6th April

The infrequency of southeasterlies during spring here meant that today's forecast had already generated some pretty lofty expectations that despite falling slightly short of the mark still ended up producing a nice scattering of both common and scarce migrants. The year ticks came in thick and fast with Common Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and Tree Pipit all on-cue new arrivals, whilst another flyover Serin, Ring Ouzel and Cetti's Warbler rounded off the day's chief interest. An obvious arrival of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps during the first few hours after dawn became conspicuously quieter as the day drew on, whilst an uptick in Wheatears exceeded 50 at the Bill. Overhead passage was fairly light and included 46 Linnets, 2 Siskin and a House Martin alongside another pulse of Swallows and Sand Martins throughout the afternoon. Away from the Bill, additional Redstarts were seen at Suckthumb and France Quarry, with a second Ring Ouzel present at Reap Lane. The sea was very much the poor relation, with 51 Common Scoters, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Mallards, a Great Northern Diver and Puffin logged at the Bill and 4 certain Arctic Terns amongst a small movement of commic terns off Chesil..

Not before time but nice nonetheless: the first Redstart of the spring from the Crown Estate Field mist-nets just now. Also news of a male Ring Ouzel at Reap Lane per Sean Davies and Graham Bright

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 9:30 AM

The Crown Estate Field mist-nets being bountiful on the year-tick front this morning - now the spring's first Grasshopper Warbler

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 11:03 AM

Another nice arrival popped up in the nets: a Cetti's Warbler in the Obs garden - ta to Phil Chapman for the photo. Also in the meanwhile a fly-by Serin at the Obs.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 12:32 PM

 

After I reported it at 1313 it flew East across the middle track from the daisy field to the field that is above Culverwell..no sign after that..sorry just got home.

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— CourtauxBird (@courtauxbird.bsky.social) April 6, 2026 at 3:28 PM

After the customary wader hiatus during late March and early April it was nice to see some evidence of passage getting going today, with the first flock of Bar-tailed Godwits through off the Bill this morning and a couple of Dunlin arriving in over Chesil and this Sanderling settled at Ferrybridge this evening; small beginnings...© Martin Cade: