disappointing, with a single
Arctic Skua the best of a bad job off Chesil and the Bill.
This morning's Mandarin was flushed by a dog from the swimming pool of a house at Rufus Castle; although there haven't been any reports of it in the intervening months, it's hard to believe it isn't the same bird that visited garden ponds and an ornamental wildfowl pond at Southwell last August © Gerry Hinde:
One of today's first little flurry of Garden Warblers - this one was at Sweethill © Debby Saunders (settled) and Pete Saunders (in flight):
Last night's Obs migrant moths: singles Diamond-back, Rush Veneer (first for the year) and Pearly Underwing
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM
