Black Tern at Sutton Bingham

Black Tern, Sutton Bingham, 27/4/14

We made a very quick dash to the nearby Sutton Bingham Reservoir after seeing a report of a Black Tern feeding from the north causeway there this morning. We found it from that same causeway as soon as we arrived, as it hawked for insects in a magnificent hirundine-like manner, dancing beautifully on its light wings. The pouring rain had clearly forced this rather scarce passage migrant to Britain to stop-off at the reservoir, and it was fantastic to see a species I had never seen before so close to home, particularly such a stunning one that looked rather out of place fluttering above a relatively small lake on such a miserable English morning. There was also an Arctic Tern present, a species which seems to increasingly be taking an inland route on the journey to its northern breeding grounds from it Southern Hemisphere wintering quarters- a great bonus bird. It was certainly a very welcome distraction from my revision!

Portland 21st April

We had a fantastic morning at Portland today, with a great number of migrants seen on a superb sunny day.

We started at Portland Castle, where a Grasshopper Warbler had been reported earlier in the morning. We wandered around the Castle's gardens, which at first glance seemed rather uninspiring bird-wise, yet soon about a dozen Willow Warblers and several Chiffchaffs appeared. After some time, the resplendent reeling of the Grasshopper Warbler started to emanate out of a patch of stinging nettles. It really was unlike any bird I had ever heard before, like an incredibly loud Cricket or Grasshopper. The problem was trying to find the bird, after missing two the previous weekend at Portland and several more before that, I felt that this had to finally be the time. Thankfully it was, as the skulkin
g beast appeared at the back of a metal fence resting in the stinging nettles against the garden wall. It was brilliant to watch it for ten minutes or so, even though it only emerged into the open for a couple of seconds.

There is a Gropper somewhere in this picture....

The incredibly-skulking Grasshopper Warbler, Portland Castle

We then continued on to the Bill, where we found out at the Obs that an Osprey had flown over Portland Castle while we were watching the Gropper. Never mind! We parked next to the lighthouse, and as we wandered down to the Bill itself I caught sight of a Diver flying past. It looked very much like a Red-throated to me, but I couldn't be certain. Then, just as I began to feel frustrated that I had missed a potential new species for me, another flew past, very close, and it was confirmed as being a Red-throated Diver. This bird has been one that I have somehow missed on my numerous previous visits to Portland, so it was fantastic to finally see one. Large numbers of Fulmars, Gannets, Razorbills and Guillemots were passing the Bill as well. We then walked around the Top Fields, where there were large numbers of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, as well as an abundance of Linnets and Goldfinches. A resplendent male Common Redstart, along with a Whitethroat, three Wheatears and two Whinchats (in stunning breeding plumage) were seen just behind the Bird Observatory, and a further six Redstarts (three females and three males), along with more Wheatears were found further up in the fields. There was an astonishing number of hirundines migrating over the field, the majority of which were Swallows, while several House Martins and a single Sand Martin were also seen. 

Redstart, Top Fields, Portland, 21/1/14

We then visited Reap Lane, where there were very few birds of any notes, though approximately 20 Wheatears, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and numerous Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were seen. At Barleycrates Lane, a Peregrine Falcon flew over and three female Redstarts, along with two more Wheatears were present. Hirundines were still very much in evidence, with an enormous number of Swallows and House Martins passing through at both sites.

Wheatear, Reap Lane, Portland, 21/4/14

This female Linnet at Barleycrate's Lane had collected some sheep wool for nesting material.

This morning's trip to Portland Bill was sadly rather uneventful from a bird perspective, though it was fantastic to escape my revision for a few hours.

We started at Suckthumb Quarry, where two Grasshopper Warblers had been reported early in the morning. This declining and secretive summer visitior is a bird that has always evaded me and one of my top targets before I emigrate. Inevitably, there I managed to miss it once more and birdlife overall in the area was very sparse, with just one Wheatear, several Swallows, a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler seen.

We then headed down to the Bill, where the seabird colony was in full-flow, with many Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars and Shags present, but nothing else of any note passing through on the sea. Two Raven passed over and Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were singing everywhere. Another Wheatear was seen nearby. Unsurprisingly, another 'bogey bird' of mine- the Red-throated Diver (actually 4 of them) passed the Bill while we were stood there...

Then, it was off to Barleycrates Lane, where another Grasshopper Warbler had been seen in the morning. We stayed for some time, hoping for it to begin to reel, but sadly it did not do so. A resplendent male Common Redstart was seen briefly in the bushes next to the footpath, before flying off to some distance away (hence the poor picture quality!). Other than that, a Blackcap and good numbers of Swallows and House Martins were the only migrants in the area, while many Linnets were also present.

Feeling somewhat disappointed, we headed home, via Portland Harbour, where eight Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe were the only species of note, and Ferrybridge, whence we could see the first-winter Iceland Gull that has spent much of the last few months there. It was a nice end to a rather unsatisfactory morning of birding, but it was fantastic to get out.

Redstart, Barleycrates Lane, 13/4/14

Rock Pipit, Portland Bill, 13/4/14 

Meanwhile, at Hilfield, I have seen my first Willow Warbler, House Martin and, remarkably, Cuckoo- one flew over on the 7th.  I'm looking forward to Swifts and Hobbies coming soon!