Slowly but surely a change is on the way and today's still less than inspiring conditions saw a lot of overhead passage get going even if it remained disappointingly quiet on the ground. Although a
Ring Ouzel was a welcome discovery above the Verne Moat and a
Short-eared Owl showed up at the Bill the almost complete absence of new thrushes, warblers and the like on the ground suggested it had still remained far too windy for much nocturnal migration. However, as dawn broke there was a veritable avalanche of movement overhead, including totals from the Bill of 50000
Wood Pigeons, 1550
Goldfinches, 600
Linnets, 520
Stock Doves (with no doubt many more tucked away amongst the distant pigeon flocks), 360
Starlings, 300
Jackdaws, 300
Chaffinches, 240
Meadow Pipits, 70
Skylarks and 21
Greenfinches, with 2 more
Woodlarks amongst the miscellaneous tag-alongs. Lingerers dotted about on the land included the
Snow Bunting and
Cetti's Warbler at the Bill,
Great Spotted Woodpeckers here and there, 2
Firecrests at Pennsylvania Castle and 2
Black Redstarts at Chiswell. Two
Grey Phalaropes remained at Chesil Cove, with 56
Common Scoter through off the Bill their highest total for a while; elsewhere, the
Brent Goose total at Ferrybridge reached four figures for the first time this season and one or more
Great Northern Divers were in Portland Harbour.
Pigeon-filled skies over the Bill this morning ©
Martin Cade:
Great Spotted Woodpecker and Blackcaps emerging in the shelter at Sweethill © Pete Saunders:
One of the Chesil Cove Grey Phalaropes putting on a great show ©
Pete Saunders:
the photos of the ring ouzel were pretty grim before it disappeared into the gloom, no doubt will be more in the moat soon with the wind dropping.
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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) October 28, 2026 at 3:46 PM
black redstarts in the little ship garden
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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) October 28, 2026 at 3:50 PM
