Not quite such a productive day today with the mizzly damp of yesterday's dawn a telling absentee from proceedings; however, there were still more than enough new arrivals to get amongst and the continuing
Red-backed Shrike and
Wryneck gave the day-visiting listers something to occupy themselves with.
Robin was the day's chief winner, with a nice arrival of well in excess of 100 at the Bill, where the three common
thrushes numbered in the several dozens each but
Chiffchaff and
Goldcrest were noticeably depleted after their days of excess. The back-ups were varied and included the first
Woodcock of the autumn, together with the lingering
Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, 3
Black Redstarts, 2
Dartford Warblers and singles of
Short-eared Owl,
Merlin,
Jack Snipe and
Ring Ouzel at the Bill and several more of the same elsewhere. Overhead passage too slowed up a little, with 11
Lapwings and 2
Golden Plovers the best of reduced total over the Bill. In contrast, the sea was more interesting than it had been yesterday, with 500
Kittiwakes, 31
Brent Geese, 4
Arctic Skuas, 3
Balearic Shearwaters, 3
Wigeon, 3
Pochard, 3
Sandwich Terns, 2
Pintails and a
Greylag Goose a nice selection of rewards amongst the continuing plethora of
auks.
Today's Ring Ouzel at the Bill © Mark Eggleton:
A Robin and thrush day in the mist-nets at the Bill today, with 23 Robins, 16 Blackbirds and 10 Song Thrushes making up over half of the day's total of 92 ringed; Chiffchaff and Goldcrest reduced to just single figures each; third Dartford Warbler of the month the best of the oddities.
[image or embed]
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 14, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Unexpectedly rammed-full moth-traps this morning although the numbers were mainly due to a huge increase in Large Yellow Underwings rather than quality migrants; a Clifden Nonpareil - the second of the year - easily the highlight at the Obs
[image or embed]
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 14, 2025 at 11:24 PM
