18th July: Little bit of migrant interest at the Bill incl 26 Sand Martin, 10 WW, 5 Sedge W, 4 Yellow Wag & a Cuckoo; 150 Med Gulls, 44 Sandwich Terns & 2 Balearics on the sea. Waders at Ferrybridge incl 36 Dunlin, 9 Sanderling, 8 Redshank, 2 Knot & Whimbrel.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 19, 2026 at 12:14 AM
18th July
17th July
17th July: A few migrants on a calm and at times very warm day at the Bill, with 3 Sedge W, 2 Yellow Wags, a Grasshopper W & a WW grounded + 65 Sand Martins & an LRP overhead. Just 4 Balearic Shearwaters on the sea, with 75 Med Gulls, 25 Cormorants west, 2 Sanderling & 2 YLGulls the best on the sea.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Their passage is already well underway at the 'better habitat' South Coast watchpoints but our first Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn just now from the mist-nets in the decidedly less optimal Crown Estate Field
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 8:11 AM
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Willow Warbler's another bird that in comparison with points not too far away has been a tad slow to make it to this part of the South Coast - this is our first autumn youngster today from the CEF mist-nets. A final far from special migrant tally from the nets of 3 Sedge W, 1 Grasshopper W & 1 WW.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 2:27 PM
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Ferrybridge this morning Knot, Whimbrel, Sanderling, 3 Turnstone
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Our 1st summer/autumn Knot at Ferrybridge this morning
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 17, 2026 at 3:21 PM
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16th July
A reminder for Obs members of this year's AGM that'll be held at the Obs at 4:30pm this Saturday - 18th July - BBQ and other refreshments to follow the meeting.
A far less windy dawn allowed for better coverage of the land that revealed far less than might have been hoped and certainly far less than is already on the move through nearby hot-spots. A single Sedge Warbler was the leanest of rewards on the ground at the Bill, where 100 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails and singles of Grey Heron and Little Egret headed through overhead; 3 Sanderlings were the best of the waders at Ferrybridge. Some better variety out to sea there included amongst others 60 Mediterranean Gulls, 52 Sandwich Terns, 15 Balearic Shearwaters, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Shelducks, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Ringed Plovers, 3 Arctic Skuas and a frustratingly too distant 20 or more small waders that defied identification.
Dark Crimson Underwing was a new moth for me this morning, courtesy of the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social traps. A richly coloured & much-wanted species, completing my haul of the resident UK Catocala species #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
— Phil Saunders (@beardybirder.bsky.social) July 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM
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15th July
With the stiff northeasterly of dawn abating quicker than in recent days there was at least a little attention paid to the land, with singles of Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Sedge Warbler coming out of the woodwork at the Bill where another trickle of Swifts and Sand Martins passed through overhead. The sea was conspicuously quiet for long periods, with little more 3 each of Balearic Shearwater, Arctic Skua and Yellow-legged Gull to show at the Bill.
Another good moth catch at the Obs last night: a Many-lined the best migrant, with Silver-spotted Veneer a decent back-up; lots of dispersers/recent colonists incl 14 Rusty Acorn Piercer amplana...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM
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Puzzled enough by this early and not-quite-right 'Rhomboid Tortrix' to keep it and check it out and looks like a good candidate for Fen Tortrix A shepherdana - is that right anyone who knows it? If it is one, certainly new for Portland and seemingly pretty rare anywhere in these parts
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM
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The new for Portland moths keep coming: we're guessing this is a rather plain/dark form of Bog Snout Spaganothis pilleriana that @dunccrip.bsky.social has just brought us - caught last night in his garden at Weston. A heathland/east Dorset species in these parts.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 2:37 PM
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...also, it's an excellent year for Four Spotted, one of the local specials here, 50 from the Obs traps this morning is likely the highest ever single night total
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 15, 2026 at 12:21 PM
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14th July
The fact that howling winds have scuppered any chance of getting amongst passerine migrants on each of the last few mornings has been made all the more frustrating by the gradual calming through each afternoon and evening. This morning's passerine rewards at the Bill consisted of just a lone Yellow Wagtail and a handful of overhead Sand Martins. Waders were a little better, with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Sanderling and a Whimbrel overhead/passing at the Bill and the long-staying Little Ringed Plover still at Ferrybridge. Now routine fare on the sea included 50 Mediterranean Gulls, 20 Sandwich Terns and 16 Balearic Shearwaters, with at least 5 Yellow-legged Gulls alternating between feeding offshore and loafing in the fields. Additional randoms included a Mute Swan over Ferrybridge and a Grey Heron over the Bill.
