31st May

 

Another foggy morning and an increasingly windy afternoon weren't ideal for fieldwork today. Just 2 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff new at the Bill today, with Sanderlings down to 17 at Ferrybridge. 51 commic terns thru off the Bill once the fog lifted + info services rpt of 6 Balearics later.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 31, 2025 at 11:09 PM

Fog was a real impediment through the morning - it was a struggle to see the Ferrybridge Sanderlings and Dunlins even at point blank range © Pete Saunders: 

Turtle Dove dropped into the garden this evening, the 1st we've seen in 2 years. In days past this garden would get double figures of Turtle Doves in a year, lets hope those days are coming back

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) May 31, 2025 at 9:52 PM

Renewed moth migration last night incl singles of Striped Hawk, Bordered Straw and Delicate at the Obs and Small Mottled Willow at Southwell (latter per John Lucas). Numbers at the Obs incl 19 ferrugalis, 10 xylostella and 6 noctuella.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 31, 2025 at 8:35 AM

black tailed skimmer, crown estate ponds

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 31, 2025 at 5:26 PM

another day another red veined darter, this one in bill quarry field along the worn path by the road

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM

small skipper & adonis blue still in reasonable shape at the strips, still no silver studded blue at tout

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 31, 2025 at 4:32 PM

30th May

Much nicer day for birding and a little more around the island: Single Reed Ws new at the Bill and Reap Lane, 26 Sanderling again at Ferrybridge, 4 Arctic Skuas thru off the Bill. Influx of Painted Ladys, Red Admirals and a Hummingbird Hawk at the Bill.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 9:56 PM

It was too nice a day not to indulge in the newly arrived Painted Ladys, Red Admirals and Hummingbird Hawkmoth, along with taking in the Obs Quarry Little Owl whilst having a look at the first Marbled White to take to the wing this summer © Verity Hill (stills) and Martin Cade (video):






Bee Orchids are beginning to come into flower around the island now © Andy Mitchell:



The first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year was busily feeding around the obs garden today.

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— Jodie mae Henderson (@jodiemhenderson.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM

so turns out the dragon i was watching in tout with the couple staying at the obs was a norfolk hawker, thanks to heathy for the ID from even worse photos than this heavy crop!

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM

red veined darter tout quarry this afternoon, also the emperor still at admiralty quarry, another darter of some sort in flight at tout.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM

29th May

 

Fog that was reluctant to completely clear hampered activities today but in some clearer spells a Sooty Shearwater and an Arctic Skua passed by the Bill and 2 Balearics lingered offshore. Only new migrants were a few more Sanderlings - 27 at Ferrybridge this evening.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 29, 2025 at 10:17 PM

28th May

 

The weather hasn't done us many favours this spring and the current Atlantic airstream has all but killed migration: just a few new waders today incl 16 Sanderling and a Whimbrel at Ferrybridge and a single new Chiffchaff at the Bill. Manx today mostly departed from Portland waters.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM

There's only one previous Portland record of Sloe Pug so we're not especially familiar with the species but this looks to be a second one from the Obs moth-traps last night

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 28, 2025 at 11:10 PM

27th May

 

Grim weather and almost as grim birding for most of today: plenty of Manx offshore all day but 2 Balearics the only other noteworthy sea sightings; nothing ringed and no new migrants logged in a short window of fairer weather after dawn.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 27, 2025 at 11:57 PM

26th May

 

With the wind gusting up towards gale force by the evening today's interest was again largely on the sea. Manx about in fair quantity all day with c300/hr passing east during the evening; also a Balearic lingering. Migrants incl a Spot Fly at the Bill and a steady trickle of arriving Swallows

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 26, 2025 at 11:20 PM

Bit of #digiscope 🎥 from this AM’s Balearic Shearwater. As a bit of a seawatch novice I was 😬 one might flyby without me being able to pick it out. But, as it happen compared to Manxies it had a notably stockier structure, extended legs and differential plumage 😁. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— David B (@djbevanphoto.bsky.social) May 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM

25th May

 

Another blustery westerly day with most of the interest at the Bill again on the sea: good nos of Manx returning west all day, at least 1 Balearic lingering; 32 Common Scoter, 15 Dunlin and 2 Arctic Skuas thru

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM

Wild and wet nights camping on Sweet Hill farm above @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social. Woke first light to four noisy Raven. So walked down the hill for an early seawatch (0600-0700). Lots of Guillemot but close Flyby views of Maxi shearwater (c60) and this Dark phase Arctic Skua were highlights.

