Portland Bill Oct 8th

The usual early start and early finish (7:45-8:45). Highlight was a steady trickle of Pied wagtails and Meadow Pipits leaving the bill and heading south. Every scan of the sea seemed to have a few birds heading off across the channel. Last night had c50 Pied Wags flying round Weymouth town centre, and Lodmoor had Pied wags and mipits spread over the whole reserve too. Must be thousands in total heading off from the Dorset coast this weekend.

Otherwise, the Rosy Starling was with the bill flock of starlings, a scruffy brown shearwater was presumably one of the Balearic Shearwaters that's been seen recently, and a male Merlin was flying round the bill, no doubt attracted by the plentiful supply of food.

Then it was back to Weymouth for family entertainment.