29th July: Today's birding likely suffered in much the same way as overnight mothing had, with the clear sky and full moon counting against there being an arrival of grounded migrants. At the Bill, a few WWs & Sedge Ws were dropped & the first Tree Pipit of the autumn passed over...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 10:47 PM
...offshore, shearwaters consisted of just 2 Balearics, with 43 Sandwich Terns & 2 Arctic Skuas the pick of the movers.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 10:49 PM
With an enormous full moon and cloudless sky last night felt a lot like being out in semi-daylight and not at all conducive to a big moth catch. That said, there were still a few notables trapped at the Obs overnight incl only our third ever Oak Processionary and another Eastern Bordered Straw.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 2:08 PM
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Not a big deal in UK terms these days but this Gypsy Moth from our garden at the Grove last night is only the second for Portland; the first record was of one at the Obs way back in 1986 - an era when South Coast records were thought to relate to migrants from the continent rather than introductions
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 29, 2026 at 10:11 PM
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