13th to 15th October 2023.
Our annual visit to Portland began at Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, where we stopped off, hoping for Corn Bunting. We weren’t disappointed, seeing half a dozen birds in the crops and on the fence lines. Here we also saw Kestrel, Linnet, Goldfinch, Lapwing, Stonechat, Golden Plover, Buzzard, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and more. Just as were leaving, a small raptor came in chasing the small finch flock – a Merlin on the hunt for lunch.
 Our next stop was Lodmoor, where almost the first bird we saw was a juvenile Marsh Harrier. The remarkable increase in the numbers of Great White Egrets was evident here, where there were at least 4 individuals, these even outnumbering the Little Egrets. Wader numbers were low, although we did see Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Buzzard, Lapwing and Dunlin. Half a dozen Mediterranean Gulls were on the western edge of the reserve. It started to rain quite heavily and we had to seek shelter. The local Sparrowhawk looked really bedraggled, sitting on top of one of the posts.
 We decided to head for the Obs., with a brief stop off at Ferrybridge. There was a lone Brent Goose, a few Bar-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone there. As the tide was well out and the rain was getting heavier, we decided to call it quits for the day.
 We were too late for the seabird spectacular off the Bill however. We were informed by the regular sea-watchers there that hundreds of Cory’s Shearwaters has been passing the headland, together with Great, Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters and a few Skuas too.
 Unfortunately (or so we thought) the strong south westerly winds dropped and backed to the north overnight, meaning that the seabird passage was much lighter the following morning. Nick McNeil-Watson did manage to get on to a Sooty Shearwater and I had distant views of a Balearic, but nothing like the previous day’s bonanza. Generally sea watching was quiet with reasonable numbers of auks, Kittiwakes, Mediterranean Gulls and Gannets passing.
 The northerly winds however did bring benefits with a light passage of migrant passerines. We were soon rewarded when Martin Cade, the warden of the Obs. brought a re-trap in from the Crown fields – a Radde’ Warbler. This species breeds in Siberia and usually migrates to SE Asia, so for it to occur in the UK is most uncommon. It is a very skulking bird, akin to its close relative the Dusky Warbler. It was a first for all of our group. What a start to the day! This was followed by another very special bird – a Little Bunting, a bird that breeds in the taiga region of NE Europe. We were on a roll.
 There had been a passage of Redpolls and one dropped into the ringing nets in the garden. It was great to see this species up close and personal, as it was to encounter a male Sparrowhawk that had been trapped and ringed.
 Prior to all his excitement, we had popped over to the Obs. quarry and were pleased to see that Little Owls were still in residence. Cindy Howells even caught sight of a Barn Owl disappearing into a crevice in the rock face. Elsewhere we saw Wheatear, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Swallow, Peregrine and Rock Pipit.
 We re-visited Ferrybridge in the afternoon, however there was little new, so we went on to Radipole, where we Pochard to our trip list (although Nick did have a view of Bearded Tit).
 Sunday dawned bright and sunny. Before we set off, we spent some time examining the contents of the moth trap, encountering some “new” species. We then decided to go on a “twitch”. A Squacco Heron had been seen in Ham Wall, so we stopped off on our journey. It had been flushed by a fisherman, so wasn’t showing when we arrived. The sight of 41 Cattle Egrets was rather special however. Four of us decided to linger, in the hope that it would show again and it did! We were rewarded with distant views but the ginger coloured body and white wings stood out, a new bird for most.
 Many thanks to all of the participants* and to the staff at the Obs, for their hospitality. It proved to be a great weekend with lots of banter and some very special birds seen. Bring on next year.
Alan Rosney
Click here for the trip list, which comprfises 98 specides.
 *Sadly John Wilson and Christian Jenkins had to drop out at the last minute. Sorry guys, you missed a good’un.