2nd April

Today's migration happenings played out in a similar fashion to yesterday, albeit at a much small magnitude, with a trickle of common migrants dropping in throughout the day without any real suprises among them. Around the Bill, Willow Warblers were once again the most numerous of the new arrivals with 75 logged, as well as 50 Blackcaps and just 15 Chiffchaffs, whilst clearer skies saw overhead passage increase to 682 Meadow Pipits, 142 Linnets, 19 alba wagtails and a trickle of hirundines that included only the second House Martin of the spring. From an entirely local perspective, a pair of Mallards flying close in along the East Cliffs provided high excitement value, whilst the rest of the day's sea passage was all very routine with the likes of 9 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers, an Arctic Skua and a single Puffin logged. The day's sunshine proved ideal for encouraging butterflies on the wing, with both Small Tortoiseshell and Orange-tip recorded new for the year.

Manx Shearwater from a couple of days ago, Portland Bill

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 4:49 PM

3 Blackcaps in the garden today. Down from the 9 a few days ago, we think these are new in

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 4:54 PM

1st April

With the island right on the cusp of a profound change in conditions at sunrise - a clear moonlit night and cloudless dawn was quickly followed by a blanket of heavy cloud rolling in from the north - it was touch and go whether today would be boom or bust on the migrant front. Fortunately, a good drop of birds was soon evident and it seemed that new arrivals continued to trickle in throughout the day, with plenty of new catches in the Obs mist-nets right up until early evening. Variety was extremely limited but that was made up for by respectable totals of what there was, including 300 Willow Warblers, 100 Chiffchaffs and 30 Blackcaps at the Bill alone. Considering the numbers on the ground, overhead arrivals were surprisingly few with no more than 124 Meadow Pipits heading north along West Cliffs early doors before the passage fizzled completely. The sea ticked over with the currently customary numbers of lingering Manx Shearwaters, Sandwich Terns and the like but 'proper' up-Channel passage was fairly limited and included nothing better than 15 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua.

Today was all about Willow Warblers that made up two-thirds of the day's migrant catch at the Obs/Crown Estate Field © Martin Cade:


It being Portland where much that's routine elsewhere is a novelty for us, there was momentary excitement when these three Canada Geese flew over the Bill - likely one of the few chances in the year to get this undesirable alien on a Bill patch list © Martin Cade:


A mini spring milestone: the first 100 ringing day of the season - Willow Warblers strongly to the fore, making up three-quarters of the day's tally

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 1, 2026 at 1:36 PM

I had low expectations for last night’s moth trap, expecting a few Common Quakers. Then they I saw this Small Eggar, new for garden, no. 371 macro moth

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 1, 2026 at 2:13 PM
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