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— David B (@djbevanphoto.bsky.social) May 25, 2025 at 8:10 AM

24th May

 

Mainly a sea day with the increasing SW'ly towards evening seeing Manx peak at c800/hour, also 3 Balearics lingering; earlier 3 GNDivers, a Little Egret and an Arctic Skua thru. Trickle of Swifts and Swallows still arriving but a single YLGull the only new arrival on the ground.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 11:58 PM

A lovely, if a tad breezy, day introducing @pterodroma.bsky.social to the delights of Portland & Weymouth, with highlights of 3x SumPlum GN Diver off the Bill, Early Gentian, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, & a mobile Glossy Ibis. Just don't mention a certain chelonian... @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM

A great days "birding" on Portland Bill with @beardybirder.bsky.social . Not much seen in the way of birds (3GN divers the best) but a host of great wildlife, the best being an absolute unit of a Leatherback turtle(!) just of the lighthouse. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Dave Andrews (@pterodroma.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:28 PM

The spectacle of the Cowes to Plymouth yacht race passing the Bill provided an unexpected backdrop to the strongest evening movement of Manx Shearwaters so far this summer, with 3 lingering Balearic Shearwaters an added bonus © Martin King (the scene), Jodie Henderson (Manx) and Martin Cade (Balearic)



23rd May

 

Beginnings of a weather change saw Manx nos pick up to 300/hr off the Bill; 83 Med Gulls also a big increase there. New grounded migrants: 2 Sedge Ws, singles Reed W, LWT, Spot Fly + trickle of hirundines still arriving. Ringing totals: singles Sedge W, Reed W, LWT, Spot Fly, H Sparrow, Goldfinch

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM

With relatively little migrant bird action of late there's been plenty of time to scrutinize other groups and an interesting discovery has been quite a few Andrena niveata - a small bee apparently colloquially known as Long-fringed Mini-minor. This bee is rare in Britain with recent records only in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. It was last recorded in Dorset from Portland Bill in June 1950 but Steven Falk refound it here near the Coastwatch lookout on 1st May and this week Bryan Edwards found several more in the Crown Estate Field. It forages from mustard and cabbage flowers and at the Bill has been found on Black Mustard © Bryan Edwards:

Migrant moth numbers have dropped right away but there are still a few Painted Ladys about - this one was at the Bill today © Nick Hopper:


was surprised to see several male adonis up the strips toward higher light

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM

22nd May

Another handful of new arrivals at the Bill: 10 Turnstones, 4 Reed Ws, 4 Spot Flys, 3 Chiffchaffs, singles Black Redstart and Blackcap. Offshore: 300 Manx and 1 Balearic west, singles Arctic Skua and Little Gull east. Ringing: Reed W 2, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 1, Spot Fly 1, House Sparrow 1

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 11:36 PM

Today's Turnstones at the Bill © Ross Underwood:

Lots of Red-veined Darters still at Yeolands Quarry including 4 females @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Oli Mockridge (@yeovilbirder.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM

21st May

10 hours of rain was today's drought-ending novelty. 9 Spot Flys, 5 Turnstones, 2 Mallards & singles of Hobby, Purple Sand, Yellow Wag and Reed Warbler best of the arrivals at the Bill. 38 Sanderling new at Ferrybridge. Busy moth-traps but few migrants; yr's first Four Spotted best of the catch.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 11:03 PM

20th May

5 Turnstones, 2 Spot Flys and a WW at the Bill, a Reed W at Perryfields and 7 Sanderlings at Ferrybridge the best of the few new arrivals on the land today. 3 GNDivers and a Balearic Shearwater through off the Bill. A WW at Culverwell and a House Sparrow at the Obs the only birds ringed today.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM

