30th September

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 and a Marsh Harrier over Portland Harbour and later Church Ope were 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.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 8:38 PM

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!

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM

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

29th September

Summer-like conditions together with plenty of migrants - what's not to like? Overhead passage was always going to be favoured under cloudless skies, with hirundines and Meadow Pipits taking full advantage and Pied Wagtails (130) and Redpolls (24) both moving strongly for the first time this autumn; Bearded Tits were heard over the Bill without actually been seen, whilst a departing Kestrel and singles of Golden Plover and Snipe provided further interest there amongst the other expected fare. Chiffchaffs continued to dominate on the ground, including 180 through at the Bill, the first Siberian Chiffchaff of the season pitched up at the Obs, a Caspian Gull and 9 Knot were at Ferrybridge, the Wryneck lingered on at Barleycrates Lane and a varied spread of more routine grounded arrivals were encountered everywhere. Four Arctic Skuas passed through off the Bill but there was more interest offshore in a few wildfowl on the move, including 18 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 9 Pintail and 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese through off the Bill.

The Wryneck continued to put on a good show at Barleycrates Lane © Verity Hill:

After their good showing in the turbulent conditions earlier in the month, Caspian Gulls - along with many of the other big gulls - moved on as conditions improved so it was good to see one just leaving Ferrybridge to head off to roost as we arrived there this evening © Martin Cade:

A light N wind with S pm plus cloud and fine sunset ensured good ringing of 191 birds of 17 species @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with 1st Redpoll of autumn plus usual cast of 57 CC,18 Bcap,41 Swallow 36 House Martin. Added variety included 9 G'crest,1 F'crest,3 WW, 2 Whtroat & late Grey Wagtail.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM

28th September

With migration dwindling away to fewer and fewer birds grounded with each passing day a change in the weather was very much needed, and so it came to pass with this morning's mild and drizzly start that brought about a nice flurry of common migrants - as well as some scarcity interest to boot. Chiffchaffs once again made up the day's numbers, with continuous pulses of birds watched coming in off the sea and working their way northward; 300 were logged at the Bill and based on reports from the hinterland of every scrap of cover being rammed with them we wouldn't be at all surprised if the total for the whole island wasn't considerably in excess of 1000. Most of the usual late autumn suspects were represented on the day-sheet, amongst which highlights were a Glossy Ibis overhead at the Bill after dawn, a likely Siberian Lesser Whitethroat trapped in the Crown Estate Field, the Wryneck lingering on at Barleycrates Lane and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Yellowhammer new at the Bill. The sea didn't really do much, with 3 Arctic Skuas and singles of Balearic Shearwater and Teal the best off the Bill

This morning's Glossy Ibis did a right little tour of the sights of Portland Bill © Martin Cade:

This morning's Lesser Whitethroat was quite an oddball, with a noticeable supercilium and a substantially reduced dark mask. Pretty well all of our genetically-checked late September onwards Lesser Whitethroats have proved to be blythi Siberian LWTs and although the bird's general appearance and tail pattern certainly accorded with those expected of that form, the head pattern was quite an oddity © Martin Cade:

Despite the afternoon's beautiful blue sky and warm temperature there was a real feel of the advance of autumn to proceedings, with crinkly sycamore leaves, red berries and clematis gone to seed very much the scene around the middle of the island where the likes of Chiffchaffs and Stonechats were really abundant. There was also quite a feel of change about the day's Chiffchaffs - in the hand, swarthy, long-winged and chunky birds were very much to the fore after a period when most had been smaller, shorter-winged and lighter © Martin Cade:

And finally, of no interest to anyone but geeky ringers, amongst today's Chiffchaffs was one bearing the rarely seen ring address of ARANZADI SAN SEBASTIAN (the majority of Spanish rings carry a MADRID-ICONA address). The Aranzadi Society of Sciences is a not-for-profit scientific association in the Basque Country, northern Spain, that's run its own ringing scheme since 1949; we're not sure how many birds they ring each year but we can only remember handling one of theirs before at Portland © Jodie Henderson:

Rain front with S wind cleared @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social by 0900 hrs ,later sunny 16 degrees. 133 birds of 13 species ringed 108 CC, 1 Reed, 1 Sedge, 11 Bcap, 1 WW, 1 Firecrest,1 Gcrest & 1 GreatSWood. 1 Spanish ringed CC late pm(fig) and 'blythi,' Lesser Whitethroat see blog later for details.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 28, 2025 at 7:31 PM

the wryneck found a nice supply of ants by the looks, neck doing what it is meant to.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) September 28, 2025 at 9:52 PM

plenty of butterflies around but no sign of any 2nd gen silver studded blues at kingbarrow, a probable 3rd gen holly blue there was the only blue seen

