With the sea visibility down to just 4 miles (according to the Coastguard Lookout in the Higher Lighthouse), I had hoped to find at least one of the 36 Pied Flycatchers reported to have been seen on the island.
But as luck would have it, it appeared they had taken the plunge and were heading south over the English Channel. However in the gloomy but humid conditions, I did come across 7 Wheatears, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Stonechats and several Chiffchaffs and a bright yellow Willow Warbler.
Also seen were two of the resident Ravens, a couple of juvenile Meadow Pipits and a mixed flock of 50+ Linnets and Goldfinches.
I also managed to have a look at two interesting moths in the Obs. The first courtesy of Richard "Ricky" Lambert who brought in a Bedstraw Hawk-moth he trapped in Weymouth overnight. And the second moth was a Beautiful Marbled caught by Martin Cade in his moth trap. In fact this is the 6th Beautiful Marbled he has had in the past few days.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Portland Bird Observatory, where today I was well pleased to see not one but two immigrant moth species.
An extremely yellow Willow Warbler with straw-coloured legs. It was having a bit of a set to with.........
My first Autumn Wheatear. This one was at the Coastguard Lookout Tower, followed by......
..........six others in the Top Fields.
They appeared to be juvenile birds.
And another.
And 3 more.
Wheatears
Panoramic view looking east then south towards The Bill and then the top of the West Cliffs.
Ted enjoying a bit of a run around on the Common.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Kestrel, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 3 Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Stonechat, 7 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 7+ Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 200+ Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue
Moths Recorded: Bedstraw Hawk-moth (Hyles gallii) and a Beautiful Marbled (Eublemma purpurina)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Ships Today
This is the British Fishing Boat "Portland Isle" returning to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here.