27th November

A grey day that turned increasingly drizzly and blustery as time went on was inevitably rather scant on the birding front, with just 5 Common Scoter, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Firecrests and a Merlin logged from around the Bill, with an additional 4 Black-necked Grebes and Great Northern Diver present in the harbour. 

Some of today's Purple Sandpipers and Common Scoters from the Bill © Pete Saunders


Portland Castle: the closest Goosander I've ever seen, down to 1 foot off the shoreline! Flyby Kingfisher and Little Egret. Manic feeding flock of ~30 Cormorant (and a few Shag) also coming very close. 15+ Mergs more distant. Castle Cove: 4 B-n Grebe + 1 GNDiver. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Paul Harris (@paulupwey.bsky.social) November 27, 2025 at 1:26 PM

26th November

Another cool and bright start saw a varied if not particularly numerous selection of new arrivals uncovered around the Bill before the wind veered further round into the south-west and the afternoon cloud cover rolled in. Overhead, a total of 4 Siskin, 3 Redwing and a Reed Bunting were logged plus a roaming group of 3 Lapwing. Whilst the grounded migrants likely included a number of lingering birds, with totals of 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Song Thrush and singles of Black Redstart, Firecrest and Water Rail, 3 new Blackcaps at Southwell suggested some possibility for new arrivals. On the sea, a Goldeneye marked the day's chief reward alongside a total of 2 Red-throated Divers and a Wigeon, whilst a large pod of Common Dolphin represented the first sighting since October. Elsewhere, 5 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe were present in the Harbour with just a single Goosander at Ferrybridge. Lastly, some belated news of a House Martin over Weston on the 23rd November.

25th November

A return to last week's bright and wintery conditions saw another pleasant but quiet day at the Bill, with a total of 6 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Chiffchaffs and singles of Song Thrush, Brambling, Black Redstart and Blackcap tempted out by the day's sunshine. Elsewhere, the 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and Knot were still present at Ferrybridge, whilst a single Slavonian Grebe was the sole report from the harbour.

Whilst just a few of our resident birds remain, 2025 marked another excellent year for Stonechat ringing records with a total of 107 new birds ringed, surpassing the previous record of 87 set only last year and representing the first 3-figure annual total in PBO history © Jodie Henderson: 


24th November

Asides from the wind veering slightly more to the north and some light showers during the early part of the morning, there was very little detectable change at the Bill, with a Merlin the only sighting of note among a fairly meagre spread of the current winterers/long-stayers. The same could be said of Ferrybridge, where variety remained limited to just 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Grey Plovers and a single Knot. The situation was slightly improved in the harbour, with the first Black-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe of the winter plus 2 Great Northern Divers as viewed from Sandsfoot Castle.

Today's Merlin was particularly obliging as it dropped into the obs garden before settling itself along the patio wall © Jodie Henderson



a few local ones today, 3x little egret osprey quay. this dbbrent juv has been on its own a few days off the causeway but seems ok, 2x grey plover ferrybridge and a shag

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) November 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM

23rd November

Today's rather unrelenting westerly wind saw attentions finally get back to the sea, where asides from the near constant stream of auks passing by at a rate of over 4,500 an hour, it was all fairly quiet, with just singles of Great Northern Diver and Bonxie of particular note. On the land, a total of 4 Purple Sandpipers, a Turnstone and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were logged around the Bill, whilst a new Black Redstart was uncovered at Freshwater Bay. Ferrybridge totals included 37 Greenfinch, 5 Shelduck, 2 Goosander and a Knot. Noticeably milder conditions saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on the wing around the obs, whilst the overnight moth traps revealed a small arrival of migrants including 2 White Speck, a Pearly Underwing and a Rusty-dot Pearl.

Today's 2 Pale-bellied Brents were an unusual sight among the roosting gulls below Culverwell, although it remains unclear whether they are the same individuals recently seen at Ferrybridge © Jodie Henderson


22nd November

Cold, wet and windy; all conditions better suited to a day catching up on various computer-based tasks as opposed to searching for hidden migrants among the sodden bushes. The day's only records came from up island, with 9 Goosander, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and singles of Knot and Sanderling present at Ferrybridge, plus 2 Great Northern Divers in the harbour.

