Unfortunately the weather conditions last weekend at Portland were far from ideal for either a 'fall' of migrants or a productive sea watching session. 

Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre - Saturday 12 Sep 09.  Photo by Steve Copsey. 

   However, on Saturday morning Steve and I did come across a colour-ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull in company with other juvenile and adult Gulls on the cliff top East of the lighthouse.  The Bird Observatory website   http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/

has reported several colour-ringed Gull sightings recently but this particular Gull had not been observed by Martin Cade before.  I will post details on any feedback that I receive of the bird's history. 

 Colour-ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull, Portland Bill - Saturday 12 Sep 09.  Photo by Steve Copsey. 

   Although migrants on the ground were few and far between one migrant species that was present in very large numbers overhead was the Barn Swallow.  On both Saturday and Sunday mornings there was a continuous stream of Barn Swallow heading South.  

Rock Pipit, Portland Bill - 12 Sep 09.  Photo by Steve Copsey. 

   Other highlights from the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society's field trip to Portland included: Sanderling - 2 (Ferrybridge);   Knot - 1 colour ringed (Ferrybridge);   Common Scoter - 8W;   Little Owl - 1 (stretching out in its recess within the Obs Quarry);   Fulmar - 2;   Bearded Tit - 2 (Radipole Lake RSPB);   Curlew Sandpiper - juvenile (Lodmoor RSPB);   Pied Flycatcher - 1 (caught and ringed Saturday evening);   Kestrel - 1 (caught and ringed Sunday morning).  

  Linnet, Portland Bill - 12 Sep 09.  Photo by Steve Copsey. 

   I enjoy any opportunity to look at a species in the hand because it allows the finer details to be observed and the Kestrel was no exception.  It allowed a notch in the lower mandible that mates perfectly with the upper mandible along with the emargination of the two outer primaries and the heart-shaped spotting on the bird's breast to be seen clearly.  Such detail is not easy to see if at all in the field.  

Robin, Portland Bill - Saturday 12 Sep 09.  Photo by Steve Copsey. 

   However, the 'champagne' moment for me was the very showy Grasshopper Warbler at Oxey Marsh, Pennington on the Friday before we even left my home county of Hampshire. 

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)