17th August: Migrant-wise, the last few mornings have been quite productive and today followed in that vein, with 200 LBBGull, 120 WW, 15 Wear, 10 Sedge W, 5 Yellow Wag, 4 YLGull, 4 Pied Fly, & 1-2 each of Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Gropper, Bcap & Spot Fly on offer around the Bill, with Green Sand...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 11:17 PM
...& Pied Fly additions at Freshwater Bay. 4 Balearics, a Storm Petrel & an Arctic Skua passed thru on the sea.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Despite losing one of the Obs moth-traps that was bowled over in the middle of night by frolicking animals of some sort there were still some prodigious migrant totals logged eg 812 Small Mottled Willows was their second highest total ever and 24 Small Marbled was their highest total ever.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 2:30 PM
[image or embed]
Passenger - Freshwater Bay, @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night - that's 3 trapped in the area in the last few days, but still exciting when you turn over an egg box and this thing is sat there!
— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 8:21 PM
[image or embed]
Other highlights at Freshwater Bay @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night included Golden Twinspot and 3 Ni Moths amongst a deluge of the commoner migrants and a selection of the resident species.
— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 8:57 PM
[image or embed]
A welcome addition to the Portland suburban soundscape: Verge Cricket giving it some stick in our back garden at the Grove this evening - could almost imagine you're somewhere beside the Mediterranean.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 9:19 PM
[image or embed]
Just got back to the Obs and there's another Verge Cricket stridulating right beside the patio (we were out listening yesterday and it wasn't there then) - regular visitors will not be at all surprised by the sight of David Murdoch on his hands and knees stalking it underneath the Obs washing line
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 17, 2026 at 10:08 PM
[image or embed]
