Whilst not quite at the same frenetic pace as yesterday, today was another exceedingly pleasant day with a modest fall of grounded migrants at dawn that was followed by a steady trickle of new arrivals that lasted well on into the early afternoon. At least another 200
Chiffchaffs passed through at the Bill, with some impressive aggregations of many dozens each found later in areas of cover throughout the island;
Blackcaps were probably equally numerous although typically less conspicuous, whilst
Meadow Pipits and
Swallows numbered well into the many hundreds overhead. Impressive variety everywhere included lots of the expecteds, along with a news services report of an overflying
Glossy Ibis (details anyone?), a
Treecreeper at Thumb Lane and the likes of 10
Firecrests and 2
Cetti's Warblers dotted about.
Auks continued to dominate offshore, with 2800 through off the Bill in the two hours after dawn; the first 2
Pale-bellied Brent Geese of the autumn, along with 3
Dark-bellied Brents, 3
Balearic Shearwaters, 3
Arctic Skuas, 2
Wigeon and singles of
Great Northern Diver and
Teal also passed by there.
For the first few hours of each morning, it's currently all about every bit of cover hopping with Chiffchaffs moving inexorably through into the breeze, whilst Meadow Pipits and hirundines stream by overhead © Martin Cade:
Amongst today's hirundines this leucistic Swallow was quite a sight © Jodie Henderson:
Autumnal Equinox sunrise at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this morning with light NE wind, sunny all day with 173 birds of 20 species ringed at three sites. 1st Whinchat of the year ringed with again Chiffchaff 79 & Blackcap 44 highest. 3 Firecrest and Cetti's warbler 'cream' of birds for the day.
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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
