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