Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre: December 2000

December 31st The return of milder, wet and windy weather saw the year end quietly. The Surf Scoter showed very well off the Oil Tanks at Portland Harbour, but the only other bird of note was a single Red-throated Diver off the Bill. December 30th The chilly spell continued, and cold weather movement included 50 Song Thrushes, 36 Golden Plovers, 5 Lapwings and a Snipe at the Bill. A Water Rail at the Obs. Quarry was also a new arrival (additional to 2 wintering birds at Culverwell). Portland Harbour remained productive: the Surf Scoter showed well off the Oil Tanks, and the variety of divers and grebes included a high count of 13 Black-necked Grebes. December 29th Once again there was a little cold weather movement, with the Bill area producing 130 Golden Plovers, 12 Lapwings and a few thrushes. There was no unexpected sea passage, with watches from the Bill producing just 16 more Red-throated Divers. The immature Surf Scoter reappeared in Portland Harbour, where it showed well off the Oil Tanks; also there were a selection of divers and grebes, and 2 Eider. December 28th With much of the rest of the country having had snowfall overnight more cold weather movement was expected, but in the event very little materialised. At the Bill there were 12 Redwings and a Snipe, as well as a few more Song Thrushes than usual, and in the afternoon a Little Egret arrived from the south. The Firecrest was still at the Obs, and another was found in gardens at Southwell; there were also Black Redstarts at several sites, and 5 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill. Seawatching from the Bill produced just 8 Red-throated Divers, and the regular flock of 25 Common Scoter. There were again plenty of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour, but no sign of the Surf Scoter. December 27th With the cold spell continuing there was a hint of movement of displaced birds: the Bill area produced 37 Golden Plovers and single Brent Goose, Lapwing, Redwing and Fieldfare, as well as increased numbers of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. Off the Bill,19 Red-throated and a single Great Northern Diver passed during the morning, and the 20 wintering Common Scoter were still present. The Firecrest again roosted in the Obs garden. December 26th The raw north-east wind had increased overnight and made birding difficult. Lesser Black-backed Gulls continued to move in good numbers: 850 passed east or north at the Bill, and there were small flocks of grounded birds at several sites. Passage off the Bill also included 100 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Lapwings, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Brent Geese and a Curlew. Elsewhere in the area the were 2 Black Redstarts at Weston and another at Southwell, and a Fieldfare over Weston. Portland Harbour produced 10 Great Northern Divers, single Red-necked and Slavonian Grebes, and a lone Shoveler, but the Surf Scoter could not be found (its favoured haunts on the western edge of the Harbour are no longer sheltered from the weather). December 25th A bitter north-east wind and persistent drizzle ensured that most birders stayed indoors to enjoy Christmas. At the Bill, the Firecrest was still present in the Obs garden, and a single Red-throated Diver passed the Bill. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were very conspicuous everywhere: a steady tickle passed the Bill all day, and there were several flocks of grounded birds including 102 at Ferrybridge, and 25 at both the Air Station and the Bill. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was with the Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Ferrybridge. December 24th The immature Surf Scoter in Portland Harbour was again the highlight. At the Bill there were single Golden Plover and Redwing on the land, and a Black-throated Diver and a Teal passed on the sea. December 23rd The arrival of the weekend saw more birders in the field and a little more reported from the area. Portland Harbour still held the Surf Scoter, that showed well off Ferrybridge; also there were plenty of grebes and divers, including both Black-necked and Red-necked Grebe off the Oil Tanks, and 2 Eider. Two Avocets showed-up amongst the gulls at Ferrybridge for a while during the morning. Off the Bill there were 11 Red-throated Divers, 5 Shoveler, and the wintering flock of 25 Common Scoter, as well as a couple of Lapwings arriving in-off the sea, and 9 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks near the lighthouse. The Firecrest was still at the Obs, and there was a Black Redstart at Reap Lane. December 22nd The Surf Scoter remained in Portland Harbour, but it was otherwise an extremely quiet day, with the only other bird of note being the Firecrest in the Obs garden. December 21st A dreary, grey day that saw little birding activity. A lone Woodcock was an unexpected visitor to the Top Fields at the Bill, but otherwise the only noteworthy birds reported were the Firecrest at the Obs, and 3 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks at the Bill. December 20th A surprise today was the reappearance of the immature Surf Scoter in Portland Harbour, where it showed well off Ferrybridge in the morning (evidently it has spent the last three days just inside the Fleet, near the Bridging Camp at Wyke Regis). The Island otherwise remained