30th October

Another seemingly promising day that looked to be fizzling out uneventfully was salvaged in fine fashion during the afternoon when a Little Bunting was discovered beside the Coastguard Cottages at the Bill; unfortunately it quickly headed off and hadn't been found again by dusk. The Pumping Station Quarry Pallas's Warbler looked to have moved on but also during the afternoon it or another was evidently located, together with a Yellow-browed Warbler, at Southwell School. Continental Coal Tits featured again, with 1 - a lingerer? - at Verne Hill Road and 3 at Wakeham, whilst another likely Siberian Chiffchaff showed up at Southwell; 3 Short-eared Owls, 2 Dartford Warblers, 2 Black Redstarts, a Merlin and a Woodcock were at the Bill, with 3 more Black Redstarts at Blacknor, another Merlin at Chesil Cove and the late Redstart still at Reap Lane. The commoner migrant situation was relatively unchanged although overall numbers were a little lower: Goldcrests still dominated, whilst both Redwing and Blackcap showed small increases. The sea was again a huge disappointment, with a Teal and a Great Skua through off Chesil Cove and likely the same Teal also through off the Bill.

Several hours of quiet conditions early in the night allowed for a better catch of immigrant moths, with 12 Rush Veneers, 6 Silver Y, 4 Rusty-dot Pearl, 3 Clancy's Rustic, 2 each of Pearly Underwing, Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw, and singles of Diamond-back Moth and Spindle Knot-horn at the Obs.



 


Little Bunting, Woodcock, Scarce Bordered Straw and Spindle Knot-horn - Portland Bill, 30th October 2015 © Ben Porter benporterphotography (Little Bunting and the moths) and Martin Cade (Woodcock)