A few bits from the garden: several House Martin on the roof today appearing to collect moss, presumably to line their nests. Plus a few other residents.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Garden bits
Mainly sunny, 22°, light SSW.
A few bits from the garden: several House Martin on the roof today appearing to collect moss, presumably to line their nests. Plus a few other residents.
A few bits from the garden: several House Martin on the roof today appearing to collect moss, presumably to line their nests. Plus a few other residents.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Disappointing
Sunny intervals, 18°, moderate WSW.
A disappointing time out along the Bunk line today:
A Hobby was the bird of the day that flew through towards the gravel pit.
Several Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow feeding overhead.
Nothing more to note at the gravel pit and unable to see in now the nettles have grown high.
The usual Warblers seen and heard on route but little else.
Butterflies: a Large White, 2 Small White, an Orange Tip and Common Blue and 2 Small Heath.
A disappointing time out along the Bunk line today:
A Hobby was the bird of the day that flew through towards the gravel pit.
Several Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow feeding overhead.
Nothing more to note at the gravel pit and unable to see in now the nettles have grown high.
The usual Warblers seen and heard on route but little else.
Butterflies: a Large White, 2 Small White, an Orange Tip and Common Blue and 2 Small Heath.
House Sparrows courtesy Bill Nicholls
Monday, 18 May 2026
L’s.
Cloudy, 12°, breezy WSW.
Lollingdon, Lees & Long Ditch.
A breezy day, 60+ Swift and c30 House Martin, south-west over Lollingdon Hill. A singing Corn Bunting present but little else.
Elsewhere: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, several Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff and several Sedge and Reed Warbler at the Long Ditch area.
10+ Swift and a handful of Swallow, a Grey Heron, 3-4 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Yellow Wagtail.
In the meadow, a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail, both collecting food, a Coal Tit singing and 2 Mistle Thrush mobbing a Carrion Crow.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: A Banded Demoiselle in garden.
Butterflies: singles of Small White, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Lollingdon, Lees & Long Ditch.
A breezy day, 60+ Swift and c30 House Martin, south-west over Lollingdon Hill. A singing Corn Bunting present but little else.
Elsewhere: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, several Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff and several Sedge and Reed Warbler at the Long Ditch area.
10+ Swift and a handful of Swallow, a Grey Heron, 3-4 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Yellow Wagtail.
In the meadow, a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail, both collecting food, a Coal Tit singing and 2 Mistle Thrush mobbing a Carrion Crow.
Mammals: Brown Hare and Roe Deer.
Dragonflies: A Banded Demoiselle in garden.
Butterflies: singles of Small White, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Club-tailed Dragonfly
Courtesy Richard James. One of four found yesterday.
Club-tailed Dragonfly, female.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Back to it
Overcast, 11°, light to breezy NNE.
Back birding in Cholsey after a stay at Portland, Dorset.
The colder weather today has concentrated Hirundines over favoured areas where insects are abundant, with 150+ over CSW and c30 over the gravel pit.
House Martin in the majority with many Swallow and several Sand Martin.
Pretty quiet on the gravel pit with 2 Shelduck still present and a Little Ringed Plover (heard) but a lot of growth now restricting viewing over the pits.
Several Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap and a Grey Wagtail elsewhere.
Back birding in Cholsey after a stay at Portland, Dorset.
The colder weather today has concentrated Hirundines over favoured areas where insects are abundant, with 150+ over CSW and c30 over the gravel pit.
House Martin in the majority with many Swallow and several Sand Martin.
Pretty quiet on the gravel pit with 2 Shelduck still present and a Little Ringed Plover (heard) but a lot of growth now restricting viewing over the pits.
Several Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap and a Grey Wagtail elsewhere.
2 Lapwing present near Green Lane.
A dead Polecat found by Stewart Watts out Lollingdon way. An area where they have been seen in previous years.
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A dead Polecat found by Stewart Watts out Lollingdon way. An area where they have been seen in previous years.
Polecat, courtesy Stewart Watts
Cinnabar Moth, courtesy Bill Nicholls
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Great-spotted Woodpecker, courtesy Loren
Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Time to go home
Mainly cloudy, 12°, breezy NE.
A weather block out in the Channell appears to have prevented any northward bound migrants reaching Portland shores today.
In the small time we had left not much was noted as we departed northwards ourselves at around 12:30.
As well as a steady flow of Gannet, Manx Shearwater and Auks and a single Great Northern Diver flew west and a Fulmar noted.
The only land birds noted were Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Common and Lesser Whitethroat.
A weather block out in the Channell appears to have prevented any northward bound migrants reaching Portland shores today.
In the small time we had left not much was noted as we departed northwards ourselves at around 12:30.
As well as a steady flow of Gannet, Manx Shearwater and Auks and a single Great Northern Diver flew west and a Fulmar noted.
