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5th June

 

5th June: With the Bee-eaters seemingly having made their escape to Guernsey and the long-staying Turtle Dove at the Obs finally looking as though it had moved on, interest on the land was limited to a single new Chiffchaff at the Bill. Balearic Shearwaters continued to linger offshore all day.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 5, 2026 at 10:28 PM

Mob-handed arrival of Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill this morning: minimum of 60 in from the east with many now feeding distantly with the gull flock; c600 Manx thru/lingering + Sooty Shearwater & 2 Arctic Skuas thru

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 5, 2026 at 8:41 AM

4th June

 

4th June: Bee-eaters heard over Southwell were presumably the reappearing 5 from earlier in the week. Turtle Dove remained at the Obs. Seabirds tricky to count with lots lingering offshore incl c250 Manx, c15 Balearics, an Arctic Skua and at least 1 Storm Petrel; 4 more A Skuas & a Black Tern thru.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 4, 2026 at 10:45 PM

Terrible moth-trapping conditions but still a few decent migrants hanging on from last weeks excesses: this mrng at the Obs mostly very ragged singles of Olive-tree Pearl, Gem, Eastern Bordered Straw and Ni Moth the best.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 4, 2026 at 10:26 AM

3rd June

3rd June: on a really windy day the uptick in Balearic Shearwaters continued with 14 through off the Bill along with c1000 Manx and a single Sooty; also an Arctic Skua through and a Sunfish briefly quite close off the Bill tip. Turtle Dove still in the Obs garden at least during the morning...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 3, 2026 at 11:07 PM

...also still a few tardy waders at Ferrybridge incl 4 Sanderling and singles of Knot and Whimbrel

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 3, 2026 at 11:09 PM

2nd June

2nd June: the 5 Bee-eaters made another two passes over the Obs during the morning and the Turtle Dove remained there; single WW the only arrival on the ground at the Bill; c1000 Manx, 8 Balearics & a Little Tern thru on the sea; 7 Sanderlings & a Knot at Ferrybridge.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM

The Bee-eaters over the Obs © Martin Cade:




And a few calls as they were disappearing in the distance:

Autumn's started: Willow Warbler just trapped at the Obs that's presumably a failed breeder with a big brood patch - not sure where the nearest breeders are to here but likely a good long way away these days

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 8:39 AM

1st June

 

1st June: 5 Bee-eaters doing a lap of the island from the Bill to the Verne and back again provided the day's highlight; the Turtle Dove remained at the Obs, with a single Chiffchaff the only other new arrival at the Bill; trickle of Manx offshore + 45 Com Scoter, a Balearic & an Arctic Skua

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM

Obs moth-traps still quite busy last night despite the dip in temperature; 2 more Eastern Bordered Straw the best, with singles of Little Thorn (Portland's 4th ever and our 3rd in the last week) and Treble Brown-spot (fewer than 10 island records) good locally

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 1, 2026 at 12:58 PM

A few more migrant moths from our Grove garden traps today incl a Purple Marbled; a Four Spotted was also only the third ever for this site. Weirdest catch was an orangey-coloured Xestia - struggling to see beyond it being an oddly-marked and v early Dotted Clay (v rare here) but comments welcome

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM