Another beautiful sunny day but with the added bonus that there were actually quite a few birds around, with a switch round to north-easterlies overnight facilitating the most varied fall of migrants so far this spring. The first few hours after dawn saw the peak of the day's new arrivals, with 250
Willow Warblers, 75
Blackcaps and 60
Chiffchaffs filtering through the Bill area alongside a supporting cast of 70
Wheatears, 30
Whitethroats, 20
Redstarts, 2
Lesser Whitethroats, 2
Whinchats, 2
Reed Warblers and singles of
Garden Warbler and
Sedge Warbler. Checks of the more substantial wooded areas in the centre and north of the island revealed a small flurry of
5
Pied Flycatchers, with additional double figure counts of
Redstarts and
Whinchats scattered about. Waders also increased, including 73
Dunlin and 3
Bar-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge. Some light passage overhead included an unseasonable 9
Siskin, a
Dunlin and a handful of both
Yellow Wagtails and
Tree Pipits, with the light headwind encouraging a steady passage of 500
Swallows through the afternoon. As always something had to give, and today's loser was the sea, with just 15
Common Scoter, 5
Whimbrel, 2
Great Northern Diver, 2
Arctic Skua, 2
Knot and a single
Red-throated Diver through off the Bill.
Garden Warbler at Sweethill this weekend © Pete Saunders:
We haven't mentioned nocmig loggings very much just lately because the returns have been for the most part pretty routine; for example, waders are beginning to feature more prominently and, as nocmig recording has shown over many years (and despite their literally never been seen by day at this time of year), Moorhens and Coots have been quite regular overhead at night. However, last night's session at the Obs produced quite a surprise in the form of a Manx Shearwater calling overhead; offshore, they're of course very numerous at times here throughout the summer but we don't recollect anyone ever reporting having heard one at night and this is certainly a nocmig first for the Obs:
The joint best ringing day of the month - equaling the total of 148 on 1st April. Willow Warblers still to fore on 78 but variety now much improved incl 26 Bcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Redstarts, 2 Reed Ws, 2 LWTs and singles of Sedge W and Garden W (Sedge and LWT both firsts for the year).
[image or embed]
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 9:54 PM
An enjoyable afternoon spent birding north Portland, personal totals from various sites: 2 Whinchat, 5 Redstart, 21 Willow Warbler, 28 Wheatear #ukbirding #dorsetbirds
[image or embed]
— Oli Mockridge (@yeovilbirder.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 6:24 PM
a bit better on portland today, no rarities but a nice mix
[image or embed]
— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Redstart in the garden this morning. Other migrants: 9 Blackcaps, 6 Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler
[image or embed]
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 19, 2026 at 6:34 PM