This alba wagtail has been hanging around at Ferrybridge for a fortnight or so but we'd never really had a decent view of it until the last couple of evenings when it's been settled right beside the Visitor Centre - we're guessing it must be the bird reported quite regularly throughout this period as a White Wagtail. We really weren't at all sure what it is save to say that it just doesn't look right for a pure White Wagtail - amongst other things, its flanks look too extensively dirty and its rump distinctly has some darkness mixed in with the grey; more likely a hybrid White x Pied? © Martin Cade:

Vast swathes of Blackthorn around the Obs have now been totally enveloped in ghostly webbing as the caterpillars of the Orchard Ermine moth Yponomeuta padella begin to spread out.

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— Jodie mae Henderson (@jodiemhenderson.bsky.social) May 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM

oddly in my 6 years on portland i had never visited yeolands quarry pool. at least 20 red veined darter males but just the one female paired and another on the footpath just S of the quarry

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM

my first lulworth skipper of the year came down to the edge of yeolands quarry pool where a few small blues also ventured.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM

19th May

Well, when staff members decide it's better to just get it over with by throwing themselves headlong off the patio wall rather than spending even one more day toiling around after non-existent migrants you know it's probably time to take a break from full daily blog updates - we'll still be posting here every day but will be relying more on Bluesky/Twitter embeds and photos/videos until things get busier again later in the summer.


Bill migrants pretty limited today: 7 Spot Flys, 2 CCs and a Reed W grounded; trickle of hirundines, Swifts and waders overhead; lingering Balearic Shearwater, 90 commic terns and 3 Arctic Skuas on the sea. Just 5 birds ringed between the Obs and Culverwell.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM

saw about a dozen species in tout, meadow brown was nfy.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM

Amongst the waders at Ferrybridge this evening it was nice to see 32 little super-dark and super-smart Tundra Ringed Plovers dotted about across the sandflats © Martin Cade: 

18th May

Quiet on all fronts today save for another late pulse of Common Scoters including 78 through of the Bill, and a small increase in passage waders including 20 Sanderlings, 12 Ringed Plovers and 10 Dunlin at Ferrybridge and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover and a Whimbrel through at the Bill. Passerines were sparse, with a trickle of Swallows, 8 Spotted Flycatchers, a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff the only new arrivals at the Bill. The lingering Brent Goose also remained at Ferrybridge.

Many thanks to Martin and Jodie for enjoyable week @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social ,also nice to meet old friends especially John Lucas and Graham W. R. rumped Swallow defied capture with 88 birds of 17 species ringed by all ringers in the week! Cattle Egret Portland tick! Back soon in July for AGM.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM

Very little migration evident in the Obs moth-traps but the waft of a northerly breeze saw 2 Pine Hawks and a Great Prominent presumably drift over from the mainland

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 18, 2025 at 8:04 AM

17th May

The forecast cloud cover arrived a little late for a dawn fall but once it rolled in it persisted for a fair bit of the morning and was enough to down a succession of Spotted Flycatchers throughout the island; however, with it getting late for quantities of other common migrants the back-up cast wasn't hugely varied or numerous. A Hooded Crow that pitched up briefly at Wallsend was the day's oddity but it was the numbers of Spotted Flycatchers that stole the show, with 33 at the Bill and probably just as many more spread widely around the hinterland; a steady passage of Swallows along with fewer Swifts and House Martins, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Hobbys and singles of Sedge Warbler and Blackcap were among the other migrants logged at the Bill, with singles of Brent Goose and Grey Plover among the selection at Ferrybridge. A mini surge in Common Scoters saw 76 pass by off the Bill, but 8 Whimbrel, 5 Shelducks and a Red-throated Diver were best of the rest on the sea there.

