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10th August

10th August: Willow Warblers & Lesser Black-backed Gulls made up the bulk of the Bill numbers today, with a strong post-dawn movement of 200 WWs and a steady passage of 85 LBBGulls heading way south/west. The Serin was still around, with singles of Green Sand & Grasshopper W of further note...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 10:46 PM

...350 Med Gulls, 6 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas & a Bonxie the best thru on the sea. 97 birds ringed today of which 72 were Willow Warblers

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM

Positive signs from the Obs moth-traps last night with an uptick in numbers and variety. Many of the current usual suspects represented in plenty although for us the highlight was a Bog Grass-moth silvella - a heathland stray and national scarcity with only a handful of previous records here

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM

Also, some better photos of the Verge Cricket Eumodicogryllus bordigalensis caught last night by Nigel Jones and Mark Edgeller whilst they were moth-trapping at Freshwater Bay

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 10:57 PM

An exciting find for Nigel Jones and Mark Edgeller at their moth-trap at Freshwater Bay last night: a Verge-cricket - seemingly the second record for Britain after the recent discovery in Sussex.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 10, 2026 at 8:35 AM

9th August

9th August: Grounded passerine migrant numbers dropped across the board with only WW just managing a double figure total at the Bill; the Serin was still about there, with 100 LBBGulls & a Whinchat the best of the rest. 250 Med Gulls, 52 Sandwich Terns, 12 Balearics & an Arctic Skua thru on the sea.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 9, 2026 at 10:40 PM

A very juvenile-looking Whinchat from the CEF nets this mrng - quite an oddball plumage for us as migrant youngsters usually look much more grown up by the time they reach us.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 9, 2026 at 7:53 AM

Three relatively quiet moth nights at the Obs - numbers up and down but variety all rather samey; best of the interest in the form of the year's first Porter's Rustic on Thursday night and an influx of 4 Hawthorn Moths last night (a common species elsewhere but hitherto just three Portland records)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM

Just a few phone pics of moths from last night’s trap

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) August 9, 2026 at 12:05 PM

@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social is such a great area for inverts and the micro-moth diversity is amazing; here are Eyed Totrix (wanderer from Wormwood colonies), Samphire Knothorn (food plant is Golden Samphire), Madder Pearl and Yellow Marbled Pearl, the latter 3 from 8/8/26 [AI backgrounds]:

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) August 9, 2026 at 10:40 PM

8th August

8th August: Not a lot changing at the moment, with another 80 WWs making up the bulk of new arrivals at the Bill; the Serin was still about & 6 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Heron & a Garden W were among the other migrants. 3 Balearic Shearwaters & 2 Arctic Skuas were the best from the sea

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 9, 2026 at 12:50 AM

Thanks to Graham who got me on only my 3rd Serin in Britain this morning. Pleased to watch it charge around calling back and forth. Anyway time to head back mrs and kids will be waking soon @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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— Gareth Clements (@birdergaz.bsky.social) August 8, 2026 at 7:10 AM

Couldnt read the ring sadly

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— Gareth Clements (@birdergaz.bsky.social) August 8, 2026 at 7:23 AM

7th August

7th August: Another hot, sunny day with the birding much as would be expected in these conditions. The Serin continued with regular fly-overs at the Obs, with the Bill migrant tally incl 75 WW, 20 Sedge W & the first Spot Fly of the autumn. Sea quiet and shearwater-less.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 7, 2026 at 11:04 PM

By chance found photo of Bll Oddie's last Autmnwatch,10th Oct.2008.Where else would he be but at Portland where many 'Goodies' filmed in the quarries & where he found during his visits a Yellow billed Cuckoo in 1979. Enjoyed stories after 1961 at the obs,pulled rank! 4 months older than me.Big Loss.