This morning's Mute Swan over Ferrybridge © Debby Saunders:
A few from Ferrybridge the past few days
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 14, 2026 at 5:31 PM
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Dark Crimson Underwing, new for the garden
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 14, 2026 at 2:55 PM
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13th July
With the northeasterly gusting up around gale force at dawn passerine migrant seeking/trapping was all but out of the question and a trickle of passing Sand Martins was all that could be mustered through the day in this line. The sea or the gathering of gulls provided most of the day's interest at the Bill, with a few lingering Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas and a Tufted Duck the best offshore and perhaps as many as 6 Yellow-legged Gulls kicking about either offshore or loafing in the fields. Waders continued to provide interest, with 52 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Sanderling amongst the offerings at Ferrybridge.
When they're not feeding offshore, there's now a pretty decent flock of loafing gulls gathering below Culverwell:
Yellow-legged Gulls are beginning to build up and today included a sub-adult amongst the customary juveniles - we don't very often see any other age classes accompanying the youngsters northwards at this time of year:
There was also the unusual sight of a flock of Mediterranean Gulls dropping in - albeit very briefly - before they migrated off into the distance; Med Gulls can be pretty abundant at times offshore but they're a really rare sight actually settled in the fields © Martin Cade:
Always nice to see fresh juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls - one of four noted at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social yesterday. Beautiful evening light #ukbirding
— Thomas Miller (@tmbirding.bsky.social) July 13, 2026 at 5:46 PM
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With it very windy overnight moth numbers/variety were well down on recent nights but singles of Dark Crimson Underwing and Rusty Acorn Piercer amplana - both first for the year - were catches of interest at the Obs.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 13, 2026 at 1:48 PM
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Many's the time we've been far more gripped by a snatched photo or video of questionable quality than we have by the pin-sharp, cropped to death and manipulated into another dimension offerings of the camo-clad brigade and a case in point was Lauren Fairfax's little digiscoped phone video clip of a Sunfish just off the Bill tip this morning! © Lauren Fairfax:
12th July
With the wind having strengthened several more notches birding on the land became hard and unproductive work today, with only a distinct uptick in waders at Ferrybridge to show for the efforts; totals there included 48 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and singles of Redshank, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper, with the 5 Redshank also showing up at West Weare and an additional Whimbrel was logged at the Bill. Passerine passage was limited to passing Sand Martins, that included 60 through at Ferrybridge. Yellow-legged Gull passage gathered momentum, with up to 4 settled at the Bill and some of the same or others seen over the sea there. Also at sea, the Balearic Shearwater total got to around 20 and an Arctic Skua was amongst the other loggings.
Another Whimbrel dropped in at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders:
11th July
Scorchingly hot again today with the cloudless sky not looking at all likely to have dropped new grounded arrivals. The Serin was still about from time to time at the Obs but in the absence of passerine newcomers it was left to a selection of waders to provide grounded interest, with amongst others 11 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 2 Turnstones and a Whimbrel joining the long-staying Little Ringed Plover at Ferrybridge. It was busier overhead, with the 96 Sand Martins logged over the Bill through the morning looking to be just part of a heavier passage of both them and Swifts, with additional signs of the first few Swallow getting moving. Big increases in Mediterranean and Lesser Black-backed Gulls off the Bill - at least 160 and 40 respectively headed west - were a feature on the sea, with a slightly tardy first 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls of the summer also logged; 20 Balearic Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua were among the other sea totals.
This morning's three Redshanks at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:
The Ferrybridge Little Ringed Plover is a leggy, characterful little bird that's been entertaining for more than a week now © Martin Cade:
Moth numbers and variety noticeably down on an increasingly breezy night at the Obs; however, a LepiLED session by Thomas Miller in the nearby Crown Estate Field turned up a first for Portland in the form of a Reed Veneer Chilo phragmitella
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 11, 2026 at 11:36 AM
10th July
The fierce heat continued, being only slightly tempered by an easterly breeze that freshened a little through the day. Routine fare at sea included 150 Manx and 19 Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill, where 29 Common Scoter and 15 Sandwich Terns were the best of the movers. On the land, the Serin lingered on in the vicinity of the Obs but migrant interest was mainly overhead, with 86 Sand Martins, 23 Swifts and singles of Curlew and Whimbrel through. The Little Ringed Plover remained at Ferrybridge, with the first 2 returning Turnstones, 2 Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper among the few other waders present.