The Goosanders were regularly seen driving fish into the shallows at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders


21st November

Despite the decidedly chilly start and the first tangible signs of frost on the ground, it was in fact another glorious day, with the whole island bathed in late autumn sunshine. There was some evidence of cold weather movement at the Bill, with singles of Golden Plover, Snipe and Jack Snipe logged, whilst an increase to 2 Blackcaps and a Fieldfare were present in the obs garden. Elsewhere 2 Goosander and an Avocet were present at Ferrybridge, with a subsequent check of the harbour revealing 2 of the latter together.

This year's bountiful crop of apples has surely provided a great resource for tired migrants this autumn, with the recently arrived Blackcaps continuing to make good use of the ample supply © Martin King


Avocets are a pretty scarce visitor at Portland, with most recent winters involving just one or two single-day records © Pete Saunders


Some suspicious digging around the obs garden necessitated an impromptu deployment of the trail camera, which happily revealed plenty of nocturnal activity, with the badgers still very much in residence after their successful breeding attempt in the spring © Jodie Henderson



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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM

20th November

Chilly conditions in the lingering northwesterly and very little change on the birding front, with just 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Purple Sandpipers and a Little Egret from around the Bill whilst increased coverage of the Harbour uncovered up to 18 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Great Northern Divers and a single Black-necked Grebe.

One of today's Purple Sandpipers from around the Bill © Pete Saunders

I had a good look at Portland Harbour this morning from 3 different locations. Very quiet indeed out there. Apart from a host of Med Gulls, all I saw were 1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 GN Diver and 2 Common Scoter. At least one Red Admiral on the wing at Castle Cove. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Paul Harris (@paulupwey.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM

good to see the mergs back at portland castle (6x) and off billy winters (c.16x), best sighting was a small tort blown between quiddles n cove house inn, pattern showing through outer wing in light. no sign of any black redstarts surprisingly

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Fabulous blue sky 🌞 day #Weymouth #DorsetBirds 🇎🇧 ðŸŠķ Portland Harbour quiet with 10 Red Brested Merganser & Grey Heron! Ferrybridge @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social 120 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 3 Little Egret, an overflying Lapwing ❤️ numerous Mediterranean Gull, Mipit, Greenfinch, 5 Skylark.

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— Geoff & Steph (@geoffsteph.bsky.social) November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM

19th November

Whilst there is still plenty of time for some avian surprises before the year is out, today's brisk northwesterly had a distinctive wintery feel to it, with an unringed Blackcap, a Snipe and a late Swallow the only evidence of new arrivals from around the Bill. Elsewhere, a new Black Redstart was logged at Ferrybridge alongside a total of 3 Knot, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Bar-tailed Godwit whilst 2 Eider were present in the Harbour.

18th November

A switch round to northwesterlies plus a rather thick band of cloud saw any momentum gathered during yesterday's vismig fizzle away and, save for another pulse of over 8,000 Woodpigeons and a likely Marsh Harrier, there was very little in the way of new arrivals. With the wind strength increasing as the day went on, the search for grounded migrants was always going to be a bit of a challenge, with just 3 Song Thrush, 2 Black Redstarts and singles of Redwing, Chiffchaff and Firecrest logged around the Bill. Elsewhere, checks of the middle of the island produced another 4 Firecrests plus flyover Grey Wagtail and Brambling.

17th November

Despite the expected drop in temperature, it was nevertheless a beautiful and crisp day on the island, with plenty of birds to provide suitable consolation for any discomfort caused by numb hands and toes for the first few hours of the morning. Whilst a flyover Twite provided some nice scarcity interest, the real spectacle was another mass movement of Woodpigeons with over 20,000 logged, plus lesser totals of 390 Chaffinches, 340 Stock Doves, 58 Redwing, 9 Brambling, 8 Fieldfare, 3 Golden Plover, 2 Lapwing and a single Crossbill. The calm conditions seemed to encourage most of the current winterers out of hiding, with up to 6 Black Redstarts, 5 Purple Sandpipers and singles of Firecrest, Cetti's Warbler, Woodcock and Water Rail all seen around the Bill. Elsewhere, a Merlin was present at Ferrybridge plus belated news of a Ring Ouzel from Blacknor yesterday.

