October 2004

                                                 

      

  Yellow-browed Warbler (....elusive!) - Wakeham, October 31st 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 31st Heavily overcast skies and a light easterly breeze delivered a whopping arrival of thrushes today. Birds were on the move until late in the afternoon and with few birds lingering and movement taking place on a broad front it was difficult to estimate numbers beyond a conservative estimate of 3000 Redwings, 2000 Blackbirds, 1000 Song Thrushes, 200 Fieldfares, 15 Mistle Thrushes and 4 Ring Ouzels passing through the southern half of the island; grounded migrants in the same area included 100 Robins, 100 Blackcaps, 100 Goldcrests, 60 Chiffchaffs, 20 Black Redstarts, 20 Firecrests, 10 Woodcock, 4 Dartford Warblers and 2 Short-eared Owls. The north of the island provided at least another 10 Black Redstarts and 5 Ring Ouzels. Rarity-wise there was surprisingly little on offer although a Yellow-browed Warbler was found near the Mermaid pub at Wakeham, a Snow Bunting was settled at Shepherds Dinner and a Lapland Bunting flew over at Reforne. There was also an interesting array of late migrants including a Sandwich Tern in Portland Harbour and a Whinchat, a Redstart (seemingly showing some characteristics of the eastern form samamisicus), a Reed Warbler and a Garden Warbler at the Bill. Once again very little attention was paid to the sea although at least 1 Velvet Scoter was still lingering off the Bill.

                                                 

            

  Woodcock - Portland Bill, October 30th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 30th In view of recent events nationally a Pallid Swift had seemed on the cards for some while but that didn't detract from the excitement of news being received of one being seen flying north at Reap Lane soon after dawn; within an hour the same or perhaps even more likely another individual that looked as though it had just arrived in off the sea was watched flying north up the Slopes at the Bill whilst later in the morning there was a third sighting of a bird leaving to the south from Cheyne Weare. With the wind and rain of recent days having finally given way to clear skies and warm sunshine there was plenty of movement overhead throughout the day. Pick of the fly-overs around the southern half of the island included at least 7 Woodlarks (with another individual settled for a while at Wakeham), 5 Mistle Thrushes, 4 presumed Pink-footed Geese, a Richard's Pipit, a Snow Bunting and a Lapland Bunting. On the ground only Goldcrests and thrushes were present in any real numbers but quality included around 30 Black Redstarts, 10 Firecrests, 4 Woodcocks, 3 Merlins, 2 Short-eared and a Long-eared Owl. With so much interest in the sky and on the ground precious little attention was given to the sea, where the only noteworthy report was of 2 Velvet Scoter lingering off the Bill.

                                                 

                

  Pallas's Warbler - Pennsylvania Castle, October 29th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 29th A surprise flurry of Pallas's Warblers provided today's highlight and came despite continuing inclement weather conditions: a rather mobile and elusive individual frequented the Pennsylvania Castle area during the afternoon whilst late in the day two birds were found at Delhi Lane, Easton. Elsewhere the 'eastern' Lesser Whitethroat remained at Barleycrates Lane, a Woodcock, a Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher were at Old Hill, a Merlin and a Short-eared Owl were at the Bill and a few Black Redstarts and Firecrests were scattered around the island. As many as 50 Little Gulls lingered or passed through at Chesil Cove and several Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns remained at Portland Harbour/Ferrybridge. Aside from the storm-driven birds there was precious little movement at sea, with the Bill producing just 40 Common and 3 Velvet Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Black-throated Diver, a Fulmar and a Teal.

                                                 

 

       

       

  Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Little Gull, Common Tern and Arctic Skua - Ferrybridge and Portland Harbour, October 28th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 28th Whilst the weather remained extremely unsettled the wind dropped away noticeably for much of the morning and allowed most of the island to be covered quite well. The legacy of yesterday's stormy conditions included a good scatter of lingering Little Gulls, particularly at Chesil Cove, as well as 3 Common Terns, 3 Arctic Terns and an Arctic Skua lingering in Portland Harbour, 40 Pintail and a Little Auk past Chesil Cove and a Black-throated Diver, a Teal and a Great Skua past the Bill. On the land there were reasonable numbers of new thrushes and Robins everywhere, a small arrival of Black Redstarts included 3 at Chesil Cove and at least 6 Firecrests were scattered around the sheltered spots in the south of the island; a Reed Warbler was a good late record at the Bill whilst a Lesser Whitethroat at Barleycrates Lane was another individual of this species showing characteristics of one of the eastern forms. Elsewhere a Pale-bellied Brent Goose joined the Dark-bellied Brents at Ferrybridge. October 27th Yesterday's interlude of fairer weather proved to be short-lived, with a howling easterly gale having set in overnight and heavy rain reaching the island by midday. The land was all but unbirdable, with the only reports being of 4 Firecrests, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart at the Bill and 2 more Firecrests at Portland Castle; the trickle of overhead passage included 100 Starlings, a few thrushes and 2 Lapwings at the Bill. Seawatching produced just 25 Common Scoter, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Brent Geese, a Fulmar, a Red-breasted Merganser and an Arctic Skua passing the Bill and a Little Gull lingering in Chesil Cove.

                                                 

       

  

  Pallas's Warbler and 'eastern' Lesser Whitethroat (including wing-tip and tail detail) - Portland Bill, October 26th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 26th The return of fair weather gave plenty of opportunity for birders to scour the island and there was a long and varied list to show for all the effort. Highlights included a Pallas's Warbler at Culverwell during the afternoon, fly-over Richard's Pipit, Woodlark and Lapland Bunting at the Bill, a Grey Phalarope settled in Chesil Cove early in the morning, a Kingfisher briefly at the Obs and a Lesser Whitethroat showing characteristics of one of the eastern forms trapped and ringed there and in the evening a Barn Owl seen near the windmills at Easton. Grounded migrants were not plentiful but did include several Black Redstarts and Firecrests at the Bill. Overhead passage was much more conspicuous and included plenty of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, and finches still on the move over the Bill along with 250 Wood Pigeons, 80 Jackdaws and 25 Reed Buntings also passing over there. Sea passage largely petered out, although up to 7 Little Gulls were still lingering in Chesil Cove and a Mediterranean Gull passed through off the Bill.