We could hardly believe our eyes when on investigating what colour-ring project this juvenile Ringed Plover photographed by Pete Saunders at Ferrybridge this morning came from it looked nailed-on that it hailed from the Netherlands. A juvenile Ringed Plover coming that far before the middle of July seemed so unlikely that we assumed we must be making a mistake. However, thanks to Sander Lilipaly's quick response to our enquiry, we soon discovered it really had already made that journey as it had been ringed as a fledgling on a beach near Ritthem, The Netherlands, on 2nd June; amazingly, one of its siblings from the same nest was still present today with its parents at the breeding site - what's the mechanism that prompts one youngster to up and leave on a pretty monumental journey (Sander doesn't think there have been any previous foreign recoveries of juvenile birds from his project in the first half of July) whilst its brother/sister is still sitting it out at the natal site? What a fantastic record and huge thanks to Pete for spotting the bird and getting a readable photo of the ring and to Sander for ringing it in the first place and for letting us know the ringing details! © Pete Saunders:
...and for added interest, here's the bird on the day it was ringed © Sander Lilipaly:
To put further context on how unexpected this record is, John Dadds has sent us through a photo he'd taken only yesterday morning of two recently fledged Ringed Plover chicks on Chesil - these have got ages to go before they're going to be in any fit state to undertake a movement like the Dutch bird has already made © John Dadds:
How loud is this Curlew passing more or less right overhead at the Obs this morning? - and if you listen carefully, in the background there's the bonus of the first calls of the day of the Serin:
More rammed-full moth-traps at the Obs last night: ongoing influx of Willow Ermines accounting for 536 of the night's total; migrants incl 118 Small Mottled Willow, 10 Small Marbled & first Beautiful Twitcher micalis of the yr; dispersers incl 2nds of Scarce Spindle Ermine & LS Pinion this week
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 10, 2026 at 3:06 PM
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1. Recently back from ten wonderful days surveying the Isle of Portland, Dorset. Quarries, cliffs, grasslands and the odd bit of woodland and wetland. Finding flowery areas was the key to finding exciting insects. pic.twitter.com/JWrKnFEmOu
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
2. Nice bees seen/photographed included Carrot Mining Bee Andrena nitidiuscula, Bare-saddled Colletes Colletes similis, Coast Leafcutter Bee Megachile maritima and its cuckoo, the Large Sharp-tail Bee Coelioxys conoidea. The modern bee list must be well over 100 species now. pic.twitter.com/Cf07nMcnBf
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
3. A stonewort-rich pool in Yeolands Quarry had lots of dragonfly activity including Red-veined Darter, Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor. pic.twitter.com/zqmDAzyHag
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
4. The number of scarce and unusual flies in that quarry was overwhelming, especially on Wild Carrot: Large Marsh Horsefly Tabanus autumnalis, the striking 'fleshfly' Macronychia dolini (a cleptoparasite of Ectemnius wasps), and the hoverfly Scaeva selenitica on one patch alone. pic.twitter.com/uM9E8UaT7q
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
5. I made two visits to Chesil Beach to check the vegetated shingle and saltmarsh. The scarce Shingle Yellow-face Bee Hylaeus annularis was abundant on Carrot and Biting Stonecrop. Saltmarsh flies included the tiny Xanthocanace ranula and long-legged fly Hydrophorus oceanus. pic.twitter.com/lH7l0BO0hR
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
6. Beetles seen included the rare chafer Amphimallon falleni, the Tawny Longhorn Paracorymbia fulva and Bloody-nosed beetle Timarcha tenebricosa, clambering over Madder (that's like Strawberries and cream). I also saw my first adult Southern Green Shieldbug Nezara viridula. pic.twitter.com/eRv6zi6kSA
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
7. I've never seen such an abundance of broomrapes before. On Portland they were mainly Ivy Broomrape but Carrot Broomrape occurs along Chesil Beach. The rare & protected Portland Sea-lavender (endemic to Portland) grows on cliff ledges, usually alongside Golden Samphire. pic.twitter.com/ZcBWlqgs7d
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
8. The Bird Observatory garden never fails to deliver: the hoverfly Lapposyrphus lapponicus (25 yrs since I last saw one), the scarce Chrysotoxum elegans (common as usual), also the rare parasite fly Townsendiellomyia nidicola (attacks Brown-tail Moth which I hate). pic.twitter.com/TOhAvsriJO
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
9. Can't wait to get back there again. pic.twitter.com/njM2JYisQx
— Steven Falk (@StevenFalk1) July 8, 2026
9th July
9th July: Despite heat-restricted coverage there was increased variety at the Bill today, with 34 Sand Martins, 2 LRP (1 by day & 1 via nocmig), 2 Com Sands & singles of Grey Heron, Grey Wag, Sedge W & Serin on the land; sea quiet with shearwaters virtually absent. LRP & Whimbrel at Ferrybridge.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 11:15 PM