Some late autumn sunshine was enough to encourage a few migrant Lepidoptera on the wing with Hummingbird Hawkmoth © Debby Saunders and Painted Lady © Mary Snell both seen today:



A Slender Burnished Brass from last night's moth traps was the highlight of an otherwise expected selection of common migrants during the recent spell of mild weather © Jodie Henderson:



16th November

The first sign of a drop in temperature could be felt this evening after what was likely the last mild and overcast day looking at the upcoming forecast. Once again, the majority of the day's migration activity was focused overhead, with a large-scale movement of Woodpigeons heading north-east along the coast that included over 10,500 from the Bill alone, with a further 150 Goldfinches, 8 Redwing, 2 Lapwing and 2 Brambling also logged there. What grounded migrants were present seemed to involve mostly lingering birds, with 5 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart as well as 4 Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone at the Bill. Elsewhere, a varied selection from Ferrybridge included 610 Brent Geese plus 2 Pale-bellied, 80 Dunlin, 66 Ringed Plover, 65 Cormorants, 19 Turnstone, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, and singles of Sanderling and Grey Plover. 

With early reports of several thousand Woodpigeons over Wyke Regis, it seemed for a time as though most of the day's movement had managed to bypass the island entirely, before several huge flocks passed by in quick succession including this one numbering over 3000 © Jodie Henderson


Today's Sanderling among the Dunlin at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders



15th November

It feels as though we have experienced every possible combination of weather this last week, and today was no exception with rolling bands of fog throughout the morning that eventually cleared to a mild and settled afternoon. With the majority of birds lost to view in the murk, totals overhead included 340 Goldfinches, 30 Chaffinches, 13 Redwing, 7 Siskin, 4 Brambling and singles of Reed Bunting, Fieldfare and Merlin. On the ground, things seemed fairly unchanged, with a minimum of 10 Goldcrests and 3 Chiffchaffs at the obs, plus 2 additional Brambling, 2 Black Redstarts and a Snipe also logged around the Bill. At sea, the recent aggregation of small gulls reached it's crescendo, with over 1,500 Mediterranean Gulls and 300 Kittiwakes stretched as far as the eye could see from the obs viewpoint, whilst over 20,000 auks were seen passing through. Ferrybridge totals included 15 Golden Plover, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Black Redstart and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Some of the 15 Golden Plover present at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders



14th November

Despite overnight rain clearly dropping new migrants at the Bill, persistent showers for the rest of the day made it hard to quantify both the numbers and variety involved. At the obs, a minimum of 19 Redwing, 15 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest were logged; elsewhere a Woodcock was uncovered at Wakeham and a total of 55 Dunlin, 31 Greenfinches and 3 Grey Plovers were present at Ferrybridge.

Today's Grey Plovers at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders

13th November

Another unseasonably mild day saw plenty of birds on the move overhead, with a brief Serin the highlight of a varied selection that included 600 Chaffinches, 310 Goldfinches, 75 Meadow Pipits, 10 Redpolls, 8 Crossbills, 3 Swallows and 2 Brambling. On the ground, migrants were much harder to come by, with 5 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs and the Firecrest around the obs, the lingering Hen Harrier in the Top Fields and a smattering of Black Redstarts that included 3 at the Bill plus further individuals at Blacknor and Barleycrates. Elsewhere, a check of the harbour revealed the first of the likely over-winterers, with 2 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver, as well as a Red-breasted Merganser at Ferrybridge.