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) September 28, 2025 at 9:54 PM

27th September

With looming dark clouds putting a stop to any large movement of hirundines, it was all the more acutely obvious how quiet migration has become in recent days. A mini-arrival of Short-eared Owls was a slightly overdue event for the autumn, with 3 in-off at the Bill and another lingering briefly at Coombefield. In terms of other visible migration, Meadow Pipits were by far the most numerous new arrival with 250 overhead, with 47 Siskin, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Grey Wagtails and singles of Merlin and Tree Pipit also logged over the Bill. On the ground, variety was in particularly short supply with the lingering Wryneck at Barleycrates Lane and a Hen Harrier at dusk at the Bill the only sightings beyond the most routine fare. The southerly airflow did little to change the selection on the sea, with 2,200 Auks, 34 Common Scoter, 18 Pintail, 8 Arctic Skuas and 2 Balearic Shearwaters past the Bill.

The Wryneck at Barleycrates Lane showed very nicely at times © Matthew Barfield:

Migrant insects have been in relatively short supply all week so it was good to find a fair number of Red-veined Darters still on the wing at Yeolands Quarry this afternoon © Martin Cade:

Overcast with S wind with sprinkle of rain at 1100 hrs. Far fewerbirds @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social especially hirundines. 61 birds ringed of 11 species, 20 CC, 9 Bcap, 2 Garden & 1 Reed W, 1 Grey Wagtail. No crests ringed. Jodie Mae Henderson showing my granddaughter her holding and ringing skills.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM

26th September

A crisp and clear start to the day saw many birds on the move for the first few hours post-dawn before the arrival of thick cloud cover from the north that persisted for the rest of the day saw things come to a rather abrupt halt. House Martins dominated overhead, with 2000 through east off the Bill and at least as many again arriving over West Cliffs and lingering over the fields; 550 Meadow Pipits, 500 Swallows, 82 Siskin, 37 Chaffinches and the first Redpolls and Reed Buntings of the autumn were also logged at this time. Things on the ground were decidedly quieter with Chiffchaffs in their lowest numbers of the week; 2 Firecrests, 2 Whinchats, the first presumed migrant Song Thrush of the autumn, a Reed Warbler and a lingering Dartford Warbler were the best that could be mustered from the Bill, with several Spotted Flycatchers and Firecrests also scattered around Southwell. Wader-wise, 2 Knot, 2 Sanderling and a Curlew Sandpiper were at Ferrybridge. Numbers on the sea remained high even if variety was limited; over 3000 auks and 200 Kittiwakes made up the bulk of the numbers, with 18 Common Scoter, 5 Arctic Skua, 2 Teal and singles of Great Northern Diver and Balearic Shearwater also logged.

The House Martins were swarming like midges for a while before vanishing in an instant once the cloud rolled in © Martin Cade (overhead) and Verity Hill (around mist-nets):

One of several Spotted Flycatcher at Southwell © Ralph Todd:

We were a little disgruntled when this flock of 26 interesting-looking black shapes coming over the Bill proved not to be the Glossy Ibises they perhaps ought to have been but a large but altogether more prosaic party of migrating Cormorants © Martin Cade:

A NE wind but with cloud from the east since dawn @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social A total of 377 birds of 16 species were ringed with 307 being those of House Martins,all being juveniles with none being trapped more than once. Also. 35 CC,25 Bcap & 5 Goldcrest. 1100+ birds ringed in the last 5 days.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM

25th September

We're on repeat at the moment: there's plenty about and migration's pretty entertaining but the content has become a wee bit samey, with Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in abundance everywhere and hirundines streaming through overhead but not a great deal changing by way of variety. With fuller coverage of the hinterland we wouldn't be at all surprised if the all-island Chiffchaff and Blackcap totals weren't well in excess of 500 each, whilst House Martins numbered in excess of 1000 just along one flight line off the Bill with just as many again uncounted along West Cliffs. A good deal of the rest of visible passage was poorly enumerated, but 50 Siskins, the first 13 Jackdaws of the season, 9 Grey Herons, 5 Golden Plovers and singles of Lapwing, Osprey, Hen Harrier and Hobby provided worthwhile variety overhead. On the ground, 2 Dartford Warblers were the pick of the new arrivals at the Bill. Auks again featured in quantity offshore, with 9 Pintail, 7 Arctic Skuas, 5 Wigeon, a Shoveler and a Grey Phalarope the best of the rest off the Bill.

