17th July

Most of what movement there was today was either overhead or out to sea. Hirundines and Swifts were moving through into the at times quite brisk easterly during the morning, when sample counts included 80 Sand Martins through Ferrybridge in 90 minutes; other visible migrants included 13 Cormorants and a Dunlin south over the Bill and a Yellow Wagtail through at Ferrybridge. The only arrivals on the ground were 21 Dunlin, 8 Sandwich Terns, 2 Sanderling and 2 Redshanks at Ferrybridge (where the unseasonable Dark-bellied Brent Goose also dropped in again) and another dispersing young Blackcap at the Bill. Out to sea, 200 Manx Shearwaters, 52 Common Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull passed by at the Bill.

Dispersing moths featured a little better than in recent nights, including 2 each of Bulrush Veneer and Water Veneer, and a single Brown-veined Wainscot at the Obs.

It was a flying ant hatch day around the island today and the sky overhead was at times full of an assortment of gulls - Herring Gulls dominated over Easton and north Portland but they were joined by large numbers of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls over Ferrybridge/Wyke Regis © Martin Cade: