February 2001

    February 28th The Bill produced just 7 Common Scoter and 4 Purple Sandpipers, and there were 20 Brent Geese and 2 Great Northern Divers at Ferrybridge. February 27th More of the same today, with sea-watching at the Bill producing just 6 Common Scoter, a Red-throated and an unidentified Diver, and a lone Black-headed Gull. February 26th A cold and wet day that produced very little. Three Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver passed the Bill, and there was still a lone Great Northern Diver at Ferrybridge. February 25th Snow blanketed the island at dawn, but a lone Fieldfare and a 'new' Water Rail at the Bill were the only sign of any cold weather movement. Sea-watching from the Bill produced 4 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver, and there were 6 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks at the Bill itself. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was still at Ferrybridge. February 24th Much the same today with a few Black Redstarts around the Bill area. One Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great-crested Grebes and two Eiders still at Portland Harbour. February 23rd Two Manx Shearwaters, a single Red-throated Diver and 3 Common Scoter past the Bill are the only noteworthy birds today. February 22nd A further movement of Stonechats was witnessed today with 28 birds being present.  Two Black Redstarts and 2 Redwings were also in evidence. Ferrybridge produced a winter plumage, adult, Mediterranean Gull, and a  Pale-bellied Brent Goose. February 21st A Snipe and 3 Fieldfare at Culverwell were the most unusual birds for Portland seen in our area today. Divers noted moving past the Bill were 1 Great Northern and 2 Red-throated. Sixteen Stonechats were counted round about. February 20th Many more birds were reported today with observers at Portland Harbour sighting 9 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 5 Black-necked Grebes and 3 Slavonian Grebes. Two Red-throated Divers passed the Bill, as did 22 Common Scoter. There were seven Purple Sandpipers and 5 Turnstone on the rocky ledges favoured by these species below the obelisk, while 14 Oystercatchers could be found on the East Cliffs. Stonechats are still moving. A minimum of 7 were present around the Observatory.  February 19th Very few birders were in the field today despite bright but chilly weather, meant that we can only report a single Siskin from the Observatory garden early this morning and one Red-throated Diver passed the Bill. February 18th A cold, bright day saw small groups of Common Scoter, around 35 birds in all, and 11 Red-throated Divers, moving eastwards up the Channel. A Great Northern Diver and a Black-necked Grebe were present at Portland Harbour. Black Redstarts could be found at the Obs Quarry and the Lower Admiralty. February 17th Stonechats were again present in numbers around the Island, but the most interesting new arrivals were 2 exceptionally early Puffins seen on the sea beneath the auk colony on the West Cliffs at the Bill. Also seen near the Obelisk were 2 Black Redstarts, 4 Purple Sandpipers and up to 4 Turnstone. A Great Northern Diver was still at Ferrybridge. February 16th The continuing fine weather produced another pulse of Stonechats today; 26 were counted in the Bill area, with most again passing quickly northwards. Four Fieldfares were also new arrivals at the Bill, but the only other noteworthy bird reported was a lone Blackcap at Pennsylvania Castle. February 15th Another really pleasant calm and sunny day produced the first signs of spring passage. A total of 17 Stonechats were counted in the Bill area, where there have been just 5 through the winter; most were on the move northwards and had left by the end of the day. It was otherwise rather quiet, with just 9 Purple Sandpipers near the Pulpit Rock at the Bill, and a Great Northern Diver at Ferrybridge. February 14th A good selection of divers and grebes were still in Portland Harbour, and the Great Northern Diver remained at Ferrybridge. The Bill was quieter than yesterday, with just 8 Purple Sandpipers and a single Black Redstart reported. February 13th A day of light winds and unbroken sunshine got plenty of birders out in the field. Portland Harbour was very busy, with counts of 19 Great Northern and 4 Black-throated Divers, 4 Black-necked, 4 Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe, and 3 Eider. Nearby there was a Black-throated Diver at Ferrybridge and a Black Redstart at Portland Castle. Sea-watching from the Bill produced 20 Common Scoter, 8 Shoveler, 4 Red-throated Divers, 2 Brent Geese and a Mediterranean Gull, and there were 5 Fieldfare and a Black Redstart around the Bill area. February 12th Little to report today, with the only noteworthy birds reported being a Great Northern Diver at Ferrybridge, and 12 Common Scoter and a Golden Plover at the Bill. February 11th The sea provided most of the interest again today. Off the Bill there were 19 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throated Divers, a Mediterranean Gull and a Great Skua; 6 Purple Sandpipers were also there on the rocks at the Bill itself. A single Great Skua was also seen settled briefly at Ferrybridge. February 10th The arrival of wet and windy weather stirred up a few birds out to sea, with 27 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Little Gulls and a first- or second-year Iceland Gull being seen off the Bill during the course of the day; also there were 7 Purple Sandpipers and a Black Redstart. There were 7 Great Northern Diver and a Black-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour, and the very visible Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge. Another Black Redstart was seen at the Oil Tanks beside Portland Harbour. February 9th Not a lot of change today. The Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge, and 3 Red-throated Divers passed the Bill. February 8th Two Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver were showing well at Ferrybridge, and a flock of 10 Common Scoter were settled off the Bill; also off the Bill there were again large numbers of feeding auks and Kittiwakes. February 7th The quiet spell continued. The single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge, and there was also a Mediterranean Gull there. February 6th The only noteworthy bird reported today was a Great Skua off the Bill in the morning. February 5th So far, February is living up to its reputation as the least productive month of the year at Portland. Today saw the customary selection of divers and grebes reported from Portland  Harbour, and the single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were again at Ferrybridge. A party of 4 Firecrests were an unusual sighting in the park at Easton Square. February 4th The blustery and often wet weather produced a lot more Gannets, auks and Kittiwakes off the Bill than have been seen lately. In Portland Harbour there were several Great Northern Divers, 5 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Eider. February 3rd Another very quiet day. There were the usual selection of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour, and the single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge. At the Bill there were 2 Fieldfares, 2 Purple Sandpipers and a Merlin. February 2nd  Not very much to report today. There was again no sign of the Surf Scoter in Portland Harbour, although plenty of divers and grebes remained there and at Ferrybridge. At the Bill there were just 2 Black Redstarts and 2 Fieldfares. February 1st There was no sign of the Surf Scoter in Portland Harbour again today, but there were plenty of divers and grebes, and an Eider there. The Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge, where there was also a lone Common Scoter and the adult Glaucous Gull (which was later seen at Chesil Cove). Seawatching at the Bill produced 4 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, and 32 Common Scoter, and 2 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks near Pulpit Rock.