Another difficult day with the strength of the wind an issue throughout. Overhead passage had looked likely to be the day's salvation but, sadly, fell short of expectations, with 2000
Wood Pigeons, 1400
Starlings, 355
Goldfinches, 225
Chaffinches, 85
Siskins, 51
Redpolls, 26
Crossbills, 7
Bramblings and some under-par totals of other regulars a relatively poor return at the Bill. On the ground it was considerably quieter than of late, with many sheltered spots of cover almost devoid of
Chiffchaffs and
Goldcrests; a scatter of
Black Redstarts and
Firecrests were again the best of the less regulars. Sea passage was almost non-existent although good numbers of gulls including 500
Mediterranean Gulls, 200
Kittiwakes, 80
Common Gulls and 30
Black-headed Gulls were feeding offshore.
The last dawn of 'summer' didn't really come up to expectations - pretty for sure but not as filled with overhead passage as had been hoped...
...pigeons trickled out in small flocks...
...but as a spectacle a single flock of c1000 departing Starlings stole the show © Martin Cade:
Ringing returns well down at the Bill with the day's only noteworthy event amongst just 17 new birds being the ringing of the two Chiffchaffs required to first equal and then overtake a record: more Chiffchaffs have now been ringed during this September and October than in any previous whole year!
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) October 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