2025 will likely mark the worst ringing year on record for Greenfinches at the obs, with just 1 new bird ringed all year so it is heartening to hear the wintering flock at Ferrybridge are now back in residence © Pete Saunders


One of the day's Goldcrests present at Southwell © Pete Saunders



one of the better looking moffs i've seen, this crimson speckled eventually settled not far from the bench near the sailing club, was quite surprised how butterfly like it's flight was and didn't realise what it was until it settled.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) November 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM

12th November

A drizzly start to the morning soon gave way to a mild and pleasant day which saw a more varied if not particularly numerous selection of migrants uncovered around the Bill area. A minimum of 5 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Reed Bunting in and around the obs garden suggested some overnight arrival, whilst singles of Redwing and Siskin were also logged overhead. Elsewhere, the wintering flock of Purple Sandpipers increased to 4, a late Wheatear was present along the East Cliffs and the lingering Hen Harrier performed well among the Top Fields. At sea, a Little Gull and Manx Shearwater joined the regular melee of Kittiwakes and auks present off the Bill.

Today's count of 4 Purple Sandpipers marked the highest so far this autumn © Debby Saunders


Whilst on the late side, there is still a way to go to equal last year's latest Wheatear date of 6th December © Jodie Henderson


11th November

Despite being a much drier and milder day, blustery conditions from the south continued to make hard work of the birding, with the lingering Hen Harrier the only sighting of note from the Bill.

The Hen Harrier showed well on it's 4th day in residence in the fields above the obs © Pete Saunders


Whilst both a widespread and fairly common species across the rest of Dorset, December moth is an infrequent species in the obs traps, with this individual caught last night only the 8th record since 1980 © Jodie Henderson



10th November

Increasingly heavy showers throughout the morning left little opportunity for any comprehensive check of the Bill area today, with the lingering Hen Harrier the only sighting of note among the smallest trickle of overhead passage in the brief moments of dry weather. Elsewhere, 4 Little Egrets passed over Verne Common and 20 Greenfinches were at Ferrybridge.

9th November

Today's birding was certainly a case of quality of quantity, with just a few good birds to save what was otherwise a fairly bleak day for both overhead and grounded migrants. Nowhere was this better exemplified than in the day's ringing activities, where a Pallas's Warbler trapped in the Crown Estate Field was one of only 9 new birds ringed all morning, with the Obs garden nets failing to catch a single new migrant! Away from the nets, variety was little improved, with singles of Firecrest, Fieldfare and Common Snipe logged alongside the reappearance of yesterday's Hen Harrier. Overcast conditions saw reduced numbers overhead, with 970 Woodpigeons, 495 Stock Doves, 365 Starlings, 185 Chaffinches, 3 Redpoll and a Lapwing over the Bill. Elsewhere, the lingering Yellow-browed Warbler remained at the Railway Cuttings, with an additional 2 individuals reported from a private garden in Wakeham.

Pallas's Warbler just trapped in the Crown Estate Field

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM

8th November

Today's lovely sunshine and mildness were the prompt for plenty of fieldwork from which the rewards were certainly varied. After a clear, moonlit night grounded arrivals weren't hugely plentiful but amongst the light spread of routines at the Bill 4 Black Redstarts and singles of Hen Harrier, Woodcock, Siberian Chiffchaff and Hawfinch were of note; both the Snow Bunting at Southwell and the Yellow-browed Warbler at Wakeham also remained on station. It was considerably busier overhead, with 8500 Wood Pigeons, 2630 Starlings, 1530 Stock Doves and 450 Chaffinches the big totals over the Bill, where another Hawfinch and a Cirl Bunting provided some quality; single Crossbills also passed over at Thumb Lane and Wakeham.

Today's star turn was provided by this Crimson Speckled moth that proved to be twitchable for an hour or more once it settled after being serendipitously flushed up during our wanders around the Crown Estate Field mist-nets © Martin Cade:


Bird-wise, there was a varied return from the day's fieldwork but star turns weren't quite at the level that was hoped. A late Wheatear was nice but you'd have imagined it could just as easily have been a Desert or Pied © Nick Hopper...