The Serin's just pitched in a tree-top at the Obs
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 8:51 AM
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First departing juvenile Sedge W of the autumn from the Crown Estate Field nets just now; male Serin's again put in a couple of appearances at the Obs this mrng
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 8:25 AM
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With the Ferrybridge sandflats hosting the usual hot weather miscellany of dog-walkers, watersport afficionados and other customary oddballs the waders don't get much of a look in other than very early or very late - this Whimbrel was there early doors © Pete Saunders:
A Many-lined the pick of a bumper catch in the Obs gdn moth-traps last night; big influx of 550 Willow Ermines; 161 Small Mottled Willows, 3 vitrealis, 2 Small Marbled & a Vestal among the migrants; lots of nice dispersers with Lesser Cream Wave & Lesser Spotted Pinion about the best for here.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 12:18 PM
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Grass Emerald, not a rare moth but new for Sea Mist. No. 382 macro moth for the garden
— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM
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8th July
8th July: Two surprises out of the heat today, with an early doors Serin at the Obs and the serendipitous flushing of a Quail on East Cliffs at the Bill. Double figures of Balearics remained offshore, an Arctic Skua passed by and a Yellow Wagtail and more Sand Martins were overhead.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
The nocmig recorder was still running when the Serin did an early morning fly past of the Obs patio - nearly but not quite drowned out by the cacophony of Goldfinches and Wood Pigeons:
Another evening, another local micro. @jameshammond.bsky.social's sighting of a few at the weekend reminded us we hadn't seen Coast Groundling Caryocolum vicinella this century so we checked out the Sea Campion and adjacent shingle on Chesil at Ferrybridge for them at dusk...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 11:21 PM
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...we remember them being pretty numerous there back in the 1990s and they still were this evening, with a lot of them happily settled right out on the bare shingle that was no doubt still comfortingly warm after all of today's hot sunshine.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 11:26 PM
7th July
7th July: Beginning to get pretty hot again which curtailed fieldwork. A raft of 18 Balearic Shearwaters becalmed off the Bill at dawn likely accounted for the majority of their later reports, with 12 Common Scoters the only movers of note on the sea. Overhead, 26 more Sand Martins departed south.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Last couple of night's mothing at the Obs have been good for variety although not particularly busy on the migrant front. Small Mottled Willow back up to nearly 200 last night, also Blair's Mocha a first for the yr; less than annual waifs and strays incl things like Gold W, Mocha & Bulrush Wainscot
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 4:15 PM
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Another evening dusking for the super-rare tineid Little Ghost borreonella - this time on the screes above Chesil Cove where it's never been recorded before - was successful with 3 netted and sev others seen. Likely been here since time out of mind without ever before being seen by human eyes!
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 12:58 AM
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Never a dull trip to Portland! This Ischnoscia borreonella was definitely the stand-out moth of the weekend, a real surprise to @josscarr.bsky.social @hwitts.bsky.social and I as we failed to find Eudarcia richardsoni
— James Hammond (@jamesehammond.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM
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In classic Portland fashion there was interesting stuff everywhere we went, like these Small marbled / Eublemma parva larvae and adults, feeding on Golden samphire / Limbarda crithmoides along the rocky shore
— James Hammond (@jamesehammond.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM
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A particularly interesting sighting was half a dozen Caryocolum vicinella on Chesil beach. I never see any Caryocolum in numbers, so seeing so many is a real event. Most were resting on the shingle after dark, or even roosting within the rocks, with us disturbing them as we dug pitfall traps
— James Hammond (@jamesehammond.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM
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Another springtail to find this summer! ☀️ Fab photo from @josscarr.bsky.social of Fasciosminthurus quinquefasciatus from Dorset yesterday. The 1st UK record outside Cornwall, where it was found new to Britain 2 yrs ago! www.researchgate.net/publication/... Can we track its expansion further?
