2nd October

On another day when it was so warm and sunny that it seemed a lot more like July than October numbers and variety were again on the low side. Quality was also stuck at a rather samey level, with a new Yellow-browed Warbler popping up in a private garden at Weston, the putative Siberian Lesser Whitethroat still in the Obs Quarry, the Hooded Crow at the Grove and the Black Guillemot in Portland Harbour both still present and the likes of 2 Merlins, a Short-eared Owl and a Great Spotted Woodpecker among the scarcer migrants at the Bill. By and large, numbers on the ground were distinctly deficient, with decent totals of off-passage Meadow Pipits and Linnets rather masking the lack of more interesting fare - the Bill area, for example, coming up with double figure totals of only Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. It wasn't a great deal better overhead, where hirundines and alba wagtails accounted for the vast majority of what was passing over the Bill.

Whilst still not at all numerous, there was a marked improvement in immigrant moth variety, with 4 Rusty-dot Pearl, 3 Rush Veneer, 2 each of Olive-tree Pearl and Delicate, and singles of Diamond-back Moth, Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword Grass and Dusky-lemon Sallow caught overnight at the Obs. A Flame Brocade at the Grove was more likely from the recent established resident population than an immigrant.


Yellow-browed Warbler - Weston, 2nd October © Duncan Walbridge