The loveliest of days to be out birding in unbroken sunshine and summer warmth - conditions that wouldn't usually be viewed as favourable for a good drop of migrants but in the event there were birds in quantity everywhere. The trio of Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff and Blackcap accounted for a good proportion of the groundings - reaching totals of 1000, 300 and 200 respectively at the Bill alone - but there were strong showings of good range of other arrivals amongst which shorter-range migrants such as Dunnock, Robin and Stonechat were particularly prominent; thrushes have barely figured at all so far this autumn so the first Song Thrush of the season was hopefully the vanguard of plenty more to come. Overhead passage wasn't quite so prominent with hirundines rather oddly almost completely absent, but totals of 800 Meadow Pipits, 280 alba wagtails, 200 Linnets, 65 Skylarks and 35 Chaffinches were all worthwhile at the Bill, with singles of Great White Egret and Woodlark there and 2 Bramblings and a Ring-necked Parakeet over Coombefield adding some spice. Sea interest perked up a little, with 3000 auks, 40 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 18 Wigeon of note off the Bill.
Another Great White Egret was amongst today's overhead movers at the Bill © Jodie Henderson:
Light N wind and clear dawn saw migrant influx at PBO. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social 245 birds of 17 species ringed. Warblers, CC 98, Blckap 76 plus 1 of Sedge, Grasshopr, Lesser W, Whitethroat,2 WW. Dunnock 8, Robin 6, Stonechat & Great T 4. Pied, Grey Wagtail plus first Song Thrush of the Autumn.
— Peter J Morgan (@pbo61.bsky.social) October 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM
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A selection of moths today from @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social - the rare Maize Wainscot, 1 of 2 Ni Moths seen and a fine purple Purple Marbled, all of which were trapped at the observatory:
— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) October 4, 2026 at 10:43 PM
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Highlights from trapping overnight 3-4/10/26 at Freshwater Bay, @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social included a pristine Brindled Ochre (now very scarce in Dorset), 4 Golden Twinspot and a worn Silver-spotted Veneer (Euchromius ocellea); also here 15+ Palpita vitrealis, 1 Bordered Straw, 3 Vestal
— alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social (@alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social) October 4, 2026 at 10:51 PM
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