The Hooded Crow at Wallsend © Jodie Henderson:


And talking of crows, public enemy number one the Ravens - this is the first time one of the family parties has been seen away from the immediate vicinity of their nest site - are now on station above the seabird colony where no doubt they're going to be wreaking havoc by stealing many of the Guillemot and Kittiwake eggs We appreciate that a lot of the general public have a soft spot for the Portland Ravens now that so many have become semi-tame but this is turning an uncritical blind eye to the terrible carnage they inflict on the seabirds - no doubt more on this as the season progresses. Whether today's birds came by the hedgehog they're feeding on as road-kill or ad a hapless live victim isn't known © Nick Hopper:


We're so wedded to the idea that any darter dragonfly seen on the island this early in the season is going to be a Red-veined Darter that when we stumbled upon a teneral Common Darter at Shepherd's Dinner this afternoon we so doubted our own ID abilities that we contacted Brett Spencer to confirm that it really was one. An as yet incomplete scan through our past logs has revealed that the previous earliest island record was on 13th June, although in the majority of years the first record wasn't until sometime in July...


...not far away, there were still at least two Red-veined Darters about in the vicinity of the pool in Yeolands Quarry © Martin Cade:

Always a exhilarating day when Spotted Flycatchers are migrating through @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social especially when few other migrants are,7 ringed today amongst 14 birds with 1st Whitethroat since 30th April! Broad & deep bill with rectal bristles of SFly specially suited to their capture method.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM

16th May

An uneventful day, with the pick of the reports being of 2 Hobbys, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Chiffchaff at the Bill, 2 Willow Warblers and a Yellow Wagtail at Blacknor and 5 Whimbrel and a Grey Plover at Ferrybridge; 2 Great Northern Divers passed through off the Bill and an Arctic Skua through off Chesil.

Not so well represented today as they have been on some days this week but Spotted Flycatchers are very much the passerine migrant of the moment © Nigel Warren:


In the moth-traps, migrant interest has largely fizzled out but a stray Alder Moth was a good overnight catch at the Obs - despite being a relatively widespread moth on the mainland this is only the third island record following singles at the Obs in 1983 and at Sweethill in 2015 © Martin Cade:



Pictures of the oasis for migrant birds that is @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social in lieu of any present today. A CC,a Spotted Flycatcher and House Sparrow being the only birds ringed all day! The continuing fine weather doesn't augur well for any improvement, but we have been surprised before!

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM

15th May

Whilst not quite up to yesterday's level rarity-wise, today's fresher and, at least for a time after dawn, breezier conditions were just enough of a change to perk up migration a tad. Spotted Flycatchers were best represented, with at least 30 at the Bill and others scattered about in most spots that were visited; a late afternoon Honey Buzzard in off the sea at the Bill was a nice sight, whilst the odd few extra Wheatears, Reed Warblers, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs provided further interest on the ground and the late Brent Goose remained at Ferrybridge. The Honey Buzzard obviously thought more of conditions overhead than did hirundines and the like, with the latter's passage reduced to little more than a trickle. The sea had its moments, notably in the form of 2 Tufted Ducks back and forth between Chesil and the Bill and a Little Gull off the Bill; 25 Sanderlings also arrived in from the south.

The Honey Buzzard evidently arrived in off the sea fantastically low over the heads of its observers on East Cliffs at the Bill; however, it rapidly gained height as it tracked north and by the time it had got to the top of the island where this photograph was taken it was hundreds of metres overhead and only just resolvable to the naked eye © Martin Cade:

Something else very actively on the move were these Sanderlings: we watched them arriving from way out to sea off Chesil during the evening and they were presumably sufficiently knackered that they pitched straight in on the edge of the beach as soon as they made landfall; after a quick preen and scamper along the inhospitable shore they headed away again into the sunset © Martin Cade:

A nice out of context encounter with a Reed Warbler this morning that popped up from the rocks around the Bill before settling around the lighthouse carpark!

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— Jodie mae Henderson (@jodiemhenderson.bsky.social) May 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM

Spotted Flycatcher the bird of the day ringing wise @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with a total of 8 ringed out of 23 birds in total. 5 CC,1 WW,1 Reed W the other migrants. Spot Fly always a pleasure to see in the hand after watching them migrating north through the garden. 4 more Meadow Pip ringed.

— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 15, 2025 at 8:44 PM

Site visits on the Isle & Royal Manor of Portland today - lots of Small as well as Common blues on the wing, plus Painted lady, Small heath and Wall butterfly. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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— Kirsty Brannan (@vanellus26.bsky.social) May 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM

More Portland wildlife yesterday - Dingy skippers basking, Bloody-nosed beetle larvae roaming & Common lizards skittering. Also grateful to the local people I met who graciously shared important historic, cultural and landscape contexts to particular sites.

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— Kirsty Brannan (@vanellus26.bsky.social) May 15, 2025 at 6:17 AM

14th May

There's nothing like a nice scarce to lift the spirits during a lean spell and that came today in the form of a Red-rumped Swallow that lingered for several hours between the Coastguard Cottages and Culverwell. It's appearance was all the more welcome in the light of today's continuing migrant drought that saw no more than ones and twos of a few expected regulars uncovered around the Bill; elsewhere, a tardy Dark-bellied Brent Goose was a surprise arrive at Ferrybridge where the White Wagtail lingered. The Red-rumped Swallow certainly didn't arrive in tow with a strong push of other hirundines - neither they nor Swifts were at all numerous overhead where the only other oddity was a Redpoll over Blacknor. Commic terns were again on the move off the Bill albeit in lower numbers and at vanishingly longer range than yesterday in dawn's brisker northeasterly - they just topped 250, with 6 Sanderling, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Great Northern Diver also providing interest there; another Great Northern Diver was settled off Chesil.

The Red-rumped Swallow was nice and showy although it frustrated the ringers by responding immediately to a sound lure but doing no more than settling on the top shelf of the mist-net and gently swaying back and forth without ever looking very likely to be so stupid as to get caught © Pip (swallow watchers) and Martin Cade (stills and video):








Another quiet ringing day @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with only 11 bids, the first juv. Goldfinches of the year, 4 pulli Meadow pipits, with only 1 each of WW, CC, Chaffinch & House Sp.It could have been greatly enlived by the addition of a Red rumped swallow which refused all attempts at capture!

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM

13th May

The return of high summer - it is only mid-May but it certainly didn't feel like it under the blazing sun - did nothing for us on the passerine front but the day was saved by some nice sea action that included by far the largest tern passage of the spring to date. Commic terns made up the bulk of the numbers off the Bill, where 710 passed through in quick time soon after dawn; 2 Black Terns amongst them were a bonus first for the year, whilst 330 Manx Shearwaters, 51 Common Scoter, 30 Black-headed Gulls, 25 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Sandwich Terns, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Northern Divers, a Sanderling and a Pomarine Skua made for a varied back-up cast. The land was pretty terrible: a Cattle Egret undertook a quick tour of the south of the island during the afternoon but 4 Reed Warblers at the Bill and a White Wagtail at Ferrybridge were the best of a very meagre spread of common migrants on the ground; it was hardly busier overhead where the dribble of hirundines was many orders of magnitude less than ought to have been taking advantage of the conditions.

Insect migration continued with a small catch of the usual suspects in the moth-traps, Painted Ladys and Large Whites watched arriving in off the sea at the Bill and a Red-veined Darter discovered on the Slopes.

Back to normal at PBO! @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with 10 birds ringed at two sites in 20 hours total! Clear skies all days hence 2 Reed W, 1 WW, 1 CC, 1 Swallow, 1 Goldfinch, 2 House Sp. and the first 2 juv. Robins of the year. Like last week we will persevere!!

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM

quite a sight and sound, one of several groups of herring gulls in a feeding frenzy, these around southwell business park

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 13, 2025 at 8:10 PM

12th May

A wholesale albeit brief change overnight saw some heavy showers roll in off the Channel and give the island its first proper drenching in many weeks; the rain had moved on through by dawn and although cloud persisted for most of the morning, by early afternoon it was back to square one as blazing sunshine returned. The rain had been flagged up as perhaps giving us a modicum of hope and it did indeed drop a handful more migrants than had been logged on most other day so far this barren month; the total didn't amount to much but beggars can't be choosers so the odd few Wheatears, phylloscs, Reed, Sedge and Garden Warblers, and Spotted Flycatchers on the ground, and 2 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails and an unseasonable Merlin overhead were much appreciated. Two early morning Pomarine Skuas gave hope on the sea but in the event 3 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, an Arctic Skua and a few Common Scoter were poor subsequent reward; 3 Canada Geese were off also off West Cliffs and the Mediterranean Gull gathering off Chesil was still well into the low hundreds. 

