...and a migrant moth: a Silver Y from the Obs moth-traps last night - our first since 2 in mid-January
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 12:35 PM
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17th March
It took little more than the lightest outbreak of overnight mizzle and a backing of the breeze into the southwest to get spring back on track today, with a decent little arrival of Chiffchaffs on the ground and a few waterfowl getting moving over the sea. The majority of reports came from the Bill, where 60 Chiffchaffs made up the bulk of the grounded arrivals and 5 Wheatears, 3 Goldcrests and a Blackcap added some variety; long-term lingerers also still about included singles of Red-legged Partridge, Cetti's Warbler and Firecrest. A succession of alba wagtails passed overhead but other visible migrants, notably Meadow Pipits, were oddly absent. Offshore, 33 Common Scoter, 13 Shoveler, 12 Teal, 8 Red-throated Divers, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Shelducks and a single Great Crested Grebe lent further respectability to the day's proceedings. The only report from elsewhere was of a lone Pale-bellied Brent Goose in Portland Harbour.