...whilst, compared with the returns from a certain other South Coast bird observatory, our sprinkle of Chiffchaffs made us very much the poor relation in the phyllosc department © Jodie Henderson:


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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM

This afternoon's Hen Harrier south over Southwell Quarries, Portland 8 Nov. And this morning's GWE west over Tidmoor, The Fleet - having come overland from Chafey's/Radipole direction. One day I really must try and take some sharp photos. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Steve M (@steveweynature.bsky.social) November 8, 2025 at 5:39 PM

7th November

Whilst it was always going to be a challenge to live up to the excesses of yesterday's birding, it was nevertheless another pleasant morning, with a steady and varied throughput of birds during the first few hours of the day before the onset of some fairly substantial rain saw things unfortunately come to a rather abrupt end before the middle of the afternoon. Goldcrests and the like were clearly arriving in quite a different manner to yesterday, with a dawn fall being replaced by a steady arrival in off the sea throughout the morning; numbers were lower than yesterday, but Chiffchaffs were more of a feature and a new Cetti's Warbler figured amongst the arrivals; further variety on the ground was provided by the continuing Snow Bunting on East Cliffs and Yellow-browed Warbler at Wakeham. The presence of rain in the Channel seemingly scuppered a good many of the morning's overhead migrants intentions to depart, with a stronger passage of many over New Ground than was apparent at the Bill; cumulatively, minima of 4750 Wood Pigeons, 755 Starlings, 345 Goldfinches, 305 Stock Doves, 135 Chaffinches, 70 Skylarks, 32 Bramblings, 12 Crossbills, a Lapwing, a Ring Ouzel and an additional Snow Bunting were among the totals logged. Some wildfowl movement offshore included 4 Brent Geese, 3 Pintail and a Pochard through off the Bill, whilst another duck worth a mention (18 months ago it was mooted as a likely unassisted arrival but it's utterly overstayed its welcome!) was the long-staying Mandarin that was noticed on the ornamental duck pool at Southwell for the first time in several months.

It's not often we're blown away by a video of birds but Nick Hopper's little mobile phone sequence of some of this morning's migrating Wood Pigeons at New Ground sees this now quite routine event from such a different perspective than we're used to seeing it the Bill that we were really gripped by it - great stuff! © Nick Hopper:



The East Cliffs Snow Bunting © Debby Saunders:


Also today, Dave Foot popped us through a message to say that on further reviewing video footage of the Stone Curlews he found at the north of the island on 15th October he'd noticed that one of them was colour-ringed © Dave Foot...


...We made a tentative enquiry to the guys at the MOD Dstl Stone-curlew Conservation Project wondering if it might be one of their birds and had an instant response confirming that indeed it was: it had been ringed as a nestling at Porton Down, Wiltshire, on 24th August 2021. Very nice!

Weather enforced early curtailment of ringing activities today but not before another pretty fair arrival of late migrants was tapped into at the Bill: total of 41 included 12 Goldcrests and 6 Chiffchaffs + the sixth Cetti's Warbler of the autumn and the first Black Redstart of the year

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM

The Snow Bunting at Portland. Just hopped up on a rock right in front of me. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

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— Steph Murphy (@stephmurphy.bsky.social) November 7, 2025 at 2:40 PM

6th November

Wow, what a day. After a spell of unsettled weather there was high anticipation for today's calmness which coupled with an overcast sky delivered in bucketloads. The star turn came in the form of Portland and Dorset's first Black-faced Bunting that was trapped soon after dawn in the Crown Estate Field; running that a close second came a Pallid Swift that was first spotted heading south at Nicodemus Knob before later settling down over the Bill where it showed outstandingly well for a good part of the afternoon. These goodies arrived in tandem with a really good arrival of commoner migrants that included a big drop of Goldcrests on the ground, together with a strong overhead passage of pigeons, finches and others. Goldcrests numbered more than 100 at the Bill alone, with further interest there coming from the likes of 10 Reed Buntings, 5 Black Redstarts, a Whinchat and a Firecrest; elsewhere, a/the Snow Bunting was on East Cliffs near Southwell, a Yellow-browed Warbler at Wakeham and a Golden Plover and a Wheatear at Tout Quarry. Visible passage over the Bill included 3600 Wood Pigeons, 1590 Starlings, 480 Goldfinches, 440 Chaffinches, 385 Linnets, 185 Stock Doves, 140 Skylarks, 125 Meadow Pipits, 29 Siskins, 14 Redwings, 14 Bramblings, 8 Redpolls, 6 Swallows and singles of Greylag Goose and Tree Pipit, with 8 Crossbills an addition to the tally over the Heights. Two Shelducks and singles of Red-throated and Great Northern Divers through off the Bill were the best of what little little passage there was on the sea.

