It was another morning largely accompanied by the monotonous blasts from the lighthouse foghorn, with thick mist putting paid to any hopes of a decent seawatch; just 24
Common Scoter and a single
Balearic Shearwater were logged during the briefest of sunny intervals. Whilst 2
Yellow Wagtails and a
Ringed Plover passed by overhead, it was
Sand Martins which made up the bulk of diurnal passage, with up to 50 lingering over the Crown Estate Field and more passing straight through. Around the Obs, singles of
Willow Warbler,
Sedge Warbler and
Greenfinch were present - who'd have thought the latter would ever get to the status of being mentioned in the same breath as interesting migrants but their numbers remain at an all-time low, with only one known breeding territory on the whole island this year. Variety at Ferrybridge remained on the up, with the first autumn
Little Ringed Plover, 33
Dunlin, 12
Ringed Plover, 3
Whimbrel and a
Redshank.
This morning Little Ringed Plover at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders
Mixed weather,hot,then overcast and clear @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with 23 birds of 8 species ringed.Few from garden most from CEF crops. Sand Martin and Linnet delighted 3 American visitors from the cruise ship today at Portland. Chief 'Dessert chief' Teri preparing one of 5 for AGM, BBQ.
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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) July 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
There are plenty of young Rock Pipits around the bill at the moment, with those from second broods just beginning to emerge.
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— Jodie mae Henderson (@jodiemhenderson.bsky.social) July 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