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— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) August 7, 2026 at 4:29 PM

6th August


6th August: More rewarding on all fronts, with the Serin that reappeared around the Obs the highlight. Bill migrants incl 75 WW, 12 Sedge W, 5 YLGulls, 5 Yellow Wags, 3 Wheatears, 2 LWT & a Garden W. Sea passage there incl 200 Med Gulls, 100 Kittiwakes, 8 Manx, 3 Balearics, a Bonxie & an Arctic Skua

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 6, 2026 at 11:40 PM

Huge reductions in moth numbers at the Obs on the last two cool/windy nights - Small Mottled Willows down to just double figures last night! - but sprinkle of presumably nearly all home-bred migrants still about to provide some interest.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 6, 2026 at 11:16 AM

How cool is this? Just got home and there's a Striped Hawk nectaring in broad daylight in the back garden - fantastic!

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 6, 2026 at 6:05 PM

We've been working on subalpine warblers from this spring. Still a couple to do but: North Ronaldsay, 30/4: Western Calf of Man, 10/5: Western Isle of May, 28/5: Western Troswick, Shetland, 3/5: Western Portland, 12/5: Western Sumburgh Head, 9/6: Eastern @birdguides.bsky.social

— Martin Collinson (@docmartin2mc.bsky.social) August 6, 2026 at 9:07 AM

5th August

5th August: When you have a bit of a lie in because it's too windy for the mist-nets and are greeted on rising with the news that the ongoing seawatch is the poorest of the year you know the day's going to be hard work - and it was. Bill quiet on all fronts but waders a little on the up sums it up.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 10:29 PM

The Fleet Ferrybridge - An evening with Pete Coe learning new photography skills, Ringed Plover c100 and Dunlin c45, Redshank, Sanderling 5, Turnstone 2 Med Gull ring 3LL2 (Black on white), Little Tern 4 (2juv), Com Tern 2, Sandwich Tern 8, @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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— Dorset Bird Tours (@dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 10:03 PM

quiet at blacknor gully, no skippers nor adonis but good numbers of chalkhills, loads of HHMoth in the area and a couple of jersey tigers.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 9:04 PM

migrant hawker at old hill this morning, really quiet, no sign of autumn ladies tresses coming through the brown fields yet and virtually no chalkhills where usually there are loads.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 9:02 PM

4th August

 

4th August: Despite fresher conditions and even some mizzly outbreaks there was a meagre return migrant-wise today. The very mobile Serin remained at the Bill, a Quail was flushed from the Obs Quarry Field and the first Redstart of the season was trapped at the Obs... soundcloud.com/portland-bir...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 11:22 PM

...5 Yellow Wagtails were still about at the Bill but singles of Turnstone & Whinchat were the only other less regulars amongst a few Wheatears, Sedge Ws & WWs. 2 Arctic Skuas & a single Balearic Shearwater the best from the sea at the Bill. 2 newly fledged Little Terns were at Ferrybridge.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 11:31 PM

Just two nights ago our all time largest catch of Small Mottled Willows saw the 500 mark exceeded, last night that was more than doubled to 1007 - barmy times! Busy traps for everything else as well last night incl obvious arrivals of Diamond-backs and Beet Moths; 9 Small & a Purple Marbled of note

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 12:42 PM

Banded Goldenrod Straw Phalonidia curvistrigana 2nd August. A successful couple of hours dusking/LepiLED-ing for this obscure species in a tiny patch of good quality grassland with plenty of Goldenrod south of Yeolands; known from Portland by the Victorians but latterly only found as early stages...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 12:13 AM

...so it was nice to see an adult in a spot it's likely never been recorded before. Couldn't help but ponder on what the Victorians would have made of what turned up on the sheet - they'd have been familiar with local specials like Beech-green Carpet but Small Mottled Willow and Jersey Tiger...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 12:27 AM

...were by far the commonest macros despite being unknown here back in their time, whilst Tree-lichen Beauty, Tawny-fronted Straw molliculana & Common Masoner adustella amongst others are also all things that have arrived since then

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 5, 2026 at 12:44 AM

3rd August

 

3rd August: Increasingly hot and humid today with the new Serin an appropriate arrival at the Bill; grounded migrants quite sparse with the season's first Whinchat the best & 2 Grey Herons & a Redshank of further note. 135 more Sandwich Terns thru on sea + 2 Balearics, a Little Gull & an Arctic Skua

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 10:56 PM

After umpteen flight views, finally a deck glimpse of the Serin; it's got a yellow rump so isn't a full-blown juvenile and we're guessing from the dowdy colouration, super-fresh plumage and moult discontinuity in the greater coverts that it's a first winter. Really rare here in August/September.