You get some wacky things turn out out of the blue: this Heinz 57 domestic duck - is it a call duck of some sort? - was spotted bobbing about close inshore off East Cliffs at the Bill this morning. Where on earth had it come from? © Verity Hill:


Since we've done as poorly for them as we have for migrant birds so far this spring an overnight increase in moth numbers and variety was very welcome; amongst the haul at the Obs a White Spot was a nice catch - there are only six previous records there and one additional record from elsewhere on the island. Since the larval foodplant - Nottingham Catchfly - is absent from the island these moths must originate from elsewhere and, in view of last night's weather tracking up from across the Channel, it seems just as likely that this individual came from France as it does that it strayed from the highly localised Dorset population on the Purbeck coast © Martin Cade:



No big numbers but more than in the recent dire days ringing at@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with a total of 27 birds of 11 species ringed. 2 Spot Fly, 8 CC, 3 WW,, 2 Reed and 3 Sedge W plus a Paris ringed one, pictured. All control birds and their ring are photographed at PBO to send to the BTO.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) May 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM

11th May

In the continuing absence of numbers - the novelty of a drop of rain during the morning came far too late to do us any good - a Firecrest in song at Culverwell was certainly unexpected but didn't really provide the sort of quality that might have saved the day; other non-routines included another quite early Balearic Shearwater off the Bill and a Great White Egret in off the sea at Chesil; also at the latter, a total of 340 lingering Mediterranean Gulls was very exceptional for this time of year. Among the odd ones and twos of expected migrants on the land a Common Sandpiper at the Bill and a Hobby over Easton were of note, whilst 5 Arctic Skuas and singles of Black-throated and Great Northern Diver passed by off the Bill.

A conspicuous increase in Red Admirals - there were several dozen in many suitable spots like the Obs garden - provided further evidence of ongoing lepidoptera migration even if this wasn't really reflected in the moth-traps that attracted just a handful of Diamond-backs, Rusty-dot Pearls and Silver Ys © Martin Cade:

10th May

More of the same today with slight encouragement being provided during the evening as noticeably warmer air arrived in tandem with a veil of hazy cloud gathering out to the southwest. The grounded migrant tally was again pitiful, with a lone Reed Warbler about the best of it at the Bill; overhead passage also slowed up, with 2 single Little Egrets through at the Bill but hirundines and Swifts reduced to no more than a trickle there. The sea got a lot of attention but although Common Scoter numbers picked up - including 126 through off the Bill - the back-up cast there of 4 Mute Swans, 4 Arctic Skuas and a Black-throated Diver was none too impressive.

Migrant moth interest has dwindled right away over the last few nights but by day there's still been a scatter of single Painted Ladys everywhere - including a likely new arrival this evening on top of Chesil above Ferrybridge; this photographed one was in a garden at the Grove today © Martin Cade:

9th May

Visible passage was a little stronger today, with a sample one hour count of 149 Swallows, 72 Swifts and 28 House Martins heading north along West Cliffs reflecting what had been noticeable from casual observations throughout the island; several Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Hobbys and an Osprey were amongst the other overhead migrants logged at the Bill through the morning. Under the continuing almost cloudless sky it was nowhere near as rewarding on the ground, with little more than ones and twos of routine fare anywhere. The best of the day's sea passage came late, with a total of 5 Pomarine Skuas through off Chesil and the Bill during the evening; earlier, 34 commic terns, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Arctic Skuas and a Great Northern Diver had been the best of it off the Bill.

