More glorious weather, more good migrant-watching. Under such clear skies visible passage was always going to be favoured over a fall-out on the ground and so it proved, with decent passages of 700 Meadow Pipits, 200 Pied Wagtails, 41 Siskins, 33 Chaffinches, 8 Ravens and 3 Greenfinches (...yes, the latter are still so few here that they've been elevated to semi-scarcity status and get called with aplomb on the infrequent occasions they pass over!) in quick time after dawn over the Obs, with plenty more of the same from other viewpoints; the autumn's first Woodlark over Coombefield was the best of the oddities elsewhere. As the day wore on hirundines got moving although perhaps not in the sort of numbers that would usually be appropriate for this time and these conditions. Action ticked over on the ground, with Chiffchaffs around the 150 level at the Bill but, a Dartford Warbler at the Bill and the 2 lingering Wrynecks (at Barleycrates and the Bill) aside there were few surprises amongst the day's migrant tally. Wader numbers remained buoyant at Ferrybridge, with a Black-tailed Godwit the highlight and 350 Ringed Plovers a decent total for this juncture. Constant Bluefin Tuna activity - along with the sight of the local fishing fraternity attempting to catch them - provided by far the greatest interest off the Bill, with bird activity restricted to c2000 auks, c250 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Arctic Skuas, a Teal and a Great White Egret through off the Bill and another Arctic Skua lingering off Chesil.
We've had a few Dartford Warblers already and it's not yet October which is always their peak month at Portland © Jodie Henderson:
Old hat for many people these days but still a good bird at Portland - this morning's Great White Egret lumbering through off the Bill was the first the autumn © Jodie Henderson:
Benign start @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with clear sky and no wind,little overhead but 170 ringed of 16 species.53 CC, 61 Swallow, 23 Meadow Pipit latter 2 species taped. 5 Goldcrest. Garden & Grasshopper Warbler + Stonechat & Linnet from Crown Estate field. Good numbers again from Culverwell.
— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 8:38 PM
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September bird ringing totals @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social are a tale of two distinct halves, daily details which are on the PBO ringing blog. 189 birds in the 1st 18 days then 2067 till the end today! Total for month 2067 with good variety of species. Lucky to have experienced such a good period!
— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
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Hopefully you can add better than me as total for September is 2256. Tired after long days!!
— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