                                                 

       

  Arctic Tern - Portland Harbour, October 25th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 25th A peculiar selection of sightings today including some good island rarities. A Marsh Tit reported briefly at Culverwell was the highlight (there are only two previous Portland records) but a Little Auk at Chesil Cove and a Moorhen at Avalanche Road were also both quality local records. With grounded migrants still at a premium it was left to overhead passage and seawatching to provide interest. Finches were on the move most of the day, with sample counts of 735 Linnets and 353 Goldfinches flying south at the Bill in 90 minutes during the morning. There was precious little moving on the sea, with just 12 Little Gulls, a Great Skua, an Arctic Skua and an Arctic Tern passing the Bill, but storm-driven Little Gulls were again a feature, with up to 24 lingering in Chesil Cove; another Little Gull and several Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns were also lingering in Portland Harbour. The pick of the birds on the land were 5 Firecrests in the Obs garden and several sightings of Merlins at Chesil Cove and the Bill. October 24th What gradual improvement in the weather there was seemed to have come too late in the night to allow many migrants to get moving, and other than fair numbers of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the sheltered spots around the centre of the island there was not too much to see in the way of grounded birds; 7 Firecrests, a couple of Black Redstarts and a Merlin were the only scarcer species reported although a late Willow Warbler at Pennsylvania Castle was also noteworthy. With the wind having eased down most of yesterday's Little Gulls had made their way back out to sea with just 15 remaining in Portland Harbour/Chesil Cove early in the morning; 3 Sandwich Terns and a Mediterranean Gull also remained at Ferrybridge. Sea passage off the Bill was restricted to 10 Common Scoter, 4 Little Gulls, 2 Storm Petrels, a Manx Shearwater, a Little Egret and a Great Skua passing during the first couple of hours of the day. October 23rd Another very stormy and wet day. Most of what little movement there was on the sea occurred off the Bill where 6 Great and 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Storm Petrels, 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Little Gulls passed through and 15 Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver were settled offshore. Elsewhere there were counts of 45 and 21 storm-driven Little Gulls lingering in Portland Harbour and Chesil Cove respectively, whilst there were also several Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns lingering in Portland Harbour. The only birds of note on the land were a fly-over Lapland Bunting at Avalanche Road and 2 Firecrests, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart at the Bill.

                                                 

       

  Little Gull - Ferrybridge, October 22nd 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 22nd Seawatching was just about the only worthwhile birding on the island in continuing very windy weather. Watches from the Bill produced 18 Great, 8 Arctic and a Long-tailed Skua, 15 Little Gulls, 2 Manx Shearwaters and a Great Northern Diver; a brief look at Chesil Cove early in the morning provided another 4 Little Gulls and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere, 4 Common Terns, a Little Gull and a Mediterranean Gull were at Ferrybridge, 3 Firecrests, a Merlin and a Black Redstart remained at the Bill and 2 Firecrests were at Tilleycombe. October 21st A blasting westerly wind dominated proceedings today, making birding on the land very difficult but at the same time producing some interest on the sea. A few flocks of Linnets were still on the move overhead but on the ground it was very much quieter than during the last couple of days. The Pallas's Warbler was still at Avalanche Road early in the morning although it later flew off over some nearby houses and couldn't be relocated; a handful of Firecrests were also still around in the few sheltered spots in the south of the island. Wakeham provided the only quality new arrivals, with a Yellow-browed Warbler in trees opposite the Mermaid pub and a fly-over Woodlark at the same spot. Seawatching at the Bill produced 27 Little Gulls, 3 Great, 2 Arctic and a Long-tailed Skua, a Red-throated Diver, a Sooty Shearwater and a Red-breasted Merganser, whilst Chesil Cove provided 25 Little Gulls, an Arctic Tern and a Sandwich Tern.

                                                 

            

  Spotted Flycatcher - Portland Bill, October 20th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 20th Higher temperatures, overcast skies and another pulse of pre-dawn rain produced bags more common migrants but unfortunately the rarity that had looked so on the cards at dawn failed to materialize. Yesterday's Pallas's Warbler remained at Avalanche Road but nothing better than a couple of Dartford Warblers and a scatter of Black Redstarts, Ring Ouzels and Firecrests could be found amongst the new arrivals. Robins and thrushes dominated the tally of common migrants, with more than 150 Robins grounded at the Bill and overflying Redwings, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds each numbering in the hundreds. Among the variety of other common migrants there was again a good selection of late records, with 5 Whinchats, 4 Redstarts, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Reed Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher dotted around the south of the island. The sea again provided some interest, with 31 Little Gulls, 4 Great Skuas, 2 Teal and a Black-throated Diver passing through off the Bill. 