No Brown Shrike or Dark-sided Flycatcher from today's heavy duty flog around the south of the island but there was a nice lot of routine migration underway - Lapwing, House Martin, Sand Martin, Chiffchaff and Dartford Warbler © Joe Stockwell:

And later in the day, the Osprey making a beeline for France way up high over the Obs © Martin Cade:

No change in the weather @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social NE wind, gusty at times ,hot again in the afternoon. 125 birds were ringed with CC 48 and Blackcap 16 main species. 25 House Martin and 8 Swallows netted amongst the big numbers around most of the day. 2 each of Spot.Fly and Goldcrest of note.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:46 PM

24th September

With the conditions remaining largely unchanged there was a slight case of diminishing returns among the assemblage of migrants present today, although this still left very little to complain about. Chiffchaffs were once again the most numerous migrant on the ground with 200 through at the Bill and some really big aggregations in the more extensive cover around the centre of the island; 2 Wrynecks - a reappearing bird at the Bill and a new arrival at Barleycrates Lane - provided some quality, whilst a scatter of 4 Firecrests and the autumn's first Bullfinch were amongst the decent selection of other arrivals on offer. The day's most impressive numbers were overhead, where a strong passage of c5000 House Martins provided quite a spectacle at the Bill; quantities of Meadow Pipits were oddly absent, but plenty of Swallows and Sand Martins, 60 Siskins and 2 late Swifts were amongst the other overhead movers. Hardly less impressive were the 4500 auks through off the Bill - a huge total for this early in the autumn - that dominated the returns from the sea; 550 Kittiwakes, 200 Mediterranean Gulls, 61 Common Scoter, 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Balearic Shearwaters and singles of Shoveler and Arctic Tern provided further interest there.

Although Chiffchaffs were still really well represented on the ground, today's overhead passage was more impressive and dominated by huge multi-layered flocks of House Martins streaming through on a broad front into the continuing brisk northeasterly © Martin Cade:

Whilst there have been plenty of later records in the past, today's Swifts could well end up being the last ones we see this year © Jodie Henderson

Amongst all the hype about what a decent few days we've been having it's easy to lose sight of just how dreadful the numbers of some formerly common migrants are these days; for example, there were just four Wheatears, one Redstart and no Whinchats logged on the day-sheet today - Chiffchaff seems to be a species that's adapted to the ways of the modern world very quickly and very successfully but there are an awful lot of other things we should perhaps be really concerned for © Geoff Orton:

Same strongish NE wind early on @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social declining pm but with 18 degrees and then increased cloud. 155 birds of 14 ringed, CC 70, B'cap 23, Swallow 35, House M 4. A new Barn Owl early on and retrap Wryneck from 2 days ago popular shown by Asstant Warden, Jodie Mae Henderson.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) September 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Good to know that at least some of scarcities that pitch up on godforsaken migration headlands thrive after they arrive: this Wryneck just retrapped in the Crown Estate Field has increased its weight by 12% in just two days

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM

23rd September

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: an overflying Glossy Ibis at the Bill tip was the highlight, with a Treecreeper at Thumb Lane and the likes of 10 Firecrests and 2 Cetti's Warblers also 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

nice to see a few migrants around the island again, butterflies coming in off too, one clouded yellow at the bill tip

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) September 24, 2025 at 1:49 AM

22nd September

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

21st September

A wholesale change in the weather saw anticyclonic conditions set in and the breeze shift into the northeast for the first time in weeks. In some ways the complexion of the birding didn't change that much: it ticked along on the ground without there being a huge arrival of migrants, it was quieter overhead than anticipated and another avalanche of Kittiwakes ensured there was plenty to see over the sea. A pleasant change was the arrival of a scarcity even if that proved to be a blink and you missed it sort of event when an Alpine Swift over the Obs shot through so quickly that even folk who were indoors were left floundering/dipping in its wake when they couldn't get outdoors quickly enough to see it. A reappearance of the long-staying Wryneck - in the field this time - also provided some interest for the weekend visitors. On the migrant front, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs totalled well past 50 each at the Bill alone, but further variety was a little more limited than might have been hoped, with the likes of singles of Pied Flycatcher and Firecrest in the Thumb Lane area as good as it got for the less frequents. Overhead passage was less than compelling: the likes of hirundines and Meadow Pipits were numerous but certainly not abundant, whilst there was little else of particular note amongst the tag-alongs. For a while Kittiwakes were pouring past over the sea - 2500 passed the Bill in barely more than two hours after dawn, with 200 Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas and a Great Northern Diver also through there; additionally, a Red-throated Diver was settled off Chesil.