With a radical change in their status afoot there was almost an inevitability about a Black-faced Bunting eventually turning up in a net in the Crown Estate Field and so one duly did. Today's bird was presumably a young female and so was right at the subtle end of what's possible with this species - its rather olive drabness made it oddly distinctive in the hand but we'd imagine it'd be quite an easy bird to pass off if seen briefly/poorly/distantly in the field © Duncan Walbridge (top) and Martin Cade (other details):








The Pallid Swift was showing fantastically well at times © Martin Cade:



A ripping ringing day at the Bill: the Black-faced Bunting a top notch rare but 45 Goldcrests also an exceptional total for November out of the day total of 108 new birds; Skylark a rarely-ringed highlight amongst the lower totals.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 6:46 PM

Black-faced Bunting @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social early morning - the second two images probably give a better indication of true colour - another first for Dorset in a remarkable year for this species in Western Europe:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM

The Pallid Swift @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social showed incredible well on over the Top Fields with 3 Swallows at lunchtime.

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM

Pallid swift on Portland today @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding #dorsetbirds @rarebirder.bsky.social ðŸĶ‰

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— Simon ðŸ“đ ðŸŽļ📷 (@therockinbirder.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 5:49 PM

Late afternoon/early evening along Wakeham Railway Cuttings my first Yellow-browed Warbler for this Autumn. portandwey.blogspot.com/2025/11/6-no...

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— Port and Wey (@portandwey.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM

Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying up the Fleet to Ferrybridge, Dorset. Click to see the whole photo.

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— Alick Simmons (@parliamentarygoose.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 5:31 PM

5th November

There was certainly nothing by way of fireworks generated from the majority of today's fieldwork, with singles of Redwing and Siskin at the Bill where the sea was busy with regulars but precious little else; however, a large falcon that scooted through over the Bill during the morning certainly had the potential to be a good deal more interesting should it reappear and show for longer/better than it did.

The ID of briefly and relatively poorly seen juvenile large falcons is well beyond our pay grade: this morning's bird was clearly a Saker or Lanner type - maybe Lanner's favoured? - but this tricky pair also have the additional fly in the ointment of Heinz 57 escaped hybrids to consider so unless it appears again we doubt we'll get any further with it © Martin Cade:



4th November

A day that went downhill as it advanced, with a mild and bright morning giving way to an increasingly windy, dreary and wet afternoon. There was precious little sign of arrivals on the ground, but overhead the skies were clear enough for 450 Goldfinches, 150 Starlings, 105 Linnets, 95 Jackdaws and lower totals of a few other customary late movers to be tallied over the Bill and 45 Cormorants to head over Portland Harbour. Likely winterers at the Bill included 2 Purple Sandpipers, a Cetti's Warbler and a Black Redstart, whilst sheltered spots around the island still held small numbers of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Firecrests. There was plenty to see out to sea but a lone passing Red-throated Diver was the only bird of note off the Bill amongst the melees of feeding Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks.

3rd November

It's not a difficult task to single out the highlight from today's birding, with a confiding Snow Bunting along the East Cliffs the star of yet another windswept and otherwise uneventful day. With overhead passage reduced to just 300 Starlings, 100 Goldfinches and a handful of Chaffinches, it was left to the sea to provide the remainder of interest, with singles of Sooty Shearwater and Great Skua through off the Bill. 

