December 2005

December 31st

A bright, blustery and quiet end to the year. Auks were passing the Bill in some numbers (ca2000/hour early in the morning) and 45 Common Scoter and 4 Eider were still settled offshore there. Elsewhere there were 5 Mediterranean Gulls at Chesil Cove.

A single Dark Chestnut was the only moth attracted to the one moth-trap operated in the Obs garden overnight.

   

  

  Sandwich Tern - Ferrybridge, December 30th 2005 © Martin Cade

  December 30th

A miserable gloomy and wet day but much milder than of late. Two Sandwich Terns were unexpected new arrivals at Portland Harbour/Ferrybridge where 2 Knot were also unusual mid-winter visitors; several Mediterranean Gulls and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose were also still present there. The only other reports were of 4 Lapwings, 2 Golden Plovers and a Blackcap at the Bill.

December 29th

A calm, clear and very frosty dawn allowed for plenty of early coverage but by midday heavy cloud and drizzly rain had pushed in to spoil any afternoon birding. The Bill area produced 3 Lapwings, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Snipe, a Woodcock and a Fieldfare on the land, along with 30 Common Scoter and 4 Eider settled offshore and 5 Red-throated Divers passing through on the sea, whilst elsewhere there were 4 Redwings and a Siskin at Easton and a Black Redstart at Weston.

Two Roe Deer were in Top Fields early in the morning.

December 28th

Just a hint of some cold weather movement today with 6 Lapwings, a Fieldfare and a Redwing new in at the Bill and 2 Fieldfares and a Redwing passing overhead at Weston; a new Black Redstart was also found at St Georges Estate Road. Resident fare included 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Common Buzzards and a Blackcap at the Bill, 40 Common Scoter and an Eider settled off the Bill, a Red-throated Diver passing through offshore and single Chiffchaffs at Weston and Easton. 

A party of 8 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill in the morning.

December 27th

A raw north-easterly wind that freshened through the day made any birding that involved stepping outdoors/getting out of the car less than appealing. A Barn Owl was seen again alongside the Beach Road during the early hours of the morning and 2 Common Buzzards and a Blackcap were still present at the Bill. Gulls were in short supply at Ferrybridge where there was no sign of the Glaucous Gull and only a handful of Mediterranean Gulls showed up during the afternoon. Nine Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Brent Goose passed through on the sea at the Bill.

   

     

    Glaucous Gull - Ferrybridge, December 26th 2005 © Martin Cade

  December 26th

On another day of very little coverage a Glaucous Gull at Ferrybridge was the pick of the sightings; at least 19 Mediterranean Gulls and 12 Little Egrets were also still there. Elsewhere there were 2 Black Redstarts at Mutton Cove, 2 Common Buzzards, a Purple Sandpiper and a Blackcap at the Bill and a single Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea off the Bill.

December 25th

As might be expected, very little to report today. At least 15 Little Egrets and 12 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge, the Blackcap was again the Obs garden and after dark a Barn Owl was watched hunting beside the Beach Road in the vicinity of the oil tanks. 

   

 

  Udea ferrugalis - Portland Bill, December 24th 2005 © Martin Cade

  December 24th

The overcast, quiet conditions of recent days continued. The Mediterranean Gull count at Ferrybridge increased to 21, but there was otherwise little change with 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Purple Sandpipers, a Redwing and a Blackcap still at the Bill and 20 Common Scoter and an Eider still settled offshore there.

After an immigrant-free few weeks in the Obs garden moth-traps the capture of a single Udea ferrugalis was a minor surprise last night.

December 23rd

The Mediterranean Gull total at Ferrybridge continues to increase, with 15 present there today. Nearby in Portland Harbour there were 6 Common Scoter, 5 Great Northern, 1 Red-throated and 1 Black-throated Diver and 4 Black-necked and 1 Slavonian Grebe. Two Common Buzzards, a Redshank and a Blackcap remained at the Bill, where 40 Common Scoter and an Eider were still settled offshore.

December 22nd

The Bill area produced 5 Turnstones, 2 Common Buzzards, a Purple Sandpiper, a Redshank and a Blackcap on the land and an Eider settled offshore, whilst elsewhere there Chiffchaffs at Southwell (2) and Weston, a Goldcrest at Easton and 13 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge.

December 21st

Very little to report today. A Chiffchaff was a new arrival in the Obs garden, where the Common Buzzard and Blackcap were also still present. Elsewhere there was a Dartford Warbler at Broadcroft Quarry and 4 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour. 

Late news for yesterday: a Red Admiral was on the wing at Fortuneswell.

December 20th

More pleasant weather but no change in the birding. A new Siskin passed through at the Bill where a Common Buzzard, a Water Rail and a Blackcap were all still present; 60 Common Scoter also remained offshore and a single Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea. The only news from elsewhere was of additional Common Buzzards at the Grove (3) and Cheyne.