                                                 

        

             

  Pallas's Warbler - Avalanche Road, October 19th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 19th Promising-looking weather conditions, with heavy rain having arrived from the south late in the night, dropped a good selection of common migrants around the Bill area in particular, whilst late in the afternoon the first Pallas's Warbler of the autumn was found at the island hot-spot for the species at Avalanche Road, Southwell. Scarcer migrants were not numerous but did include 6 Firecrests at the Bill and another 2 or 3 at other sites, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart and an overflying Snow Bunting at the Bill and a Ring Ouzel and a Mistle Thrush at Weston. Robins were particularly conspicuous everywhere and numbered at least 75 at the Bill, whilst the good scatter of other common migrants included late records of 2 Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler at the Bill and a Yellow Wagtail and a Lesser Whitethroat at Weston. Once the rain had cleared through there was a good movement of birds on the sea, with 19 Little Gulls, 10 Great and 3 Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater and a late Fulmar passing through off the Bill. Elsewhere the wintering flock of Brent Geese at Ferrybridge increased to 480.  October 18th What breeze there was remained in the north-west and it was more of the same on the bird front. The best on offer at the Bill were 3 Ring Ouzels, 2 Firecrests, a Merlin, a late Whimbrel, a Black Redstart and a fly-over Lapland Bunting, whilst commoner migrants there included just small numbers of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests as well as an influx of new Blue and Great Tits. Elsewhere a Hobby was a good late record at Penn's Weare. Most of the routine passage was of migrants passing overhead, with a sample one hour count at the Bill producing totals of 419 Linnets, 86 Goldfinches, 85 Meadow Pipits, 77 alba wagtails, 48 Skylarks, 22 Chaffinches, 19 Swallows, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Siskins and a Redpoll. October 17th With there having been hardly any change in the weather there were no high expectations for the birding today. A Wryneck that showed up for a short while around the beach hut fields beside the Obs during the morning was the bird of the day and may have been the individual seen equally briefly there a couple of days ago. Otherwise the best of the scarcer migrants were a Ring Ouzel and a Brambling at Verne Common, 2 Black Redstarts, a Mistle Thrush and a Brambling at Weston, a late Lesser Whitethroat at Reap Lane and 3 Firecrests, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart and a Brambling at the Bill. Common migrants included small numbers of grounded Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests everywhere and a fair movement of a variety of wagtails, pipits and finches overhead. Three Brent Geese passing the Bill were the only worthwhile sightings on the sea.

                                                 

             

  Reed Bunting - Portland Bill, October 16th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 16th With one notable exception it was just typical October fare again today, with 5 Firecrests, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart and a Ring Ouzel the only particularly noteworthy grounded scarcer migrants at the Bill; the one unexpected highlight was a Surf Scoter that passed through off the Bill with a small flock of Common Scoter during the evening. Although it was pretty quiet on the ground there were still fair numbers of birds on the move overhead, with 445 Linnets, 157 alba wagtails, 143 Meadow Pipits, 70 Goldfinches, 54 Chaffinches, 31 Skylarks and 15 Reed Buntings over the Bill during a 75 minute sample count in the morning. October 15th The quietest day of the week so far in terms of both numbers and variety, with the stiff north-westerly wind living up to its reputation for being the least productive wind direction at Portland. Ring Ouzels were reduced to just 3 at East Weare and 1 at Avalanche Church, whilst Firecrests numbered 6 between Southwell and the Bill; 2 Black Redstarts were at Reap Lane and 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge, but the only other unusual sighting was of a Pheasant at Culverwell (news was also received of another individual seen earlier in the week at Easton). Fair numbers of birds were on the move overhead, with a sample hour-long count at the Bill providing totals including 305 Linnets, 120 Meadow Pipits, 113 Goldfinches, 99 alba wagtails and 59 Chaffinches, but on the ground there were only smallish numbers of thrushes, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests scattered around. Late common migrants included 2 Whinchats at Barleycrates Lane and a Willow Warbler at Pennsylvania Castle. The only noteworthy sea passage was of 15 Wigeon, a Great Northern Diver and a Brent Goose off the Bill.

                                                 

             

  Wryneck - Portland Bill, October 14th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 14th Breezy north-westerly conditions didn't look too promising at the start of the day but there were reasonable numbers of typical October common migrants on show and a few scarcities were found as the day went on. A late Wryneck was a surprise new arrival around the edges of the Obs garden at midday, although it seemed quite restless and wasn't thought to have lingered; at least 9 Ring Ouzels, 6 Firecrests and 3 Dartford Warblers were also still scattered around the island. The Pennsylvania Castle area was particularly busy with Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, as well as attracting 11 Siskins, whilst there were smaller numbers of the same species elsewhere. Meadow Pipits, alba wagtails, thrushes and finches trickled overhead all morning, with 12 Reed Buntings also passing through at the Bill.

                                                 

             

  Yellow-browed Warbler - Tilleycombe, October 13th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 13th A big clear-out of yesterday's birds unfortunately made for disappointing visits for the day-trippers who arrived hoping to dip in on some of the action. There had been some early promise in the form of a good arrival of new Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around the south of the island at dawn but these largely filtered away during an otherwise very wet morning and the best that was left for much of the afternoon were 9 or more Ring Ouzels and half a dozen Firecrests dotted about the island, a couple of Merlins, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart and a Mistle Thrush at the Bill and another Black Redstart at Reap Lane. The highlight of the day wasn't found until the end of the afternoon when the first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn showed up at Tilleycombe. The sea had also shown a little early promise in strong southerlies at dawn, with 6 Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua and a Balearic Shearwater passing through off the Bill but interest ground to a halt as the wind abated and veered into the north-west during the afternoon.

                                                 

    

       

  Snow Bunting, Bluethroat and Short-eared Owl - Portland Bill, October 12th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 12th Plenty to see today in drab, drizzly and unpleasantly cold northerlies that dropped a reasonable arrival of common migrants and a few scarcer highlights. The best of the scarcities were a Stone Curlew seen in flight a couple of times at the Bill and then later at Weston, a Snow Bunting that showed well near the Bill lighthouse, a very confiding Bluethroat found in the afternoon in the Bill Quarry, a brief reappearance of the Weston Rose-coloured Starling, perhaps as many as 6 Short-eared Owls at the Bill, a dozen or more Ring Ouzels scattered around the island, 3 Dartford Warblers at the Bill, regular sightings of single Merlins at the Bill and a scatter of Firecrests everywhere. Thrushes were again on the move in fair numbers and all the sheltered spots held good quantities of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests; late common migrants included several Redstarts and Whinchats, a Turtle Dove, a Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler scattered around the south of the island. October 11th Another day of promising-looking strong easterlies that for the umpteenth day failed to produce the expected rarity. There was again plenty of movement overhead, with Skylarks, alba wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Starlings and a variety of thrushes and finches dominating at the Bill. The best of the grounded birds were a total of 10 Ring Ouzels of which 8 were in the Priory Corner/Tout Quarry area, 5 Firecrests, 2 Dartford Warblers and a Short-eared Owl at the Bill and a Hobby and the first Black Redstart of the autumn at Weston. The sea continued to produced some limited wildfowl movement including 20 Wigeon and a Pintail passing the Bill, where 2 Storm Petrels and a Mediterranean Gull also passed by. Finally, some late news for yesterday from the Grove where a Rose-coloured Starling was seen amongst a pre-roost gathering of Starlings in the evening.

