There was a slight feeling of injustice about proceedings today: it was the loveliest of days both for migration and for birding, with plenty to sift through both on the ground and overhead but, whilst things like a Siberian Chiffchaff at Reap Lane and the year's first Cirl Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field were nice oddities, it really felt like the sort of day when something far better should have been uncovered. On the ground, for the most part variety was greater than pure quantity although the better quality cover was still stuffed with Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, and there were still plenty of big gatherings of off-passage Meadow Pipits and Linnets; elsewhere, seasonable fare of the likes of Stonechats and Reed Buntings were liberally spread and likely amounted to some really decent totals, whilst a spread of Firecrests and a Short-eared Owl provided some quality and singles of Yellow Wagtail, Redstart and Whitethroat were among the late-ish migrants logged. The conditions were so benign that a lot of visible passage was progressing at a height that made it tricky to tap into but 345 Linnets, 320 Wood Pigeons, 290 alba wagtails, 225 Chaffinches, 195 Starlings, 175 Goldfinches, 100 Swallows, 70 Skylarks, 60 Redpolls, 60 Siskins, 19 Cormorants and 10 Bramblings were among the movers logged from the Obs, with several Crossbills among the loggings from viewpoints further up-island. At least 1000 Mediterranean Gulls were an impressive spectacle off the Bill but there was little actual passage underway offshore.
In contrast to last year, Siberian Chiffchaffs have been few and far between so far this autumn so a nice view of this one at Reap Lane was welcome © Nick Hopper:
We sometimes wonder if we get the mix of science and social care quite right on the Obs patio: by virtue of it being an outstanding birding spot it does attract a succession of visitors that encompass the whole spectrum between downright dysfunctional and utterly inspired - which lends itself to creating an environment where bird recording isn't necessarily everyone's priority; whilst they were discussing how they might make their day worthwhile by listing the Fig Tree Quarry Ring Ouzel or the Obs Quarry Wryneck, we wonder how many of those present this morning actually heard any of these migrants that Joe was recording over their heads:
Cirl Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
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Perfect mist-netting weather and some nice late season variety trapped at the Bill today. The Cirl Bunting the best but 13 Redpolls, 8 Stonechats and 6 Reed Buntings were all good totals along with 22 Goldfinches and 13 Chiffchaffs. Late pulse of 18 Swallows and a House Martin a surprise.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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