Portland Weekend September 2008

The weather was warm and sunny all weekend which meant that there were unlikely to be many birds around. However we did see more than we expected.

Highlights were Short-eared Owls, Little Owl, Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchat, Little Stint, Ruff, Mediterranean Gull, Firecrest, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Great-spotted Woodpecker in the hand and a Hooded Merganser!!

Friday 26th September
Most people arrived fairly early in the day and spent some time bird watching around the Bill. Two Short-eared Owls, Whinchats and Wheatears were seen in the fields above the Obs. (Observatory) and the Little Owl was seen in the Quarry nearest the Obs. Some Gannets were seen over the sea.
Once we had all arrived we dined at the New Inn in Easton. After a taste of Simon’s Strawberry Vodka, Beech Leaf Gin and Sloe Gin we all turned in for the night.

Saturday 27th September
Most people did not sleep all that well, but everybody was up before dawn (6am) to see what may have arrived on a clear and sunny daybreak. As we drank a cup of tea on the Obs decking, Pete (one of the ringers) bought a Robin to us in his hand. We went for a walk over the road through Culverwell and up over the Top fields. There were a few Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap at Culverwell and a Wheatear in the Top Fields with a few Swallows and Meadow Pipits going over. Back at the Obs. there were a Firecrest, a few more Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs in the garden, but there did not appear to be much migrating today.
A morning trip to Tout Quarry emphasised this as we only saw a Wheatear, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat. There was a steady stream of Swallows, House Martins, a few Sand Martin and Meadow Pipits going over. We also saw some Gannets circling quite high up over the sea.
We drove down to Ferrybridge (between Portland and Weymouth). Apart from the routine Dunlin, Curlew, Turnstone and Ringed Plover we were pleased to see 2 Sanderling and a distant view of a Little Stint. There was also a very distant Mediterranean Gull there.
On to Radipole and we saw the male Hooded Merganser that has been there for a few months now. It is most likely that this bird is an escape from captivity, but it was great to see such an attractive bird. Apart from the common birds we saw Gadwall, Kingfisher, Shoveler and a couple of Buzzard as we walked round. A couple of us got brief views of a Sedge Warbler and a Cetti’s Warbler. Back at the centre a couple of Black-tailed Godwit and a Mediterranean Gull were seen.
Back at the Bill we walked up to the Top Fields again and saw 3 Short-eared Owls and missed a Turtle Dove! Dennis also saw a Whitethroat and a Turtle Dove at Culverwell.
We pulled together this evening and produced a great meal at the Obs. What would have turned up by tomorrow morning.

Sunday 28th September.
We had a walk around Culverwell and Top Fields again first thing this morning. More birds had arrived overnight and there were many Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests at Culverwell as well as a Whitethroat, Blackcap and a Firecrest. There was also a Coal Tit at Culverwell – a common bird over most of the UK, but a scarce migrant at Portland. We also saw a couple of Whinchats and Wheatears on fenceposts around the fields and Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipits, Swallows and a few Stock Doves flying over.
Back at the Obs. a Yellow-browed Warbler had been seen among the many Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. After 20 minutes searching it was found again and we all got a view of it. A Grasshopper Warbler and a Great-spotted Woodpecker were caught and we saw them in the hand, which made up for missing a Nightjar that had been caught earlier in the morning.
After packing up we drove off to Barleycrates Lane to see what migrants were there and were surprised to find very little – just a few Stonechats along the hedges and a couple of Wheatears at the bottom of the cliffs, where Dennis also saw a Fox.
Our last port of call was Lodmoor on the outskirts of Weymouth. Along with the expected Lapwings, Mallards, Teal and Dunlin we saw 3 Ruff, a couple of Wheatears and a few Black-tailed Godwits as well as a White Wagtail with a Pied Wagtail. Lastly 2 Sandwich Tern flew over as we were leaving.
Altogether we recorded 82 species!
Simon Curson