19th October

Portland's mini purple patch continued, with new arrivals today that included a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Serin at the Obs and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Southwell; the Suckthumb Red-backed Shrike also lingered on, whilst the likes of 8 Crossbills over Blacknor and 2 Black Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel and a Corn Bunting at the Bill and a good spread of Short-eared Owls everywhere all added to the interest. It was also another decent day for commoner migrants, with the 80 Goldcrests, 50 Chiffchaffs and 40 Blackcaps grounded at the Bill being representative of the good spread of these and other late migrants throughout the island. Although overhead passage of thrushes and most finches was still no more than a light trickle, incoming Chaffinches did feature more strongly and there was the first northbound movement of Starlings of the autumn (including 200 through at the Bill).




Red-breasted Flycatcher, Serin and Yellow-browed Warbler - Portland Bill and Southwell, 19th October 2015 © Martin Cade (RbFly & Serin) and Pete Saunders (YbWarbler)
 
 And thanks to Paul and Michelle Gascoigne for this little video clip of their rescue of a Kestrel that had ended up in the sea off the Bill after a scrap with another Kestrel; the bird's currently recuperating at the Obs and doesn't appear to be any the worse for its ordeal!