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 4:39 PM

There's a Serin about at the Bill - no photo yet bec it's super-mobile and has bombed back and forth over the Obs numerous times in the last hour - so have a nice Whinchat instead (our first of the autumn)

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 10:41 AM

Fabulous display of anting Med Gulls along the causeway at Ferrybridge this evening - every possible plumage and state of moult for this time of year on show at point blank range...

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 10:47 PM

...such good birds even when they're as scruffy as a lot of these were

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 10:49 PM

Last night's Obs moth-traps still busy with migrants, with 3 Purple Marbleds and singles of Convolvulus Hawk and Eastern Bordered Straw the best of the quality; beyond the Convolvulus Hawk, not really much evidence of new arrivals as opposed to mostly home-bred stock

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 3:48 PM

Scarce Zebra Moth, Helcystogramma lutatella from last night's trap #mothsmatter

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) August 3, 2026 at 3:27 PM

2nd August

2nd August: Just small nos of routine grounded migrants at the Bill - 25 WWs the most numerous; waders a little up incl 85 Ringed Plover, 7 Sanderling & 5 Redshank at Ferrybridge. Good totals of Sandwich Tern incl 282w off the Bill & 116 at Ferrybridge. 2 Tufted Duck & 1 Balearic thru off the Bill

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 2, 2026 at 10:23 PM

Amongst a generally reduced moth catch on a noticeably fresher night there one or two hints at new arrivals showing up, notably a Toadflax Pearl (...much prefer the former vernacular, Spanish Dot!) catalaunalis at the Obs & a Golden Twin-spot (seemingly not yet established on Portland) at the Grove

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 2, 2026 at 1:21 PM

3+ clouded yellow, first adonis of the autumn, still plenty of graylings but in places chalkhills already fading. 2nd gen wall browns up over verne moat. painted lady still moving through in lower numbers. some exceptionally small common blues.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) August 2, 2026 at 1:58 PM

1st August

1st August: The Treecreeper was the day's star visitor but there was a decent variety of routine migrants about as well incl 50 WW, 15 Sedge W, 4 Wheatears & a Garden W at the Bill and an increase in waders incl singles of Ringed Plover, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone at the Bill and 100 Dunlin...

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 1, 2026 at 9:45 PM

...55 Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank & 2 Common Sands at Ferrybridge & a Lapwing at Broadcroft. Sandwich Terns featured strongly incl 155w off the Bill & 80 at Ferrybridge; sea otherwise quiet with 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 15 Shelduck, an Arctic Skua & a few departing LBBGulls at the Bill.

— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 1, 2026 at 9:51 PM

A classic summer woodland disperser: a juvenile Treecreeper just turned up in a mist-net at the Obs; one day our Short-toed Treecreeper is going to drop in but it doesn't look like today's that day and the wait since 1979 will have to go on...

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

Obs moth-traps ticking over overnight with 5 Striped Hawks and a Cosmopolitan the best of the 'migrants'; dispersers incl the second Obs record of Streaked Ridge-back falciformis, whilst elsewhere a Lobster Moth for John Lucas at Southwell was only the fourth for the island

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) August 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Another box fresh Cosmopolitan from Freshwater Bay @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night, clearly breeding locally as with the Striped Hawks; rather a cold night and only ran an actinic and a lepi-LED to 00:30 but still getting quality moths; also 4 Bordered Straw, 2 P. vitrealis

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) August 1, 2026 at 7:49 PM

Purple Marbled at Freshwater Bay @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social last night - a nice 'purple one'! Left image unmanipulated by AI, but for the image on the RHS I used AI to 'mend' some scale damage on the left wing, cloning from the right wing!

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— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) August 1, 2026 at 7:34 PM