                                                 

    

  Arctic Skua - Portland Bill, October 10th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 10th The blasting east wind had hardly eased at all which again made for really difficult birding on the land. However the sea produced plenty of interest and the species list for the day as a whole was long and varied. In drizzly weather overnight thrushes had been on the move overhead in quantity and daybreak saw quite a few still passing through; 600 Starlings and 23 Lapwings were the pick of the other overhead passage at the Bill. Grounded migrants included small numbers of expected October common migrants, along with 4 Firecrests around Southwell, single Ring Ouzels at the Bill, Southwell Farm and Suckthumb Quarry and a Turtle Dove at the Bill. Seawatching at the Bill produced 91 Common Scoter, 34 Dunlin, 13 Brent Geese, 12 Arctic and 4 Great Skuas (including an Arctic Skua that settled for a while on the Bill Common and the Slopes), a Little Gull and a good variety of other wildfowl and waders. A flock of 15 Mute Swans was a good record at Chesil Cove, whilst Ferrybridge provided plenty of birds including a fly-over Osprey and a Little Stint. October 9th A strengthening east wind made the land all but unbirdable for much of the day and most attention was paid to the wealth of passage overhead and the trickle of birds passing on the sea. A two hour sample count on the West Cliffs early in the morning produced totals of 1620 House Martins, 560 Meadow Pipits, 453 Swallows, 230 alba wagtails, 125 Linnets, 33 Skylarks, 10 Song Thrushes, 6 Redwings, 5 Wheatears, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 1 Hobby, 1 Lapwing and 1 Mistle Thrush flying north, with more of the same on the move everywhere for much of the day; additional species overhead elsewhere included 75 Starlings, 50 Chaffinches and 2 Snipe at the Bill and single Fieldfares at the Bill and Tout Quarry. The only noteworthy sightings on the land were of a Ring Ouzel at Church Ope Cove and a Firecrest at Culverwell. The few birds passing through on the sea at the Bill included 38 Common Scoter, 13 Brent Geese, a Wigeon and single Arctic and Great Skuas. A single Little Stint was reported at Ferrybridge, where the long-staying Knot was still present.

                                                 

    

  Dartford Warbler - Portland Bill, October 8th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 8th Still no sign of a good autumn rarity but otherwise a pretty typical early October day. Oddities included 3 Dartford Warblers and a Woodcock at the Bill, single Ring Ouzels at the Bill, Southwell and Suckthumb Quarry and a Hobby at Southwell. Small numbers of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were present in all the suitable sites, although Meadow Pipit was by far the most conspicuous common migrant, with many hundreds grounded throughout the island. Other migrants included 16 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit at the Bill, 4 Redwings and 2 Whinchats at Barleycrates Lane and 3 Yellow Wagtails still at Weston. Overhead there were plenty of birds on the move all morning, with a two hour sample count at the Bill providing totals of 560 Meadow Pipits, 259 alba wagtails, 177 Linnets, 87 Chaffinches, 42 Greenfinches, 32 Swallows, 27 Skylarks, a Golden Plover, a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin.

                                                 

  

  Common Buzzard - Southwell, October 7th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 7th Good birds remained at a premium despite much improved weather conditions. A Dartford Warbler was certainly a new arrival at Cheyne Weare, two Common Buzzards over the Bill and Southwell appeared to be different individuals to those that had been present around the island earlier in the year and 10 Long-tailed Tits at Southwell had wandered well away from their usual haunts; however, many of the other grounded migrants - including a Ring Ouzel at Avalanche Road and a Firecrest at the Obs - seemed to be lingering on from previous days. The clear skies encouraged plenty of birds to get moving overhead, with a 75 minute count at the Bill early in the morning producing totals of 380 Linnets, 356 Meadow Pipits, 139 alba wagtails, 127 Goldfinches, 62 Chaffinches, 43 Swallows, 41 Skylarks, 12 Greenfinches, 2 Reed Buntings and a Grey Wagtail flying south; 4 Siskins, 2 Grey Herons, a Merlin and a Snipe also passed overhead there at other times. October 6th With an unpleasantly strong westerly wind making birding very difficult on the land overhead passage received plenty of attention during the morning. The highlight was a Lapland Bunting passing through at Cheyne Weare, whilst 90 minute sample counts of commoner migrants included 618 Linnets, 520 Meadow Pipits, 309 alba wagtails, 147 Goldfinches, 66 Swallows, 44 Skylarks, 11 Greenfinches, 7 Chaffinches, 6 Golden Plover and 2 Siskins south at the Bill, and 298 Meadow Pipits, 285 alba wagtails, 261 Linnets, 51 Goldfinches, 51 Swallows, 12 House Martins, a Golden Plover and a Grey Wagtail south at Cheyne Weare. Grounded Pied Wagtails remained very conspicuous and included a total of 270 on the school playing field beside Weston Road, but the only other noteworthy sightings on the land were of 3 Yellow Wagtails at Weston and a Merlin and a Firecrest at the Bill.