Late news for yesterday: a Short-eared Owl was seen at the Bill at dusk.

December 19th

Despite very fine weather - cloudless skies and nothing more than a gentle breeze all day - bird interest was at a premium. The Bill area produced 20 Song Thrushes, 2 Common Buzzards, a Water Rail, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Yellowhammer, with 2 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver passing through on the sea. Reports from elsewhere included 11 Little Egrets at Ferrybridge, 3 Black-necked Grebes in Portland Harbour, 4 Goldcrests and a Green Woodpecker at Pennsylvania Castle and 2 Chiffchaffs at Bumpers Lane.

A Red Admiral was on the wing at Southwell.

December 18th

A fairly routine assortment of sightings today, with 2 Snipe, 2 Bullfinches, a Common Buzzard and a Blackcap at the Bill, where 4 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver and a Red-breasted Merganser passed through on the sea and 90 Common Scoter and 4 Eider were settled offshore. Elsewhere there were 8 Mediterranean Gulls and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Ferrybridge and 5 Common Scoter, 4 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver and 3 Black-necked  and 3 Slavonian Grebes in Portland Harbour.

December 17th

Late newcomers today included 2 Snipe, a Brambling and a Bullfinch at the Bill, where 2 Common Buzzards and a Blackcap were still present on the land and 60 Common Scoter were still offshore; a single Red-throated Diver was the only bird of note passing through on the sea. Portland Harbour held 4 Black-necked Grebes, a Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver, whilst after dark a Barn Owl was seen beside the Beach Road in the vicinity of the oil tanks.

December 16th

Precious little coverage today. Five Purple Sandpipers were at the Bill, the Blackcap remained in the Obs garden and 60 Common Scoter and 3 Eider were still off East Cliffs at the Bill.

Late news for yesterday: a Dartford Warbler was at Southwell.

   

  

 

  Blackcap and Eiders - Portland Bill, December 15th 2005 © Martin Cade

  December 15th

A Dartford Warbler was a good winter find at Kingbarrow Quarry but the only other new arrivals of note were 3 Eider off East Cliffs at the Bill and a Blackcap in the Obs garden; 4 different Common Buzzards were still around the island (2 at Southwell and singles at the Bill and the Grove), 30 Common Scoter were still off the Bill, a Chiffchaff was still in a garden at Reap Lane and a single Purple Sandpiper was at the Bill.

Late news for yesterday: a Chiffchaff was in a garden at Reap Lane.

   

     

  Common Buzzards - Portland Bill, December 14th 2005 © Martin Cade

  December 14th

The only reports were from the Bill, where there were 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Purple Sandpipers, a Redwing and a Fieldfare on the land and 20 Common Scoter settled offshore.

December 13th

Late migrants at the Bill included 8 Fieldfares, 4 Redwings, 3 Lapwings, 2 Snipe and a Siskin; the Common Buzzard was also still present there, whilst a count of 85 Greenfinches was a good winter total for the Bill. At least 50 Common Scoter were still settled offshore, a single Eider lingered there for a while and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Red-throated Divers also passed through on the sea.

   

           

  Common Buzzard - Portland Bill, December 12th 2005 © Martin Cade

  December 12th

A very different day to yesterday with overcast skies and a brisk north-east wind making it feel unpleasantly chilly. A Common Buzzard spent much of the afternoon settled in the Obs garden and adjacent hut fields (at least three different individuals have been seen on the island in recent days) but the only other new arrivals at the Bill were a handful of Song Thrushes and Redwings. The wintering flock of Common Scoter remained off the Bill, where auks were offshore in higher numbers than recently (1000+ in the first hour of daylight) and 2 Red-throated Divers, a Brent Goose and a Shelduck also passed through.

Late news for yesterday: a Red Admiral was on the wing at Southwell.

December 11th

Despite spring-like cloudless skies and warm sunshine the bird list for today had a distinctly early winter-ish flavour, with the Bill area producing 18 Fieldfares, 4 Snipe, 2 Bramblings, a Grey Heron, a Common Buzzard, a Water Rail, a Lapwing, a Mistle Thrush, a Chiffchaff and a Redpoll.

The mild weather tempted a Small Tortoiseshell on to the wing at Fortuneswell.

December 10th

A pleasantly mild and still day. Three Fieldfares, a Snipe, a Woodcock and a Bullfinch were the most noteworthy new arrivals at the Bill, where the wintering Common Scoter flock remained offshore and a single Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea. Portland Harbour produced 3 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver, 3 Common Scoter and 2 Slavonian Grebes.

In promisingly mild conditions overnight the only faintly interesting capture in the Obs garden moth-traps was a single late Turnip Moth.

Late news for yesterday: a Little Auk was off Castletown in Portland Harbour.

