Sad news received today of the recent death of Eileen White. Although not a keen birder herself, Eileen became well acquainted with our guests and visitors through running our bookshop on Sundays for many years. Eileen was a stalwart member of the local community who'll be much missed and we extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends.
With seabirds doggedly reluctant to return in quantity to local waters - even with the assistance of today's ever-freshening southwesterly - birding remained on the quiet side. A few shearwaters, including Manx passing at 50 an hour in the evening and a total of 4 Balearics through the day, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Puffin were logged at the Bill but the only numbers there concerned the upwards of 100 Mediterranean Gulls heading east; another 300 of the latter were also at Ferrybridge. The Yellow Wagtail remained at the Bill, a Whimbrel passed by there and 5 Dunlin were at Ferrybridge.
Several family parties of Sandwich Terns passed through at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders:
Variety continues to improve in the moth-traps with a good selection of short-range migrants/dispersers last night. Phoenix Knot-horn bistriatella for Duncan W at Weston best of the local oddities, with another 84 Willow Ermines and 15 Marbled Piercers amongst the catch at the Obs
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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