                                                 

        

  Rose-coloured Starling and Yellow Wagtail - Weston, October 5th 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 5th New arrivals were distinctly thin on the ground today, with grounded Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits the only migrants that were at all conspicuous. The Rose-coloured Starling at Weston was still present but only gave itself up twice - and then only briefly each time - all day, whilst late-ish common migrants included 5 Yellow Wagtails at Weston, a Tree Pipit at Suckthumb Quarry, a Willow Warbler at Perryfields, a Spotted Flycatcher at Fortuneswell and a Turtle Dove at the Bill. The sea couldn't chip in with anything better than 2 Common Scoter, a Balearic Shearwater and an Arctic Skua off the Bill.

                                                 

  

  Knot - Ferrybridge, October 4th 2004 © Vaughan Ashby Birdfinders

  October 4th The stormy and wet weather of the night continued for the first part of the morning when 14 Common Scoter, 7 Great and 2 Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Tern passed through off the Bill and 4 Great and an Arctic Skua passed Chesil Cove. However, the sea saved the best until later when, just as the weather improved late in the morning, a Slender-billed Gull appeared off the Bill and after several apparent attempts to fly west eventually settled and drifted away to the east; later searches for it drew a blank. Last week's Rose-coloured Starling was found again at Weston but it remained frustratingly elusive, and otherwise the best on offer on the land were small numbers of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests everywhere and 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Whinchat, a Garden Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher at Weston. Waders at Ferrybridge included the long-staying Knot. October 3rd With the promised wind and rain holding off until the afternoon there was plenty of time to discover that it was disappointingly quiet on the migrant front. Overhead there were again fair numbers of birds on the move, with a sample one hour count at the Bill providing totals of 435 Linnets, 290 Meadow Pipits, 82 alba wagtails and 65 Swallows leaving to the south early in the morning, but on the ground there was nothing better among the small numbers of expected migrants than a Redwing and a Firecrest at the Bill. The best the sea could offer was 26 Common Scoter, 7 Arctic and 1 Great Skua and a single Wigeon passing the Bill. Ferrybridge produced 135 Ringed Plover, 90 Dunlin, 2 Common Terns, a Merlin and a Knot.

                                                 

  

  

  Pin-tailed Whydah and Sabine's Gull - Southwell and Chesil Cove, October 2nd 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 2nd A wet and windy start to the day looked likely to provide some interest on the sea, but in the event the only birds of note passing through off the Bill were 15 Common Scoter, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua. Fortunately Chesil Cove again saved the day with a Sabine's Gull that appeared close inshore several times before flying off high to the east over Fortuneswell. The weather spoilt any serious attempts at birding on the land, although oddities found included a Hobby, a Knot and a Short-eared Owl at the Bill and a Pin-tailed Whydah visiting a garden bird-feeder at Southwell

                                                 

  

  Pied Wagtail - Southwell, October 1st 2004 © Martin Cade

  October 1st Plenty of typical early October birds today, with a reasonable scatter of grounded migrants and lots of visible passage. At the Bill the highlights were 2 Short-eared Owls, the first Redwing of the autumn and a Grasshopper Warbler, whilst elsewhere a Ring Ouzel was at Avalanche Road. Grounded Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were conspicuous everywhere, with suitable cover holding plenty of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests; there were also signs of the first decent numbers of migrant Stonechats, thrushes and Reed Buntings putting in an appearance. Very good numbers of birds were on the move overhead, with a 75 minute sample count at the Bill in the morning producing totals including 370 Meadow Pipits, 360 Linnets and 215 alba wagtails. Seawatching at the Bill produced 104 Common Scoter, 2 Arctic and a Great Skua, and single Wigeon and Teal.

