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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 1h

Ringing numbers dropping slightly each day in the prevailing samey conditions: 77 new birds at the Bill today with 31 Chiffchaffs putting them firmly back at the top of the numbers; otherwise, only Blackcap made double figures but late-ish singles of Redstart, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler of note.

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 11h

Six Stone Curlews very mobile around the island - were all together went first seen at the north end but have now split up and three have just flown over the Obs

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 23h

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/14th-october.html

14th October

Not quite such a productive day today with the mizzly damp of yesterday's dawn a telling absentee from proceedings; however, there were stil...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 23h

A Robin and thrush day in the mist-nets at the Bill today, with 23 Robins, 16 Blackbirds and 10 Song Thrushes making up over half of the day's total of 92 ringed; Chiffchaff and Goldcrest reduced to just single figures each; third Dartford Warbler of the month the best of the oddities.

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 23h

Unexpectedly rammed-full moth-traps this morning although the numbers were mainly due to a huge increase in Large Yellow Underwings rather than quality migrants; a Clifden Nonpareil - the second of the year - easily the highlight at the Obs

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 1d

Not wanting to devalue today's bird at all but in first for Dorset terms it's surely time to revisit Alan Bromby's Baikal Teal trapped and ringed at Brownsea on 1st January 1969 - any good reason why that isn't perfectly acceptable? (photo from Cottridge & Vinicombe Rare Birds in Britain & Ireland)

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 2d

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/13th-october.html

13th October

Wow, what an exciting migration day. The portents were there right from the outset - in fact they'd been perfectly accurately forecast by th...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 2d

Ringing numbers a wee bit depleted today because our third site at Culverwell was out of action but 103 new birds between the Obs and the CEF was still nice. Chiffchaff 31, Robin 18 and Gcrest 13 the top three, thrushes on the up, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers the scarces.

Blackbird - a large, long-winged migrant. Photo Joe Stockwell

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 2d

Second Yellow-browed Warbler of the day just trapped in the Crown Estate Field

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 2d

Yellow-browed Warbler trapped in the Crown Estate Field

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 2d

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/12th-october.html

12th October

Migration continued apace although subtle changes in the proportions of constituents saw Goldcrests gain prominence at the Bill at least, wh...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 3d

Goldcrests on the up in the Bill mist-nets today - 29 from the day total of 148 birds ringed is more than double their previous best day so far this autumn; 49 CCs and 17 Swallows the day's other high totals, with 6 Stonechats and 5 Redwings also their highest totals for the season to date.

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 3d

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/11th-october.html

11th October

A day of seriously impressive numbers, with another big drop of Chiffchaffs on the ground, a strong push through of visible migrants overhea...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 4d

So rewarding on the ringing front at the moment: another 233 ringed at the Bill today, with 97 Chiffchaffs and 80 Swallows making up the bulk of the total; 6 Redpolls, 2 Reed Buntings and a Firecrest the best of the less regulars with further interest in the form of a late Sedge Warbler

Reed Bunting at Culverwell - photo Mark Cutts

Sedge Warbler - a late and really fat bird with likely more than enough reserves to get to Africa in one flight

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 4d

Wryneck at the Bill just lately: was in the Obs Quarry but has now apparently come out and is in the bramble bushes in the middle of the Obs Quarry Field

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 4d

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/10th-october.html

10th October

Cloudy and cool conditions from dawn saw another nice arrival of grounded migrants, with a distinct late autumn feel to the variety of birds...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

...rare that the humble Dunnock gets a mention in our ringing summaries but its all-time record also fell today, with the 160th ringed overtaking the previous record of 159 in 2021. The first Redwing of the autumn and another Dartford Warbler also amongst the day's catch

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

Big arrival of Chiffchaffs today and tapped into plenty of them in the mist-nets - 99 out of the day's ringing total of 179 at the Bill; this total also takes us over the all-time CC year record (now on 1393 for this year, previous record 1301 in 2012)...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

Overcast skies led to an uptick in moth numbers overnight, with singles of Toadflax Pearl catalaunalis and Golden Twin-spot the best of the migrants at the Obs; unseasonables included singles of Rosy Tabby flammealis and Small Fan-footed Wave

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

OK - a chance of it being the same I reckon: ours was a good while before that and what with it passing close inshore both ways in quick succession it looked like a potential lingerer rather than a longer distance migrant

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

One back and forth off the Bill this mrng as well, Mike - don't know if it could be the same individual

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/9th-october.html

9th October

Perfect birding conditions and decent numbers of routine migrants which, together with the added bonus of 2 Common Cranes overhead, made fo...

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 5d

Ringing numbers on the up again at the Bill with 157 new in perfect conditions. Good arrival of 44 Chiffchaffs and 35 more Swallows the highest totals; 13 more Redpolls and the third Cetti's Warbler of the autumn the best of the variety. Ta Rob Stephens for the Cetti's photo from Culverwell.

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 6d

2 Cranes high over Portland Hbr heading towards the Nothe

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 6d

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/10/8th-october.html

8th October

Another increasingly warm day with hardly a breath of wind saw reduced action on all fronts, with a short spell of drizzle associated with t...

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