quiet, with just single Red- and Black-throated Divers passing the Bill, a couple of Black Redstarts along the East Cliffs at the Bill, and the wintering Firecrest still at the Obs. December 19th More of the same today. The Firecrest was still at the Obs, and 4 Little Gulls and 3 Red-throated Divers passed the Bill. Portland Harbour produced several Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver, and 2 Eider. December 18th A quiet day everywhere. At the Bill, the Firecrest at still at the Obs, where there was also a single Black Redstart; the wintering group of Common Scoters were offshore, and 11 Red-throated Divers passed during the afternoon. Portland Harbour produced just a few grebes and divers, and 2 Eider. December 17th Despite good conditions and plenty of searching, the Surf Scoter could not be found in Portland Harbour. A Little Auk spent part of the morning in Chesil Cove, and later the same or another was seen flying past the Bill. Seawatching at the Bill also produced 31 Red-throated, 2 Black-throated and 3 unidentified Divers, and a single Shoveler. At least 1 Long-eared Owl was seen at Verne Common in the afternoon. December 16th Another surprisingly productive day. The immature Surf Scoter remained in Portland Harbour, where it showed well off the Oil Tanks; also there were a good selection of divers and grebes, and 2 Eider, as well as a Little Auk that has apparently been present there for the last 3 days. A further 7 Eider and a Red-necked Grebe were in Chesil Cove. Diver passage continued off the Bill, where 22 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver passed during the day; also off the the Bill were 7 Eider, a Brent Goose, an Arctic Skua, a Mediterranean Gull, and the 25 wintering Common Scoter. On the land at the Bill there were single Redwing, Reed Bunting and Corn Bunting. Belated news received today is that at least 2 over-wintering Long-eared Owls have returned to Verne Common, where they have been seen at roost in the thick scrub near the Royal Naval Cemetery on several recent days. December 15th Late migrants were again a feature today. The best were a Swallow and a Blackcap at the Bill, where there were also several new Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, 5 Siskins, a Black Redstart and a Merlin. The wintering Firecrest was still at the Obs. Off the Bill there was a good movement of 21 Red-throated Divers, along with 5 Little Gulls. December 14th A big improvement in the weather allowed a few tardy finches to head for the Continent: at the Bill, 60 Goldfinches, 25 Linnets and 20 Greenfinches left to south during the morning. Both the Firecrest at the Obs, and the flock of 25 Common Scoter off the Bill were still present. The sheltered waters of Portland Harbour remained busy; the immature Surf Scoter was off the Oil Tanks in the morning, and there were at least 12 Great Northern Divers, 3 Slavonian Grebes and 3 Eider present. December 13th The return of stormy weather produced a Leach's Petrel in Portland Harbour and a Little Auk in Chesil Cove, but just a single Great Northern Diver off the Bill. There was still a good selection of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour, including 6 Great Northern Divers and a Red-necked Grebe. The wintering Firecrest was again in the Obs garden. December 12th A truly dismal day, with rain from dawn until dusk. The only noteworthy bird reported was the wintering Firecrest in the Obs garden. December 11th With dreary, wet weather the order of the day there was little birding activity. The immature Surf Scoter remained in Portland Harbour where it ranged between Ferrybridge and Sandsfoot Castle. Seawatching produced 8 Little Gulls and a Little Auk at Chesil Cove, and just a single Red-throated Diver and the wintering flock of 30 Common Scoter off the Bill. December 10th The immature Surf Scoter in Portland Harbour continued to show during the morning at least, and there were still plenty of grebes and divers there. A strengthening wind and frequent squally showers kept interest going on the sea, with an exceptionally late juvenile Sabine's Gull the highlight off the Bill (following an earlier report of one over Portland Harbour). There were also 7 Little Gulls, and 5 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver off the Bill. December 9th To the disappointment of weekend visitors, the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at the Obs was seen just once at dawn and could not be found subsequently. The immature Surf Scoter remained in Portland Harbour throughout the day, and there was again a single Sandwich Tern and a good selection of divers and grebes there. Little Gulls continued to be seen in small numbers, with 6 in Chesil Cove and another 4 off the Bill. December 8th The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained in the Obs garden all day and showed more frequently than at any time during its stay. The Firecrest was still at the Obs, and a Blackcap was a new arrival there. Portland Harbour was very busy throughout the day: the immature Surf Scoter showed well between the Oil Tanks and Sandsfoot Castle, there were at least 12 Great Northern Divers, 3 Slavonian and 2 Red-necked Grebes, and a Sandwich Tern seen, and in the late afternoon a Leach's Petrel and an Arctic Skua were reported. The sea was quiet at the Bill, but Chesil Cove produced up to 8 lingering Little Gulls, a Great Skua and a fly-by Grey Phalarope.

Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler - December 7th 2000

photo © Martin Cade

December 7th The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the Obs garden today where it was trapped and ringed at dawn; atrocious weather conditions hindered viewing throughout the rest of the day, but the bird continued to show from time to time in the tree mallows outside the bookshop. The wintering Firecrest was also still at the Obs, and there was a new Chiffchaff at Southwell. The Surf Scoter was seen again in Portland Harbour during the morning, but the weather put paid to any observations in the afternoon. A lone Sandwich Tern was at Ferrybridge at midday.

Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler - December 6th 2000

December 6th A day of plenty more action in what ought to be one of the quietest times of year. The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in the Obs garden was again the highlight although it remained frustratingly elusive for long periods. A Firecrest was still present at the Obs, and an exceptionally late Reed Warbler was trapped and ringed there. A female/immature Surf Scoter was a new arrival in Portland Harbour where it showed very well close inshore between the Oil Tanks and Ferrybridge in the late afternoon. Seawatching at the Bill produced 4 Red-throated Divers, 3 Eider, a Grey Phalarope, a Great Skua and a Little Gull. December 5th The Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained around the Obs garden all day. It was generally very elusive in the blustery and wet weather, but every hour or so showed well in the tree mallows outside the bookshop. Seawatching at the Bill produced 4 Little Gulls, as well as single Arctic and Great Skuas. Elsewhere there were a couple of Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff at Pennsylvania Castle, and 2 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour. December 4th The discovery of a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at the Obs caused some unexpected excitement today. The bird was often very elusive but showed well on several occasions through the afternoon in the tree mallows outside the bookshop. The sea provided the rest of the interest, with 4 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great and an Arctic Skua, a Leach's Petrel and a Red-breasted Merganser past the Bill, and 8 Little Gulls in Chesil Cove. December 3rd The Island remained quiet, with the best birds being a couple of fly-by Velvet Scoter off the Bill. The Pennsylvania Castle area still held a few Goldcrests, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs, and the Firecrest showed occasionally at the Obs garden. December 2nd Decent weather saw a few more birders in the field, but there was little reward for their efforts. Aside from the wintering Firecrest, the Bill produced just a Fieldfare and a trickle of late Goldfinches, as well as the flock of 40 Common Scoter still offshore. Portland Harbour held a couple of Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe, there was a Black Redstart at Portland Castle, and there were again 2 Sandwich Terns at Ferrybridge. December 1st There was again a little passage off the Bill, with 9 Red-throated Divers, 3 Tufted Ducks and 2 Little Gulls, among fair numbers of Fulmars, Kittiwakes and auks. The Bill area produced just 7 Redwings and 3 Lapwings, and there were still a few Goldcrests at Pennsylvania Castle.