September 2004

September 30th Whilst there was little sign of an upsurge in common migrant numbers, the appearance at Weston of a Rose-coloured Starling - albeit only briefly early in the morning - at least gave some hope that the recent barren spell for rarities might be coming to an end. Grounded migrants were at much the same level as recent days, and once the early drizzle and cloud had cleared there were again good numbers of birds passing overhead; the only scarcer migrants reported were one or more Ring Ouzels in the Church Ope Cove area. At sea there were encouraging signs of some decent down-Channel movement for the first time for several weeks, with 90 Common Scoter, 11 Great and 10 Arctic Skuas (as well as several more distant unidentified skuas) and a constant trickle of Kittiwakes passing the Bill through the day. September 29th Still not a lot to report despite promising-looking overcast skies and light showers around dawn. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were again the only migrants that were at all conspicuous on the ground, with a Firecrest at Barleycrates Lane and a Ring Ouzel at Avalanche Road the limit of the scarcer migrant interest. In spite of the heavy cloud cover there were plenty of migrants on the move overhead, with a 75 minute sample count at the Bill in the morning producing 520 Meadow Pipits, 275 Linnets, 250 Swallows, 173 alba wagtails, 40 Goldfinches, 12 Skylarks, 3 Grey Wagtails and 2 Yellow Wagtails leaving to the south. Sea interest was restricted to 46 Common Scoter passing the Bill. September 28th Interest dwindled still further today. Diurnal migrants were still on the move in small numbers, with a one hour count at the Bill in the morning producing totals of 275 Swallows, 240 Meadow Pipits, 215 Linnets, 139 alba wagtails, 48 Goldfinches, 9 Skylarks, 4 Grey Wagtails, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Chaffinch flying south, but once again virtually the only grounded birds were a sprinkle of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests everywhere; a single Ring Ouzel at Avalanche Road was the only scarcer migrant found. Seawatching at the Bill produced 13 Common Scoter, a Brent Goose and an Arctic Skua. September 27th A much more pleasant day than the weather forecast suggested but, Swallows aside, common migrants were still in short supply. An hour-long sample count of visible passage at the Bill early in the morning provided totals of 200 Linnets, 155 alba wagtails, 130 Meadow Pipits, 62 Goldfinches, 20 Skylarks, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Golden Plover on the move and as the day went on Swallows got going in quantity, with more than 3000 passing through at the Bill. Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were present in small numbers everywhere, but most other grounded migrants were reduced to just odd singles here and there. The sea produced 22 Common Scoter, a Great Skua and an Arctic Tern off the Bill, whilst waders at Ferrybridge included 93 Ringed Plover, 51 Dunlin and a Knot. September 26th Quite disappointing today with lower numbers of common migrants than in the last couple of days and nothing much in the way of oddities. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests again dominated on the land, with the Bill area not really producing anything much scarcer than the first 2 Siskins of the autumn and singles of Purple Sandpiper, Redstart, Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Seawatching there produced 45 Common Scoter, 2 Gadwall and single Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters. Elsewhere around the island there was a Merlin at Verne Common, a Knot at Ferrybridge and an Arctic Tern at Chesil Cove. September 25th A much better day than most this month although a good deal quieter than yesterday, with visible passage all but ceasing as cloud increased from the north and rain eventually set in. The Bill area held 60 Chiffchaffs, 50 Goldcrests, 15 Blackcaps and a sprinkle of other common migrants; scarcities there included a Hen Harrier in Top Fields, a Merlin, a Cuckoo and a fly-over Lapland Bunting. Southwell held comparable numbers of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, along with a Turtle Dove and a Ring Ouzel, whilst elsewhere there were single Ring Ouzels at East Weare and Cheyne Weare, and 2 Knot, a Merlin, a Curlew Sandpiper and the first 2 Brent Geese of the autumn at Ferrybridge. Sea passage picked up a little with 74 Common Scoter, 5 Golden Plovers, 4 Arctic and 2 Great Skuas, a Manx and a Balearic Shearwater, a Teal, an Eider, a Little Gull and a Puffin passing the Bill. September 24th After the recent prolonged lean spell normal service was well and truly resumed today with a good arrival of grounded common migrants and plenty of passage overhead. At the Bill counts of grounded migrants included 150 Chiffchaffs, 50 Goldcrests and 35 Blackcaps, with oddities there including a Merlin and a Firecrest. There were a lot more birds passing straight through, with a two and a half hour count on the West Cliffs producing totals including 3280 Meadow Pipits, 485 House Martins, 440 Swallows, 280 Linnets, 108 alba wagtails, 48 Skylarks, 6 Snipe and 2 Golden Plovers (all moving north into the brisk northerly wind); as the morning went on Meadow Pipits largely petered out but hirundines increased and continued moving until late in the day. There were plenty of birds scattered elsewhere around the island but the only oddities discovered were a Ring Ouzel at Easton and 4 Knot, a Little Stint and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge. In an offshore wind the sea was again quiet, with 25 Common Scoter and a lone Great Skua the best of the sightings off the Bill. September 23rd Still precious little to report although a gradual improvement in the weather through the day gave some promise that migrants might soon get moving again. Heavily overcast skies during the morning put a stop to the bulk of visible passage and it was left to the land to provide some interest in the form of a light scatter of grounded migrants. At the Bill new arrivals were distinctly limited, with most of the notable sightings being of birds that have lingered around for several days; the best were 2 Firecrests, a Merlin, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler. Elsewhere there was a distinct late autumn feel to the birding, with the still leafy sheltered spots around Easton and Wakeham beginning to attract small parties of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. The sea produced nothing more than a trickle of auks passing the Bill. September 22nd Very little change today with the stiff north-westerlies showing no sign of abating. Visible passage again dominated at the Bill, with another 75 minute sample count on the East Cliffs early in the morning producing totals of 455 Meadow Pipits, 145 Swallows, 152 Linnets, 44 alba wagtails, 28 Goldfinches, 12 Skylarks, 4 Grey Wagtails and 1 Yellow Wagtail. The total of just 2 birds - a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff - trapped and ringed at the Obs all day was an entirely accurate reflection of the lack of grounded migrants on the land (the ringing total for the month at the Obs stands at a woeful 178 so the lack of birds today was nothing new). The only faintly interesting new arrival elsewhere at the Bill was a Lesser Whitethroat (only the second individual recorded there this autumn) in the Obs Quarry. Seawatching at the Bill produced evidence of the customary gradual increase in auk numbers at this time of year, but otherwise the only movement past there was of 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Great Skua.

                                                 

  

  Firecrest - Portland Bill, September 21st 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 21st All the movement today was overhead, with a strong passage of visible migrants throughout the morning; a sample 75 minute count at the Bill soon after dawn produced totals of 555 Meadow Pipits, 423 Swallows, 183 Linnets, 45 alba wagtails, 36 Goldfinches, 16 Skylarks, 5 Grey Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Wheatears and a Dunlin. On the ground it remained very quiet, with nothing much more interesting at the Bill than a Garden Warbler and a Firecrest. With the wind having veered to the north-west the already quiet sea completely died a death, with 3 passing Sandwich Terns the only sightings of any note off the Bill. 

                                                 

          

      

  Grey Phalarope - Chesil Cove, September 20th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 20th Seawatching was once again the order of the day in really quite stormy conditions. Chesil Cove provided the highlight with a Grey Phalarope that lingered for most of the day but there was otherwise precious little on the move either there or at the Bill, with the latter producing just 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Sandwich Tern and single Manx and Sooty Shearwaters. The first Ring Ouzel of the autumn was reported at Pennsylvania Castle but the only other interest on the land concerned the surprisingly good numbers of hirundines that were passing through at the Bill.

                                                 

   

  Purple Sandpiper - Portland Bill, September 16th 2004 © Peter Basterfield

  September 19th Lots more weekend birders scouring the island today but extremely little to show for all the effort. With a stiff breeze blowing and clear skies overhead there were fair numbers of hirundines, Meadow Pipits and Grey Wagtails on the move overhead but grounded migrants were at a premium; the best the Bill area could muster were 3 Reed Warblers, a Merlin, a Purple Sandpiper, a Tree Pipit, a Whinchat, a Goldcrest and a Firecrest. Yesterday's flurry of interest on the sea proved to be very short-lived, with not a single seabird worth recording logged today.

