Portland Bird Observatory ringed a record 617 birds today during a massive fall. These were presumably birds crossing the English Channel, seeking to avoid the band of rain in the chart above, which were drifted in their direction by easterly/north-easterly winds. The impact was very localised though. South Milton Ley sits just 100km to the west, admittedly in a bay rather than on a headland, but you would never have guessed at the drama further to the east.
Those migrants that showed up at South Milton all passed through before 11am and in very limited numbers. Just 33 birds were trapped with the highlights being the first Willow Warblers and first Sedge Warbler of the year. Totals: 3 Blackbird, 5 Blackcap, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler and 2 Wren.
The Early Worm 