A murky, damp and very windy night - conditions that dragged on for a while after dawn - didn't look at all likely to have done us any favours and once the clearance arrived fieldwork largely drew a blank. The Red-backed Shrike did resurface at the Bill, with a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Cetti's Warbler also likely to be lingerers but a Merlin, a Reed Bunting and fair numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were all that could be mustered on the ground. It was just as slow overhead, with a handful of Siskins the only variety amongst the trickle of departing Swallows and Linnets. With the wind quickly veering into the northwest the only worthwhile rewards from the sea were 3 Arctic Terns and 2 Arctic Skuas.
After being missed yesterday the Red-backed Shrike resurfaced in today's pleasantly warm sunshine © Mark Eggleton:
Portland Day 2 - Note the scenic image of where an American Pipit should have been! One of the many coves and mini-beaches checked after a very unproductive morning seawatch. The leafier areas around Wakeham/Mermaid looked superb this afternoon but equally as quiet for now...
— Joe Stockwell (@joestockwell.bsky.social) October 13, 2026 at 4:17 PM
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