20th April

On the passerine front today was a lower key re-run of yesterday, with a similar range of species but most in considerably reduced numbers. A Siberian Chiffchaff was a surprise arrival at the Bill, whilst a selection of Whinchats, Redstarts and a Pied Flycatcher entertained amongst the sprinkle of commoner migrants there and around the centre of the island. Overhead passage was steady if unspectacular, with Swallows again on the move all day and eventually totalling towards 500. In the constantly freshening easterly the sea was well-watched with patchy rewards: 2 Avocets through off Chesil were the highlight, whilst other waders between there and the Bill included 214 Bar-tailed Godwits, 151 Whimbrel, 39 Dunlin, 10 Knot and 5 Sanderling; everything else was relatively poorly represented, with 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Great Skua the best of it.

Well we were hoping for a scarce the day after the fall but imagined something a little different to the Siberian Chiffchaff just trapped in the Crown Estate Field. Far lower numbers/variety than yesterday coming from the mist-nets so far this morning.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 10:13 AM

Another Redstart turned up in the garden this afternoon spending most of its time deep in the apple tree. Fewer immigrant birds today with 3 Blackcaps and a few Willow Warblers

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 9:11 PM

female redstart near southwell barns, males at reap lane and barleycrates. at least 4, probably 5x whinchat at reap lane.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 6:46 PM

small copper at bottomcombe, still no small blue after the conservation lash up, but another clouded yellow fly through and a hummingbird hawkmoth of note

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) April 20, 2026 at 6:34 PM