Decent returns again today, at least as long some early cloud persisted overhead - once that made way for blue skies and warm sunshine the migrants were on their way in haste. The chief rewards around the south of the island were 3
Cuckoos - 2 at the Bill and another at Southwell - a
Turtle Dove at Sweethill and a
Corn Bunting at the Bill. Totals from the Bill of more routine fare included 80
Whitethroats, 40
Chiffchaffs, 35
Willow Warblers, 12
Sedge Warblers, 10
Reed Warblers and 10
Garden Warblers, whilst waders at Ferrybridge included 14
Sanderling and 6
Bar-tailed Godwits. Overhead passage was very poorly covered and, judging by the number of
Swallows still arriving over Chesil during the evening, a steady movement may well have been overlooked once the sky cleared; a lone
Hobby over the Bill was the best of what was logged. Sporadic strong movements of
Gannets have been a feature of this spring, with another 570 through off the Bill during the morning; singles of
Red-throated Diver and
Pomarine Skua were best of what little else was on the move offshore.
There were only two records of Cuckoo on Portland last year so the four in the last two days have been very well received © Jodie Henderson:
And these days any Turtle Doves are very welcome indeed - this one was at the traditional hotspot of the lawn of a private garden at Sweethill © Debby Saunders:
Sedge Warbler © Martin Cade and Greenland/Iceland Wheatear © Nick Hopper at the Bill this morning:
Quite rewarding on the ringing front again today, particularly under patchy cloud at dawn - sadly, the migrants upped and left very quickly as soon as the sky cleared a couple of hours into the morning. Bill total of 81 included 26 Whitethroats, 16 CCs, 13 WWs, 6 Sedge W, 5 Reed W & 5 Garden W.
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 4, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Big increase in common migrant moths at the Obs last night: 147 Diamond-backs, 13 Rusty-dot Pearl, 5 Small Mottled Willow, 4 Rush Veneer, 4 Silver Y, 4 Turnip, 3 Dark Sword Grass + 2 Painted Ladies; Painted Ladies abundant around the Bill area this morning.
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) May 4, 2026 at 12:02 PM
think i got to 12 species for certain, almost sure i had a very brief glimpse of a lulworth too and probably common blue in flight.
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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 4, 2026 at 10:11 PM
mainly butterflies today but a late wheatear through tout, barn owl and little owl at verne moat and a couple of lesser whitethroat belting it out, this one along the moat perimeter fence
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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) May 4, 2026 at 10:07 PM
