Another exceedingly pleasant day, with a cool and overcast morning resulting in a steady procession of new arrivals that gradually tailed off as the heat of the afternoon set in. Whilst Willow Warblers were once again on top with c150 present at the Bill, there was a great deal more variety on offer there compared to yesterday, including 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Redstarts, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Blackcaps and singles of Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Overhead passage was also more of a feature, with 65 Yellow Wagtails (in addition to the 18 settled along the East Cliffs), 50 Swift, 20 Tree Pipits, 6 Grey Wagtails, 2 Curlew and a Golden Plover over the Bill. For the first time this week sea passage deserved at least a passing mention, with 34 Balearic Shearwaters, 6 Arctic Skuas, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Dunlin and a Whimbrel easily the best return of late from the Bill. New waders continued to show up at Ferrybridge, where 3 Greenshanks and a Black-tailed Godwit dropped in to join the likes of the lingering Grey Plover.
At the Bill, Willow Warbler is certainly the migrant of the moment with the steady throughput yesterday and today further boosting the totals for what was already the best autumn showing of them for many years © Martin Cade:
Reduced numbers in the moth-traps in much chillier conditions overnight but still some quality, notably a Striped Hawk and a Clifden Nonpareil at the Obs and a Striped Hawk and a Bedstraw Hawk from John Lucas' garden at Southwell
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 21, 2025 at 11:29 AM
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