The only land birds noted were Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Common and Lesser Whitethroat.
Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Another quiet one
Sunny periods, 14°, light NE.
A slow day with a limited flurry of migrants early then all quiet.
A call from the ringing crew at Culverwell for a Golden Oriole saw most of us trek up there but to no avail as the bird appeared to pass through and was not seen again.
So back to the Obs for whatever was around:
An Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Whimbrel and 50+ Manx Shearwater plus the usual fare over the sea.
Land: a Grey Heron, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, White Wagtail, a Swift and 50+ Swallow through the day.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Much as the day before and Painted Ladies arriving in off the sea.
A slow day with a limited flurry of migrants early then all quiet.
A call from the ringing crew at Culverwell for a Golden Oriole saw most of us trek up there but to no avail as the bird appeared to pass through and was not seen again.
So back to the Obs for whatever was around:
An Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Whimbrel and 50+ Manx Shearwater plus the usual fare over the sea.
Land: a Grey Heron, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, White Wagtail, a Swift and 50+ Swallow through the day.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Much as the day before and Painted Ladies arriving in off the sea.
Monday, 4 May 2026
The morning rush
Mainly sunny, 14°, light SW.
A light influx of migrants’ early morning, they quickly filtered through the Bill area and by midday most had departed leaving the rest of the day fairly quiet.
5 Common Scoter, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Fulmar, a Cuckoo, a Hobby, a White Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and 3 Wheatear.
50+ Swallow trickling through the day provided the only real consistency after the morning rush.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Large White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady (many), Speckled Wood and Wall Brown.
A light influx of migrants’ early morning, they quickly filtered through the Bill area and by midday most had departed leaving the rest of the day fairly quiet.
5 Common Scoter, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Fulmar, a Cuckoo, a Hobby, a White Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and 3 Wheatear.
50+ Swallow trickling through the day provided the only real consistency after the morning rush.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Large White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady (many), Speckled Wood and Wall Brown.
Sunday, 3 May 2026
A better day
Mainly cloudy, 14°, light SW.
The highlight of the day was a Turtle Dove that arrived off the sea and spent some time moving around the bill area before departing.
An intermittent sea-watch produced: 2 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 3 Red-throated Diver, 6 Common Scoter, 10 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Common Gull and 3 Manx Shearwater etc.
The land was more varied in species if not numbers: 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 8 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Common Redstart, a Whinchat, Stonechat, 4 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail and c30 Swallow.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and Wall Brown.
The highlight of the day was a Turtle Dove that arrived off the sea and spent some time moving around the bill area before departing.
An intermittent sea-watch produced: 2 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 3 Red-throated Diver, 6 Common Scoter, 10 Mediterranean Gull, 6 Common Gull and 3 Manx Shearwater etc.
The land was more varied in species if not numbers: 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 8 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Reed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Common Redstart, a Whinchat, Stonechat, 4 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail and c30 Swallow.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood and Wall Brown.
Saturday, 2 May 2026
Rain stopped play
A cloudy day with rain at 13:00 onwards, 14°, mod E.
A very slow day with rain stopping play early afternoon.
Approx. 50 Common Scoter, 10 Oystercatcher and 2 Whimbrel over the sea and the odd Manx Shearwater was about it, other than the regulars.
The land didn’t do much better with 12 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, a Wheatear and a Stonechat.
A very slow day with rain stopping play early afternoon.
Approx. 50 Common Scoter, 10 Oystercatcher and 2 Whimbrel over the sea and the odd Manx Shearwater was about it, other than the regulars.
The land didn’t do much better with 12 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, a Wheatear and a Stonechat.
Butterflies: Large White, Orange Tip and Red Admiral.
Friday, 1 May 2026
Weather
A cloudy start, then fog, then rain, then sun, 14°, light to mod SW.
A strange day weather wise, the fog put the dampers on a sea-watch around 11:00, then a brief period of rain, then the sun came out, birding again.
The RNBWS folk arrived today so we had a lighthouse full of ex RN bods all into birding. So felt right at home.
Anyway, to the birds: the sea produced, 2 Pomarine Skua, 3 Arctic Skua, 150+ Kittiwake, a handful of Sandwich Tern, 5 Shelduck, 23 Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver and 50+ Manx Shearwater etc.
Land: 2 Whimbrel, a Redpoll, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Whinchat, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 30+ Swallow.
Butterflies: Large White, Orange Tip, a Blue of some description, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown and Meadow Brown.
A strange day weather wise, the fog put the dampers on a sea-watch around 11:00, then a brief period of rain, then the sun came out, birding again.
The RNBWS folk arrived today so we had a lighthouse full of ex RN bods all into birding. So felt right at home.