This morning's Osprey heading up West Cliffs - a long, long way away from our viewpoint at the Obs © Martin Cade:

8th May

Just at the moment it seems a lot more likely that Kosmos 482 will plunge into the Obs garden than it does that a worthwhile migrant - or any migrants in quantity - will pitch in here; today there were high hopes that the heavy cloud cover that had rolled in overnight would do us a favour but in the event there was only the smallest improvement in the parlous migrant situation and, within a few hours of dawn, the cloud had dissipated and blazing sunshine had returned. The stalwart efforts of the six visiting ringers - we're not underhanded! - at the Obs/Crown Estate Field deserve credit and sympathy in equal measure for sticking to their task and ringing 22 new birds - the highest day-total so far this month but also a total that more than adequately demonstrated how little was about. Phylloscs made up more than half of this total and it was otherwise only Spotted Flycatchers that achieved any sort of visibility with 10 in the wider Bill area; elsewhere, there was an increase to 10 Sanderlings at Ferrybridge. The promise of some half-decent pulses of hirundines once the cloud cleared didn't build into a stronger passage even if birds did continue to trickle through well into the evening. Bearing in mind the strength of passage further up-Channel, the sea was also hugely disappointing, with little more than 50 Common Scoter and 21 Bar-tailed Godwits through off the Bill and 100 Mediterranean Gulls lingering off Chesil; news from a boat journey offshore concerned a Storm Petrel seen four miles SSW of the Bill.

An interesting little moth event in the last week has been the capture of two Blair's Mochas at the Obs - one last night and the other on 2nd May. Although this species is no longer the great rarity it once was and even appears to be colonising various spots along the South Coast, it's remained a good scarcity for us with, for example, just 16 records ever for the Obs garden. These two are our earliest ever - in fact there's never been a spring record here before - and with plenty of its food plant, Holm Oak, in the Obs garden there must be a good chance it's getting established here © Martin Cade:


7th May

Another lovely day to be out birding but, once again, far too nice to have expected any sort of arrival of grounded migrants. Swallows, and to a lesser extent Swifts and House Martins, were arriving in fair supply including 3 Swallows per minute during a sample half-hour count on West Cliffs; 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Hobby also passed through overhead, whilst several of the day's 10 Spotted Flycatchers were more or less visible migrants that shot through without stopping. Grounded arrivals otherwise consisted of little more than ones and twos of the most routine migrants for early May. The sea was scarcely better, with just 2 Arctic Skuas and a single Great Northern Diver through off the Bill.

Three Red-veined Darters were at the Crown Estate Field, with freshly emerged Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies also present on the pond there, confirming their presence for the fourth consecutive year.

Since they're most often found far from water, anything approaching a full census of Red-veined Darters would be a hellishly difficult undertaking but it would be fascinating to know how many have reached Portland in recent days. These are two of three that were frequenting a small corner of the Crown Estate Field this morning © Martin Cade:



this immature female scarce blue tailed damselfly probably the best looking damselfly i have seen at the crown estates field pond portland.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM

6th May

Very little changing save for the fact that by the afternoon the nagging, cold northeasterly had dropped right away. Although the recent nights have been clear it's still a puzzle as to why so few migrants are being dropped by the current stiff headwind - conditions that have delivered us bucketloads of birds on many occasions in the past. Today's offerings were again very much on the lean side: diurnal arrivals trickled though in fair numbers and included a Marsh Harrier in off the sea at the Bill, but on the ground it was still a hard slog for no more than ones and twos amongst which there was nothing at all unexpected. Singles of Great Northern Diver and Arctic Skua were the best of it on the sea at the Bill.


Now twds Southwell over top fields

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— Joe Stockwell (@joestockwell.bsky.social) May 6, 2025 at 7:32 AM
As often happens in early May, a small group of Whimbrel have got more or less stuck at Ferrybridge in recent days as they try to refuel sufficiently for the next stage of their journey, presumably to Iceland © Martin Cade:



@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social I found this day-flying Little Thorn on Sat 3rd May, along the coastal path below the prison. Not a species familiar to me. Could it be a good record for the island? Thanks. #teammoth #dorsetmoths

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— Will Clennell (@birdbeard.bsky.social) May 5, 2025 at 9:54 PM
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