The lingering Wryneck was a little more obliging today, providing the first in-field views since it was ringed on 8th September © Martin King:

20th September

With the winds not picking up until well into the afternoon and the majority of the morning's rain showers managing to miss us entirely, there was certainly plenty of opportunity to tap into some migrants before conditions deteriorated rapidly and profoundly as a blasting gale swept in the coldest air of the autumn to date. Sadly for us, the calm before the storm failed to turn up much more than the lightest of spreads of routine grounded arrivals, with 3 Pied Flycatchers and a Firecrest at Thumb Lane, 2 Whinchats, a Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Flycatcher at the Bill and 6 Little Stints at Ferrybridge the best of the less frequents. Under an increasingly overcast sky overhead passage was limited to a steady trickle of Swallows but nothing else in quantity. The sea provided numbers both before and after the wind picked up, with c700 Kittiwakes, c100 auks, 26 Sandwich Terns, 21 Balearic Shearwaters and 5 Arctic Skuas among the totals from the Bill.

19th September

After what has felt like an interminable wait, today finally saw migration back in full swing with a varied selection of new arrivals culminating in, for example, by far the best hirundine totals of the season to date and the highest ringing total of the whole year (...not that that was difficult after such a poor spring). Hirundines were the stand-out spectacle of the day over the land, with perhaps 10,000 through over the island as a whole, whilst over the sea another minimum of 1000 Kittiwakes through to the west was impressive; overhead, singles of Dotterel and Osprey through at the Bill provided the day's scarcity interest. Grounded arrivals were a tad disappointing: variety was well up to par for mid-September but the likes of 50 Chiffchaffs and 20 Blackcaps at the Bill were paltry totals for this juncture; additionally, a Wryneck that surfaced at the Bill having been completely unseen for a full ten days since it was first ringed was either a master of staying under the radar or, more likely, a good example of how lousy coverage is in this era of so many naturalists only going outdoors on the prompt of the news services or social media.

If increasing mental decrepitude hadn't so addled the faculties of the two observers who tapped into the Dotterel migrating over the Bill we might have been able to furnish blog visitors with lovely flight shots and sound recordings of that exciting event; as it is we're stuck with an Osprey as photo highlight of the day - at least that wasn't devalued by having a plastic White-tailed Eagle lurking in the background © Martin Cade:

 

However, the migration event of the day was really the wealth of hirundines swarming the Bill - they really were a spectacle to behold © Martin Cade (settled) and Jodie Henderson (flying):

Grounded arrivals really weren't in the sort of numbers that might have been hoped for after three weeks of turbulent weather, but the likes of Whinchats were still nice to see © Jodie Henderson:

On the ringing front, one of the day's most interesting happenings was the capture of this young male Sparrowhawk that had first been ringed a week ago at Durlston Head © Kat Hampton:

Our long weekend at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social off to the perfect start with this re-trapped Wryneck. First rung on the 9th, not seen again until today @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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— Tim Phillips (@southhamsbirder.bsky.social) September 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM

18th September

Much calmer conditions but in all other respects a very similar day to yesterday, with the majority of migration interest again on the sea. The gull-fest at the Bill continued, with a huge flock of large gulls congregating just off the East Cliffs that included 500 Lesser Black-backed Gull; another pulse of 1000 Kittiwakes also streamed out west. Other birds on the move out to sea included 58 Balearic Shearwaters, 23 Common Scoter, 2 Bonxie, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, a Yellow-legged Gull and an Arctic Skua, whilst the burgeoning group of Grey Phalaropes at Chesil Cove had reached 6 by the end of the afternoon. The land wasn't entirely without interest, with a small flurry of 10 new Chiffchaffs at the Obs being joined by amongst others a Garden Warbler; a Black-tailed Godwit was a peculiar grounded arrival at the Bill, a Caspian Gull was again settled there and the 2 Little Stints were still at Ferrybridge.

Off the Bill, some of the Balearic Shearwaters were nice and close..

...although the only Sooty that passed while we were at the Obelisk was typically that bit further out:

However, it was the gulls - particularly the c500 Lesser Black-backs and c1000 Kittiwakes - that provided the real spectacle during the seawatch © Martin Cade:

Five of today's six Grey Phalaropes at Chesil Cove © Daniel Law