The return of very birdable conditions wasn't really accompanied by as many migrants as might have been hoped today. An early doors
Nightingale from the mist-nets at Culverwell gave hope but it was already apparent elsewhere around the Bill that, 100 or so
Yellow Wagtails aside, migrants were pretty thinly spread and included little else of note beyond 5
Tree Pipits, 3
Yellow-legged Gulls and singles of
Whinchat,
Reed Warbler and
Pied Flycatcher. It was evidently considerable busier in places around the middle of the island, including 25
Blackcaps, 22
Whitethroats and 7
Lesser Whitethroats at Coombefield/Thumb Lane. It was also considerably busier overhead, with 200
Lesser Black-backed Gulls departing to the south and 500
Sand Martins making up the bulk of some good gatherings of hirundines and 3 late
Swifts over the Bill; an
Osprey passed south down the west side of the island before departing from the Bill and several
Sparrowhawks were in evidence stirring up the hirundines. The light passage evident at sea in recent days continued, with 10
Balearic Shearwaters and 2
Arctic Skuas the best of it off the Bill.
Despite the return of beautifully benign conditions today's been underwhelming on the migrant front. A Nightingale for @slashercutts.bsky.social at Culverwell was only the second at the Bill this year but it's been pretty dreadful for other grounded arrivals; fair gathering of Sand Martin overhead.
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 26, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Improved moth-trapping conditions overnight and better variety amongst the catch at the Obs. Main feature a precipitous decline in Rush Veneers from many hundreds a few nights ago to barely double figures last night. A Passenger pick of the migrants (apparently another taken at Durlston CP as well)
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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 26, 2026 at 12:37 PM
