15th August

To see yesterday's rain replaced by sunny skies seemed like the highlight the day so the fact that there were a few birds as well was quite a bonus - numbers weren't up to what we'd seen last week but, as was becoming evident as the week went on, variety's on the up. The Bill got most of the passerine coverage and returned totals that included 100 Willow Warblers, 30 Wheatears, 25 Whitethroats, 20 Sedge Warblers, 10 Tree Pipits, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Whinchats and 2 Redstarts on the ground and a steady flow of hirundines overhead. Wader variety dropped right off at Ferrybridge, where 2 Sanderlings and a Common Sandpiper - along with 4 Teal - were the best on offer. The sea offered a steady movement of displaced birds heading back down-Channel, with 90 commic terns, 10 Balearic Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua and a Little Gull passing through off the Bill.

After yesterday's excesses overnight mothing was much quieter, with a Birch Mocha at Avalanche Road - if we remember rightly only the fourth Portland record - easily the highlight.


Birch Mocha - Avalanche Road, 15th August 2015 © Martin Cade