12th September

A day largely saved by the continuing presence of a Wryneck around the Obs Quarry. In the increasingly blustery conditions it was hard work getting amongst what commoner migrants were about and they certainly didn't seem to be very numerous, with 23 Grey Herons in two flocks over the Bill easily the highlight; departing Meadow Pipits also reached 300 overhead but there was little else of note either aloft or on the ground. The sea was quieter than yesterday, with 8 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Arctic Skuas and an Eider the best on offer off the Bill.

This mornings Wryneck at Portland at least it was on top of the bush rather than underneath.

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— rog78.bsky.social (@rog78.bsky.social) September 12, 2026 at 5:04 PM

Moth trapping slightly stagnated in recent nights but still a fair spread of presumably mostly local-bred migrants about. Best catch at the Obs last night a little Aethes that looks to be a strong candidate for Samphire Straw A bilbaensis

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) September 12, 2026 at 11:58 AM

The only interesting moths in last night's trap were the tiniest, Beautiful Twitcher and Carrot Ridge-back #MothsMatter

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) September 12, 2026 at 6:11 PM