28th September

Not a lot changing today with the samey conditions coming up with a samey selection of birds. Rarity-wise, both the Wryneck and Barred Warbler remained at the Bill although both were extremely elusive and missed by most visitors, whilst the two long-stayers - the Hooded Crow at the Grove and the Black Guillemot - were also still in situ; both of the day's new oddities - a Dotterel at the Bill and Coombefield Quarry and a Tree Sparrow at the Bill - were fly-overs which weren't located again. Migrant-wise, it was conspicuously quieter both on the ground and overhead: Swallows and House Martins got well into four figures over the Bill, but Meadow Pipits only managed an c500 total there and Chiffchaffs were down to c70; the also-rans encompassed a wide selection of mid-autumn fare and, somewhat incongruously given the unseasonably warm conditions, indications at the Bill in the form of a Woodcock, an increase in Song Thrushes and the first double figure total of Chaffinches that the later autumn species are beginning to get going.


Redstart - Portland Bill, 28th September © Joe Stockwell