                                                 

             

  more birders than birds - Portland Bill, September 18th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 18th Another seawatching day, with the influx of weekend birders ensuring that the Bill in particular was extremely well covered. Ironically, the pick of the sightings came from the lone observer working Chesil Cove who was rewarded with a Sabine's Gull that flew south early in the morning. Off the Bill the presence for the first time for several weeks of a decent-sized fishing flock of Gannets and gulls certainly served to lure in the few passing seabirds, with totals during the morning there of at least 7 Common Scoter, 6 Manx, 6 Balearic and 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 7 commic, 6 Sandwich and an Arctic Tern, 4 Arctic Skuas and a handful of Kittiwakes and auks. The only reports from the land were of a Blackcap, a Firecrest and a Chaffinch at the Bill and 10 Sandwich Terns, 2 Knot, a Merlin, a Sanderling and a Curlew Sandpiper at Ferrybridge.

                                                 

        

  Sooty Shearwater - Portland Bill, September 17th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 17th Strong onshore winds, frequent heavy showers and constant reduced visibility provided seemingly perfect seawatching conditions today. In the event the dismal numbers of even the commonest species passing the Bill - where day-totals included 12 Common Scoter, 8 Manx and 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Razorbills, 2 Kittiwakes, 2 Guillemots and 1 commic tern - provided ample evidence of the continuing lack of down-Channel movement at the moment. The only report from the land was of a Firecrest still in the Obs garden.

                                                 

   

  Meadow Pipit - Portland Bill, September 16th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 16th Passage doesn't seem to be getting beyond a 'just ticking over' level at the moment, with decent-looking conditions today not really producing much on the move overhead, grounded on the land or passing on the sea. Yet another large raptor - this time an Osprey over Ferrybridge during the morning - provided the only rarity interest, an early pulse of hirundines, wagtails and pipits overhead had largely fizzled out by mid-morning and searches of the Bill area revealed a Merlin and a Firecrest but nothing in the way of commoner migrants grounded in any numbers. Seawatchers at the Bill logged just 29 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Terns, a Red-throated Diver and a Sooty Shearwater. September 15th Raptors have been well represented lately and today produced another Honey Buzzard to add to the tally; this individual arrived from the east over Southwell during the morning, from where it quickly left to the north up the West Cliffs. Much fairer weather saw common migrants get moving again in some quantity, with hirundines, wagtails and Meadow Pipits conspicuous overhead throughout the morning. The sprinkle of birds grounded in the Bill area included 70 Wheatears, 30 Chiffchaffs and 25 White Wagtails, but the only scarcer migrant discovered was a single Grasshopper Warbler trapped at the Obs. The first passing Red-throated Diver of the autumn was the only sighting of note on the sea at the Bill. September 14th Another day of strong westerly winds and occasional heavy showers. An Osprey passed overhead at Chesil Cove early in the afternoon, but otherwise birding on the land was hard work and very unrewarding with the Bill area producing just 15 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Turnstones, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Merlin, a Sedge Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher. The sea remained as quiet as in recent days, with 2 Common Scoter, a Manx Shearwater, a Storm Petrel and a Great Skua the only worthwhile sightings at the Bill. September 13th No change in the weather and no change in the pretty dire migrant situation. A couple of Pied Flycatchers and a Firecrest lingered on at the Bill where a trickle of hirundines passing through were just about the only evidence of fresh movement. Seawatching at the Bill came up with nothing more than 10 Common Scoter and a Great Skua, whilst waders at Ferrybridge included a Knot and a Curlew Sandpiper. September 12th Increasingly unsettled conditions have seen passage on the land all but grind to a halt, with a single Grasshopper Warbler the only new arrival trapped and ringed at the Obs. Long-stayers still around included a couple of Pied Flycatchers and a Firecrest in the Bill area, where there were otherwise just ones and twos of a handful of other common migrants. The evidence of recent days would suggest that there are currently precious few seabirds in the English Channel: promising-looking conditions and plenty of watching today saw a grand total of just 2 Common Scoter, 2 Guillemots and single Manx and Balearic Shearwaters logged at the Bill. September 11th Lean times on the island at the moment, with nothing in numbers on land or sea. An Osprey left to the south from the Bill during the morning and a Pied Flycatcher and a Firecrest were the pick of the few grounded migrants there. With the wind gusting up to gale force there was some expectation that interest would increase on the sea, but in the event the only movement was of 6 Great Skuas off the Bill. September 10th The much-anticipated change in the weather duly arrived but the thundery showers that passed through before dawn dropped nothing much more than a minor flurry of new common migrants. A crack-of-dawn Ortolan Bunting at Barleycrates Lane was the only rarity found, whilst common migrant totals from the Bill area included 200 Wheatears, 50 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Willow Warblers, 20 Chiffchaffs, 14 Whinchats, 10 Grey Wagtails, 7 Pied Flycatchers, 6 Blackcaps, 5 Tree Pipits, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Sedge Warblers and 2 Firecrests. Ferrybridge was again worth attention, producing counts of 370 Dunlin, 9 Little Egrets, a Shoveler and a Curlew Sandpiper, but despite the freshening wind seawatching at the Bill was all but a dead-loss with only 9 Common Scoter, 2 Teal, a Sooty Shearwater, a Mallard and an Arctic Skua reported.

                                                 

  

     

  Red-necked Grebe and Marsh Harrier - Portland Bill, September 9th 2004 © Graham Raine (top) and Martin Cade (bottom two)

  September 9th A Red-necked Grebe that showed up close inshore off Pulpit Rock at the Bill in the evening was an unexpected bird of the day. Earlier, Marsh Harriers again figured, with one over the Bill early in the morning and another two flying south down the island at midday, whilst an Osprey flew over Ferrybridge during the afternoon. Wheatears continued to dominate on the ground, with more than 200 in the Bill area alone. A Merlin, a Firecrest and a Pied Flycatcher were among the handful of other migrants at the Bill, where 3 Shelduck and a Great Skua passed through on the sea.

