TRG trip to Portland

The hot, dry summery weather failed to drop the hoped for migrants into Portland for us. Good to catch some different species though including this Skylark. Those caught by the group previously have all been at night by dazzling.

We probably caught more Broad bodied Chasers than birds!

We managed some good birding instead with a Lesser Yellowlegs and Garganey at the Somerset Levels on the journey down and this Long Billed Dowitcher at Lodmore RSPB.

A fall of Wheatear on Sunday was impressive with c300 birds in just a few horse paddocks with a couple of Yellow Wagtails too.


Little Terns at Ferrybridge and the Marsh Harrier and Bearded Tits at Radipole too with Avocets and 2 Hobbies at Goldcliff on the Gwent Levels on the way home added variety to the trip.
Although the ringing was quiet we learnt a lot as usual especially about nets so a lot of new ideas to try. Thanks to Peter Morgan and Martin Cade at Portland Bird Observatory.
(Photos - Dawn)