Anyway, to the birds: the sea produced, 2 Pomarine Skua, 3 Arctic Skua, 150+ Kittiwake, a handful of Sandwich Tern, 5 Shelduck, 23 Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver and 50+ Manx Shearwater etc.
Land: 2 Whimbrel, a Redpoll, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Whinchat, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 30+ Swallow.
Butterflies: Large White, Orange Tip, a Blue of some description, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown and Meadow Brown.
Thursday, 30 April 2026
April b"l"ows out
Sunny, 14°, strong E.
Another blustery day on the Isle of Portland with not a lot seen on land or sea. 22 Whimbrel and 65 Bar-tailed Godwit, sometimes in mixed flock and 16 Common Scoter.
A single Swift, 5 Swallow, Little Owl, 3 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood.
Another blustery day on the Isle of Portland with not a lot seen on land or sea. 22 Whimbrel and 65 Bar-tailed Godwit, sometimes in mixed flock and 16 Common Scoter.
A single Swift, 5 Swallow, Little Owl, 3 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Common Whitethroat and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Another windy one
Sunny, 14°, strong NE.
Probably the worst wind for vizmig at Portland.
However, a reasonable scattering of birds. On the sea, 2 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver, 10 Black Tern, a few Sandwich Tern and 50+ Manx Shearwater, a Fulmar plus the Auks, Gannet etc.,
Over land, a Whimbrel, Hobby, 6 Swift, 60+ Swallow, 2 House Martin, a Sand Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Wheatear, a Stonechat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail and several Meadow Pipit. Missed a few good ones but there is always tomorrow.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood.
Probably the worst wind for vizmig at Portland.
However, a reasonable scattering of birds. On the sea, 2 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, a Red-throated Diver, 10 Black Tern, a few Sandwich Tern and 50+ Manx Shearwater, a Fulmar plus the Auks, Gannet etc.,
Over land, a Whimbrel, Hobby, 6 Swift, 60+ Swallow, 2 House Martin, a Sand Martin, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Wheatear, a Stonechat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail and several Meadow Pipit. Missed a few good ones but there is always tomorrow.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood.
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
Wind! No problem
Mainly sunny with a cloudy spell, 14°, fresh NE.
Not much hope at first light, a fresh north‑easterly cutting across the bill, but as the hours passed the birds had other ideas. What began as a seemingly empty day slowly filled with movement and surprise proving migration doesn’t stop with a bit of wind.
The sea was relatively quiet although good numbers of Manx Shearwater passed through. In addition, a single Arctic Skua, 2 Great Northern Diver and 4 Common Scoter seen by me. I probably missed what some others had noted.
The land offered up the better. A Hobby, a Peregrine, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 *Willow Warbler, c30 Swallow and 6 Swift.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral and Wall Brown.
*Around 18:00 I saw this slightly larger looking Willow Warbler in the Obs garden. Cold toned grey/brown upper, whitish under side, whitish supercilium, palish legs, long primary projection. Seen for approx. 10 seconds before disappearing. poss Acredula ssp???
Not much hope at first light, a fresh north‑easterly cutting across the bill, but as the hours passed the birds had other ideas. What began as a seemingly empty day slowly filled with movement and surprise proving migration doesn’t stop with a bit of wind.
The sea was relatively quiet although good numbers of Manx Shearwater passed through. In addition, a single Arctic Skua, 2 Great Northern Diver and 4 Common Scoter seen by me. I probably missed what some others had noted.
The land offered up the better. A Hobby, a Peregrine, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 *Willow Warbler, c30 Swallow and 6 Swift.
Butterflies: Large White, Red Admiral and Wall Brown.
*Around 18:00 I saw this slightly larger looking Willow Warbler in the Obs garden. Cold toned grey/brown upper, whitish under side, whitish supercilium, palish legs, long primary projection. Seen for approx. 10 seconds before disappearing. poss Acredula ssp???
Monday, 27 April 2026
A slow start
Sunny, 14°, light SW.
A slow day if truth be told but a few decent sightings.
12 Common Scoter, 4 Shelduck, several Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant and Shag, 20+ Whimbrel, c25 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Oystercatcher, Guillemot, Razorbill and a single Puffin, several Sandwich Tern, 5 species of Gull, c30 Swallow, 2 House Martin, a Common Redstart, a Whinchat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Peregrine Falcon.
Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly and Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood.
A slow day if truth be told but a few decent sightings.
12 Common Scoter, 4 Shelduck, several Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant and Shag, 20+ Whimbrel, c25 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Oystercatcher, Guillemot, Razorbill and a single Puffin, several Sandwich Tern, 5 species of Gull, c30 Swallow, 2 House Martin, a Common Redstart, a Whinchat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Peregrine Falcon.
Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly and Broad-bodied Chaser.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood.
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