28th October

Another decent day that was capped off during the afternoon with the discovery of a Pallas's Warbler in the Pumping Station Quarry at Southwell - hardly a surprise given the circumstances but very welcome nonetheless. The list of back-ups was again varied and included a Yellow-browed Warbler at the Grove and Continental Coal Tits at Portland Castle, the Grove and the Obs, along with 4 Short-eared Owls at the Bill, a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Pennsylvania Castle, Woodlarks over the Bill (5) and the Grove, a Ring Ouzel at the Grove, Dartford Warblers at the Bill (at least 2) and the Grove, a Corn Bunting at the Bill and totals of at least 16 Firecrests and 9 Black Redstarts scattered about the island. Goldcrests again made up the bulk of the numbers on the ground, with upwards of 250 logged at the sites that were covered, whilst most of the other expected late autumn migrants featured in low numbers. Additions worth a mention included the Redstart still at Portland Castle, the first 2 Black-necked Grebes of the winter in Portland Harbour and a Great Northern Diver over the Bill.

Immigrant moth interest improved, with a tally from the Obs that included 14 Rusty-dot Pearl, 6 Silver Y, 5 Rush Veneer, 3 Clancy's Rustic, 2 each of Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw, and singles of Vestal, Dark Sword Grass, Pearly Underwing and Grey Shoulder Knot.



Pallas's Warbler and Continental Coal Tit - Southwell and Portland Bill, 28th October 2015 © Ben Porter benporterphotography (Pallas's Warbler) and Martin Cade (Coal Tit)

...and a little snippet of the Corn Bunting calling from the top of a roadside tree at Culverwell:


 
Finally, a few more photos from Ben Porter's meanderings around the Bill - Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, Woodlark, Olive-tree Pearl and Delicate:
 





...and some Goldcrest action from Martin King: