Dawn brought the first single digit temperature of the autumn along with a brisk northeasterly and clear skies - a mix that proved to be the precursor to the best arrival of migrants of the year to date; it was not a big overnight fall that saw the trees leaping with birds at daybreak, rather, it involved an impressive throughput of mainly
hirundines,
Meadow Pipits and
Chiffchaffs that quickly gathered momentum after sunrise. With minimal coverage away from the mist-nets during the peak of the movement it was difficult to be sure of numbers, but conservative estimates of 500
Chiffchaffs, 1000
Meadow Pipits and 2000 mixed
hirundines passed through at the Bill alone. The very varied selection of other arrivals there included the likes of 100
Blackcaps, 50
Stonechats, 15
Whitethroats, 15
Goldcrests, 10
Firecrests, 3
Lapwings, 3
Pied Flycatchers and singles of
Grey Heron,
Hobby,
Cetti's Warbler,
Grasshopper Warbler and
Wryneck (the latter an addition to the lingerer that was still about). The few reports received from other sites suggested there was plenty more of the same throughout the island. Offshore, another strong movement of
auks included 600 through off the Bill, where a
Black Tern also passed by.
One of the day's Pied Flycatchers © Jodie Henderson:
An excellent day for the leaving and new ringers at PBO @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social , 341 birds of 23 species ringed at 3 sites. CC predominant at 155,Bcap42,with Meadpip44& Swallow42 taped.A new Wryneck and Cetti's warbler cream of day apart from crests, 7 Firecrests and 9 Goldcrest . My 1st day !
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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