The Snow Bunting put on a good show © Martin Cade:


A few moths from Freshwater Bay @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social on Saturday night - Flame Brocade (locally common here) , Feathered Ranunculus (very common) and Rusty-dot Pearl (3 seen):

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) November 3, 2025 at 7:41 PM

2nd November

Clear skies - albeit still with a pretty brisk westerly blowing - saw overhead migrants get going again today, with 1630 Wood Pigeons, 435 Starlings, 279 Goldfinches, 125 Stock Doves, 103 Chaffinches and 19 Siskins making up the bulk of the numbers over the Bill, where 2 late Swallows, a Merlin and Brambling also passed through. The Pallas's Warbler lingered on at Avalanche Road/Thumb Lane and a/the Caspian Gull was again at the Bill but it was otherwise relatively mundane on the ground, with Dark-bellied Brent Geese increasing to 720 at Ferrybridge, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling and a late Wheatear also there, and a Black Redstart at the Bill. The sea was again carpeted in feeding Kittiwakes, auks and the like, but passing singles of Great Northern Diver and Little Gull were the only additions of note off the Bill.

The Pallas's Warbler at Thumb Lane (top) © Duncan Walbridge and Avalanche Road (bottom) © Simon Craft:



Pallas's (Leaf) Warbler at Avalanche Road, @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social today - I've had a relatively poor autumn for birds, with limited time, so this little jewel may be the highlight:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) November 2, 2025 at 9:48 PM

1st November

Despite the interference of several periods of rather heavy rain, today's birding was not entirely without merit, with a few nice scarcities uncovered among the various lingering migrants seeing out the current windy conditions. The sea was once again a hive of activity, with thousands of auks and small gulls feeding close off the Bill, with 12 Eider and a single Great Skua providing the only variety among the numbers. It was a similar picture from Chesil Cove, save for the addition of a Grey Phalarope and Red-throated Diver also passing through. Elsewhere, a 1st winter Caspian Gull present in the flock below Culverwell was believed to be a different individual to one sighted past the Bill earlier in the day, the Pallas's Warbler and Ring Ouzel were still present at Avalanche Road and the Fig Tree Quarry respectively and a few Firecrests popped out of cover here and there.

We really have no idea how many different Caspian Gulls have been logged at the Bill this autumn as the situation begun to get muddied around the time double figures had been reached; however, it was interesting to note that today's bird had a noticeable limp which was also the case with one of the birds a month or so ago - probably nothing in that but it could just be the same bird resurfacing © Martin Cade:



Very few moths on a night of howling southerlies but what there was at the Obs included three singles of note: Ni Moth, Small Marbled and Blair's Mocha

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) November 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM

31st October

Bar a short, sharp spell of very heavy rain during the morning, today's mix of a stiff southerly and patchy sunshine was enough to provide interest on land and sea. On a day when other grounded arrivals looked to be few and far between there was a surprise in the form of the autumn's first Pallas's Warbler that showed up at Avalanche Road; the odd Firecrest here and there, a Purple Sandpiper at the Bill and a Black Redstart at Reap Lane were the only other discoveries amongst the lightest of scatters of Redwings, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and the like. The sea got lots of attention and for periods was hard work what with there being such a huge feeding aggregation of Kittiwakes and auks offshore that had at least 3 Arctic Skuas and singles of Manx Shearwater and Great Skua lingering in their midst.

Two nice photographs of the Pallas's Warbler that rather misrepresent how it was showing - on our visit during the afternoon we saw it for a couple of seconds immediately we walked into the Hump and then spent a further three hours searching for it without getting as much as another glimpse! © Thomas Miller:



There was such a big feeding flock off the Bill today that the various Arctic Skuas attracted were having an absolute field day © Pete Saunders:



Also at the Bill tip, it was nice to see an obliging Purple Sandpiper back in residence © Pete Saunders:


Today we were extremely pleased to finally receive from the printers a large consignment of our long, long overdue 'annual' report - so long overdue in fact that it covers the last four years! We'll soon be mailing copies out to all who were Obs members during this four year period - if you're one of these folk and you happen to call at the Obs in the next few days do please pick up your copy as anything that saves us from even a little bit of the monumental amount of packing, franking and mailing we'll be doing will be very welcome!


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