After a couple of duff springs for them we were due a bit of a Pom-fest and just that came to pass today, with the gentle northeasterly and cloudless skies being perfect for Pomarine Skuas to trundle up-Channel in quantity with the sun on their backs; Portland's tally of 20 - including flocks of 9 and 7 - might not stand comparison with points eastward but was well above average for us and provided plenty of entertainment. Sea passage was otherwise fitful at best, although 5 Arctic Skuas, a Great White Egret, a Great Northern Diver, an uptick in Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, and a good variety of waders spread between the Bill and Chesil were all worthwhile bonuses. The grounded migrant situation showed a slight improvement in numbers if not really in variety: Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Whinchat and Willow Warbler all got into double figures at the Bill, whilst gulls and waders scattered between the Bill and Ferrybridge included 50 Mediterranean Gulls, 21 Ringed Plovers, 21 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Turnstones and 5 Sanderling. Overhead it was still oddly quiet, with far fewer hirundines and Swifts than might have been expected.
A flurry of migrant/dispersing butterflies included a Brimstone at Blacknor and a Painted Lady at Chesil.
For reasons we don't really understand, the majority of birders present at the Bill today chose to watch the spectacle of the passing Poms from the distance of the Obs patio rather than get close to the action at the Bill tip, so rather than lovely photographs of Pom flocks here's a bit of video from our 'out of hours' Chesil watching on the last couple of evenings (featuring Shovelers, Knots, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-headed Gulls and Arctic Skuas) © Martin Cade:
A few BOC shots from Portland Bill this evening (5-6pm). Our SBBO group had fantastic views of both Pomarine and Arctic Skuas harassing Gulls not far offshore.. plus the usual Manxies! @PortlandBirdObs @Sandwichbirdobs pic.twitter.com/HWjkjHF2Jh
— Rob Rackliffe (@RobRackliffe) April 30, 2025