                                                 

     

  Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler - Portland Bill, September 8th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 8th For the most part another remarkably quiet day with the brisk easterly wind failing to produce anything in the way of scarcer migrants. A significant increase in wader numbers at Ferrybridge included counts of 400 Dunlin, 300 Ringed Plover, 6 Knot and a Curlew Sandpiper (along with the unexpected sight of a Shoveler settled on the shore), but the only birds grounded in any quantity elsewhere were Wheatears - sample counts of which included 172 at the Bill. The very low numbers of other migrants at the Bill included 21 Golden Plovers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Hobby, a Redshank, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Firecrest. Seawatching at the Bill came up with 4 Great and an Arctic Skua but little else of interest.

                                                 

      

  Marsh Harrier - Portland Bill, September 7th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 7th Marsh Harrier seems to be bird of the moment at the Bill, where 3 more passed through during the course of the morning. It otherwise remained surprisingly quiet everywhere with nothing other than hirundines moving overhead in any quantity and only Wheatears grounded in anything more than single figure totals; oddities around the Bill area included a couple of Grey Herons and a Hobby passing overhead. Ferrybridge provided a Merlin, a Grey Plover, a Knot and a Mediterranean Gull, whilst 4 Great Skuas and a Pintail were the pick of sea passage off the Bill.

                                                 

           

  Marsh Harrier - Portland Bill, September 6th 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 6th The weather might still be scorching but the birding is struggling to be anything more than tepid. A fly-over Marsh Harrier at the Bill early in the afternoon was bird of the day but otherwise there was again nothing better on offer amongst the light sprinkle of common migrants there than 2 Snipe, a Whimbrel and a Turtle Dove. Five Great Skuas, a Balearic Shearwater and a Mediterranean Gull passed through on the sea at the Bill. Yesterday's report of falling wader numbers at Ferrybridge proved to be unduly pessimistic as there were counts there today of 167 Dunlin, 157 Ringed Plovers, a Knot and the first Curlew Sandpiper of the autumn. September 5th Summer has well and truly returned with the recent spell of sunny days and increasingly high temperatures continuing. With an easterly breeze having sprung up overnight there were high hopes of a few rarities putting in an appearance but in the event the only sighting of note was of an Osprey flying south over Weston during the evening. Hirundines and Yellow Wagtails were on the move overhead in good numbers early in the morning but grounded migrants were few and far between, with the best being 3 Snipe, 2 Turtle Doves and a Whimbrel at the Bill, a Hobby over Southwell and another Turtle Dove at Reap Lane. Seawatching at the Bill produced 26 Mallard, 12 Common Scoter and 3 Balearic Shearwaters. Wader numbers seem to be dropping off at Ferrybridge where 3 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit were the only variety amongst small numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.

                                                 

         

  White Wagtail - Portland Bill, September 3rd 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 4th A rather mobile Ortolan Bunting that appeared several times between the Coastguard Cottages and Culverwell during the morning had seemed likely to be bird of day today until the evening produced a sighting of a real island rarity in the form of a Goshawk that flew west over Top Fields at the Bill. Common migrants were still in short supply everywhere, with hirundines and flava and alba wagtails the only birds that were at all numerous; scarcer species included a Merlin, a Turtle Dove and a Pied Flycatcher at the Bill. The sea was just as quiet, with 16 Common Scoter and a Great Skua the only birds of note off the Bill.

                                                 

         

  Red-backed Shrike - Avalanche Road, September 3rd 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 3rd Still no great numbers of common migrants but scarcer species continue to arrive. The Tawny Pipit at Southwell had moved on but nearby a Red-backed Shrike was a new arrival at Avalanche Road; elsewhere an Ortolan Bunting was seen near the Windmill Stables at Easton, a Marsh Harrier flew south over Reap Lane and a Short-eared Owl at Southwell and a Firecrest at Weston were both first records for the autumn. Most of the expected commoner migrants could be found with some perseverance, although the only worthwhile counts were of 50 Wheatears, 40 Yellow Wagtails, 15 White Wagtails, 15 Whinchats and 10 Tree Pipits at the Bill. The sea provided nothing more noteworthy than 2 Great Skuas passing the Bill.

                                                 

         

  Tawny Pipit - Southwell, September 2nd 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 2nd More very fine weather and a few more good birds today, with the Tawny Pipit remaining at Southwell, an Ortolan Bunting passing over Top Fields at the Bill and a Hen Harrier flying north from the Bill to Portland Harbour. Commoner migrants - with the conspicuous exception of hirundines - were again only thinly spread, with 3 Pied Flycatchers, a Little Egret, a Knot, a Redshank and a Golden Plover about the best the Bill area could offer. A single Great Skua was the only bird of note on the sea at the Bill.

                                                 

        

  Tawny Pipit and Honey Buzzard - Southwell and Portland Bill, September 1st 2004 © Martin Cade

  September 1st With the light breeze having swung into the south-east overnight there was certainly the promise of scarcer migrants in the air today.  Fortunately it didn't take long for the promise to be realized with a Tawny Pipit being found early in the morning in fields beside the Eight Kings Quarry at Southwell; the bird remained there on and off throughout the day, whilst mid-afternoon saw a Honey Buzzard arrive from the north over Fortuneswell and eventually leave to the south-east high over the Obs. Commoner migrants were surprisingly thin on the ground, but did include plenty of hirundines, a Merlin and a Greenshank overhead and more than 80 Yellow Wagtails and 5 Pied Flycatchers in the Bill area. The sea produced 31 Common Scoter, 2 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua passing the Bill.