14th September

Still no more than ticking over at the lowest of levels on all fronts today, with mist and/or low cloud adding to the air of melancholy. There was a scatter of common migrants about including 30 Blackcaps, 20 each of Wheatear and Chiffchaff, and 10 Willow Warblers at the Bill but nothing unexpected turned up in their midst and it was left to a brief Caspian Gull to provide any real interest on the ground there. Overhead passage and movement on the sea was almost non-existent.

It seemed unlikely that the Large Cone-head found in a moth-trap back in August would prove to be a one-off and sure enough this evening at least two stridulating specimens were discovered in the Crown Estate Field, with one being fairly easily seen by torch light. The number of orthopteran colonists of the island in recent years really has been quite astounding! © Martin Cade:

Out on a Coastal Vibes jolly this evening, firstly around Portland Harbour then along the Breakwater. Pic of Portland covered in low cloud. Fascinating to see the roosting GBBGulls up close, I counted ~500. Also a smart 1st w YLHGull flew close past the boat on the way back in.

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— Paul Harris (@paulupwey.bsky.social) September 14, 2026 at 9:24 PM