— James McCulloch (@jamesimcc.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM
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6th July
6th July: Samey conditions and samey birds today, with the only new migrants at the Bill being 46 Sand Martins leaving to the south & 16 Common Scoter through on the sea; a few Balearic Shearwaters were offshore with the gull flocks but for the most part they were settled and tricky to count
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 10:56 PM
A fair-sized whale lingering in view - tail flukes seen several times - for 5 minutes c2 miles west of the Coastwatch lookout at the Bill at 8.45 this evening per Dave Parker. Just having a look for it now at last light but nothing immediately visible.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 9:33 PM
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Fun last couple of evenings on the Penn's Weare screes, initially with James Hammond and others from the @britentsoc.bsky.social group ostensibly seeking Richardson's Case-bearer at its classic location. No joy with richardsoni but a tineid potted by James turned out to be Ischnoscia borreonella...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM
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...aka Little Ghost - great vernacular Messrs Parson & Sterling! - perhaps the first time it's been seen at this site for more than 100 yrs. Returned last evening and on an adjacent scree potted three more and saw sev others flying - seems as though it's far easier here than at the only currently...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM
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...known site at Sheat Quarry, Southwell. As usual, plenty of other bonus local specials incl sev Beech-green Carpets (think that Portland's still its only site in Dorset) & lots of Portland Ribbon Waves
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 4:10 PM
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5th July
5th July: A few arrivals on the land today incl a GSWoodpecker at the Bill, 9 Swifts & 2 Sand Martins leaving overhead & 11 Dunlin & 10 Ringed Plovers joining the lingering LRP at Ferrybridge. Still c40 Balearic Shearwaters off the Bill, an inc to c300 Manx + 28 Com Scoter & 18 Sandwich Terns thru
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 12:41 AM
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Feel for moth dispersal/migration getting a bit of momentum last night incl a big arrival of Garden Grass-moth culmella and Marbled Piercer splendana at the Obs; Small Mottled Willows up to 70, with 4 Small Marbled & singles of Vestal & Bordered Straw amongst the scarces there...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 1:05 AM
...best rarity of the night a Scarce Spindle Ermine irrorella at LepiLED on the Penn's Weare screes whilst targeting local micros - only the fourth for Portland after the first three last year
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM
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Big thanks to Gavin Broad and Mike Wilson for organising such a successful @britentsoc.bsky.social weekend at the Obs - so many really exciting discoveries to report in due course!
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 5, 2026 at 6:41 PM
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4th July
5th July: Balearics dominated the returns on the shearwater front, with at least 62 logged at the Bill, where Med Gulls were still on the up & 13 Com Scoter & singles of Great & Arctic Skua passed thru. Quiet on the land, with a Dunlin at the Bill, an LRP at Ferrybridge & a few more departing Swifts
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 5, 2026 at 12:59 AM
3rd July
A diary date for Obs members: it's only a fortnight until this year's AGM that'll be held at the Obs at 4:30pm on Saturday 18th July - if the mental stimulation of the meeting isn't enough for you then we will have very good refreshments on offer afterwards! drive.google.com/file/d/1437W...
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 3, 2026 at 4:20 PM
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3rd July: More in the way of numbers at the Bill today, with 2 Common Sands & a Greenshank on/over on the land & 200 Manx, 46 Balearics, 36 Med Gulls, 23 Sandwich Terns, 13 Com Scoter & 2 Arctic Skuas thru on the sea. Also an LRP at Ferrybridge & a Com Scoter in Portland Hbr.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 3, 2026 at 11:34 PM
A bit like last year, we're struggling to get amongst the Storm Petrels at the moment: another luring attempt at the Bill tip last night saw a few attracted - up to 3 at a time after midnight - but only a single trapped. It got better later in the summer last year so still hopeful for better rewards
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM
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2nd July
2nd July: A little bit busier at the Bill today, particularly offshore where the Manx & Balearic Shearwaters totals were back up to c500 & c25 respectively; 17 Common Scoter & 2 Curlews also thru on the sea. Singles of Dunlin & Common Sand grounded at the Bill, with a trickle of Swifts overhead.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
1st July
1st July: Only cursory coverage of land and sea at the Bill today, with 9 Balearic Shearwaters & an Arctic Skua through offshore and 5 Sand Martins departing overhead the only worthwhile sightings
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM
30th June
30th June: The sea's providing most of the interest at the moment, with 237 Manx & 43 Balearic Shearwaters, 56 Med Gulls, 37 Com Scoter & 36 LBBGulls among the day's totals at the Bill. The sad sight of departing Swifts continued but there was otherwise little of note on/overhead on the land.
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 12:10 AM
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Not a bad migrant catch in last night's Obs moth-traps incl a notable arrival of 8 Small Marbleds; 38 Small Mottled Willows and a Vestal the best of the rest
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 30, 2026 at 10:11 AM
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Probably should have run more than just the one moth-trap last night in our garden at the Grove: another 3 Small Marbleds to add to the night's tally + another Small Ranunculus - the second of the latter in the last three nights so maybe they're heading towards getting established in these parts
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) June 30, 2026 at 6:09 PM
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