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| Redstart (age 5) |
Back down today at Portland for another day's ringing & birding at the Obs. A much quieter day in terms of numbers of birds but made up for quality of birds present on the Island. A great start to the day with amazing sunrise at 6am when arrived followed shortly with nice flurry of Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Redstart moving through the gardens & scrub. About 8.30 we had fantastic views of a Hobby flying in off the sea, straight over the Obs, land briefly in some trees before continuing northwards across the island.
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| Hobby-Portland Obs |
Migrants numbers were considerable low but throughout the day but managed some great views of Pied Flycatcher (female), Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Redstart's, Grasshopper Warbler, House Martin & Swift all from the Obs.
After some heavy showers of rain in the late afternoon, migrant numbers picked up with small movement of phyllosc's moving through. Seawatch off the Bill produced 11 Whimbrel, Arctic Skua(pale phase, Gannets, Auks& Manxies on passage).
Upon returning back to the Obs produced several Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Garden Warbler in the garden and a single Reed Warbler. While watching a female Pied Flyatcher around the hut field a Short-eared Owl flew right over me from the sea and continued across CEF(Crown-estate-fields). Cracking views of it but shame I had camera in bag so only managed distant record shots.
To end the day's birding finished off nicely with cracking views of the 1st Whinchat of the year and good views of a Garden Warbler at the Obs. Swallow passage picked up again and on the way back home I saw several Wheatear in field near Southwell.
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| Short-eared Owl-Crown Estate Fields |
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| Northern type Willow Warbler |
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| Standard type Willow Warbler (much yellower plumage) |
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