December 9th

New arrivals at the Bill included 15 Chaffinches, 2 Redwings and 2 Fieldfares, along with 150 Starlings that arrived in off the sea and continued northwards. The touch of east in the breeze was enough to get a few things moving on the sea, with 13 Wigeon, 9 Red-throated Divers, 3 Teal and 3 Velvet Scoter passing through off the Bill, where 90 Common Scoter and another single Teal were settled offshore. Elsewhere there were 5 Goldcrests at Pennsylvania Castle, a Black Redstart at Portland Castle, 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge and 4 Great Northern Divers, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Black-throated Divers and a Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour.

December 8th

Very little coverage today. The only sightings of any note were of the wintering flock of Common Scoter still off East Cliffs and the Black Redstart still at the Bill.

December 7th

Action on the land petered out, with a Blackcap, a Siskin and a Reed Bunting being the only new arrivals of note at the Bill where another long-staying Blackcap and a Black Redstart were also still present. Seawatching at the Bill produced 12 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver, 4 Eider, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Teal along with 88 settled Common Scoter (but no sign of the Velvet Scoter with them today).

A party of about 9 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill all day.

December 6th

Fair weather allowed for plenty of coverage today. Pick of the sightings from around the island were of 3 Siskins, 2 Snipe, a Redwing, a Black Redstart, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Redpoll at the Bill, 4 Goldcrests, the long-staying Green Woodpecker, a Chiffchaff and a Siskin at Pennsylvania Castle, a Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting at Weston and a Siskin at Easton. Sixty Common and a Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill where 6 Red-throated Divers, 7 Pintail and a Great Northern Diver passed through, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe were in Portland Harbour and 4 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge.

December 5th

Despite the late date migrants remained on the move in small numbers. The Bill area provided totals of 15 Song Thrushes, 15 Chaffinches, 7 Siskins, 2 Bullfinches, a Goldcrest and a Redpoll, whilst elsewhere there were 5 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Bullfinches, a Blackcap and a Siskin at Pennsylvania Castle and 3 Fieldfares and a Bullfinch near the windmills at Easton. Eighty Common Scoter, a Velvet Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull lingered off the Bill where 4 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe also passed through.

Red Admirals were again on the wing in the Obs garden.

December 4th

In much calmer conditions a little late passage got going again at the Bill where 20 Chaffinches, 10 Song Thrushes, 4 Bramblings, 3 Redpolls, 2 Bullfinches, a Snipe and a Reed Bunting were new arrivals; 6 Purple Sandpipers and a Blackcap were also still present there. The wintering scoter flock, including the single Velvet Scoter, remained off East Cliffs and singles of Red-throated and Great Northern Diver passed through on the sea. Portland Harbour produced 2 Red-necked, a Slavonian and a Little Grebe, 2 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull.

A single Red Admiral was on the wing in the Obs garden.

December 3rd

Still quite windy with occasional heavy showers but nothing like as severe as yesterday. Two Red-throated Divers and a Pomarine Skua passed through off the Bill where 80 Common and a Velvet Scoter were still settled offshore. Two Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull were lingering in Chesil Cove and 3 Red-necked Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers, a Little Grebe and a Common Scoter were in Portland Harbour. The only news from the land was of a Black Redstart at Chesil Cove and a Blackcap still in the Obs garden.

Late news for yesterday: a Little Auk passed through at Chesil Cove.

   

   

      

      

     Arctic Skua, Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Red-necked Grebes - Ferrybridge and Portland Harbour, December 2nd 2005 © Peter Saunders (Arctic Skua and Pale-bellied Brent Goose) and Martin Cade (Red-necked Grebes)

  December 2nd

Another very stormy day with winds apparently gusting to 70-80mph during the afternoon. A single Red-necked Grebe passed through off the Bill where Kittiwakes were the only commoner seabirds on the move in any quantity; the settled flock of 60 Common Scoter remained offshore but there was no sign of the Velvet Scoter there. The only news from the land was of 2 Bullfinches in the Obs garden. Elsewhere, Ferrybridge produced 1150 Dark-bellied and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a Great Northern Diver, along with 2 Kittiwakes and an Arctic Skua that passed overhead, whilst nearby in Portland Harbour there were 2 Red-necked Grebes, 2 Common Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe.

Late news for yesterday: a Black Redstart was still at Chesil Cove.

December 1st

The first stormy day for several weeks. The only news was of seawatching at the Bill where a Red-throated Diver and a Pomarine Skua passed through and Fulmars, Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks were also on the move in good numbers; 60 Common and a single Velvet Scoter were still settled offshore.

There was a good mammal sighting last night when a Badger was watched at close range on the road verge between Southwell and Pennsylvania Castle shortly before midnight; Badgers are apparently still resident in places in the north of the island but sightings elsewhere are extremely infrequent.

In calm and quite mild conditions early last night Epiphyas postvittana, Crocidosema plebejana, Pearly Underwing (1) and Angle Shades were caught in the Obs garden moth-traps.