January 2006

January 31st

Weston provided some early interest with a Barn Owl flying over at dawn and at least one of the Black Redstarts still present. Seven Red-throated Divers and 2 Wigeon passed through off the Bill where 14 Common Scoter were settled offshore and 2 Common Buzzards remained on the land. Elsewhere there were 27 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge and 146 Dunlin, 6 Common Scoter, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Eider and a Great Northern Diver at Portland Harbour.

Late news for yesterday: 2 Knot were at Ferrybridge.

January 30th

Not a hint of a change in the weather with the blasting easterly wind keeping it feeling very cold. The year-ticks hardly come thick and fast at Portland in mid-winter so the addition of a fly-over Hen Harrier at the Grove was a welcome bonus today. The continued presence of large numbers of seabirds feeding offshore (where Gannets increasing to more than 300) was the main feature of interest at the Bill where there were also 9 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Turnstones and a Common Buzzard on the land and at least a single Eider still settled off East Cliffs. Elsewhere there were 520 Brent Geese (including 2 Pale-bellied Brents), 19 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge, nearly 600 Herring Gulls (feeding around the edges of the extensive sand-banks exposed by the very low spring tide) and 4 Black-necked Grebes in Portland Harbour, 3 Fieldfares at the Grove and 2 Black Redstarts at Weston.

A party of at least 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Bill during the morning.

January 29th

A couple more additions to the island year-list today in the form of an Arctic Skua that appeared amongst the mass of feeding seabirds off the Bill and a Brambling that was discovered visiting a bird-table at Courtlands. Otherwise it was more of the same as in recent days, with 300 Brent Geese at Ferrybridge, 31 Fieldfares at the windmills at Easton, a Redwing and a Goldcrest at Easton, a Blackcap at Weston, 5 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Turnstone and a Snipe at the Bill, 3 Eider settled off the Bill and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Red-throated Diver and a Goldeneye passing through off the Bill.

January 28th

The most unpleasant day of the recent cold spell with the biting north-east wind having noticeably strengthened overnight. Four Fieldfares, a Common Buzzard and a Snipe were at the Bill, where 2 Eider were still settled off East Cliffs, a Red-breasted Merganser passed through on the sea and there were again large numbers of Gannets, gulls and auks feeding offshore. The only other report received was of 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge.

January 27th

All the news today came from the Bill where there were 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Snipe, a Common Buzzard, a Lapwing and a Fieldfare on the land, 3 Eider still settled offshore and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers passed through on the sea; several thousand auks (mainly Razorbills), 500 Kittiwakes, 50 Gannets and a single Mediterranean Gull were among the large feeding flocks of birds offshore.

January 26th

The Reap Lane/Barleycrates Lane thrush flock numbered 25 Fieldfares and a single Redwing, with another 4 Fieldfares present at the Bill. Four Common Buzzards were scattered around the centre and south of the island, whilst other sightings of note included 11 Long-tailed Tits at Avalanche Road, a Blackcap at Ventnor Road, a Chiffchaff at Easton, a Lapwing at the Bill and 2 Red-throated Divers passing through off the Bill.

January 25th

A raw north-easterly wind ensured excursions into the field were few and far between today. Four Goldeneye, 2 Mallards and a Red-throated Diver passed through off the Bill, where 6 Purple Sandpipers and a Common Buzzard were again present on the land. The only other report of interest was of a party of 14 Linnets at the windmills at Easton.

January 24th

Thrushes figured again today, with a decent sized flock at Reap Lane found to contain 64 Redwings and 27 Fieldfares. Another 6 Fieldfares along with 2 Common Buzzards, a Golden Plover and a Chiffchaff were at the Bill, where 3 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea. At dusk an eared owl, thought to be a Short-eared Owl, was seen flying over the Obs garden.

   

    

  Razorbills - Portland Bill, January 23rd 2006 © Martin Cade

  January 23rd

Grey skies together with a brisk and chilly easterly wind made for uncomfortable birding today. Six Redwings and 4 Fieldfares were new arrivals at the Bill where 4 Eider were still settled offshore, a single Red-throated Diver passed by and good numbers of auks - still predominantly Razorbills - remained offshore. Elsewhere there were still 3 Redwings at Easton and late in the afternoon the Mediterranean Gull record was broken yet again when 31 were counted passing Sandsfoot Castle on their way to roost. 

January 22nd

The only newcomer of note today was a Short-eared Owl seen at dusk at the Bill. Another 4 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill but the only other news from there was of 2 Eider still settled offshore and 3 Common Buzzards still roaming about on the land. Elsewhere there were small numbers of a selection of  divers and grebes in Portland Harbour and several Mediterranean Gulls were again at Ferrybridge but no full counts were reported from either site.

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

January 21st

Pleasant mild and sunny conditions saw plenty of birders in the field, with their main reward being another record count of 29 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. Otherwise there was just a selection of typical winter sightings, with 6 Red-throated, a Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver passing the Bill, 5 Eider still settled off East Cliffs, 2 Common Buzzards, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff at the Bill/Southwell and 10 Common Scoter, 2 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Sandwich Terns, a Great Northern Diver, a Black-throated Diver and an Eider in Portland Harbour.

The first butterflies of the year - single Red Admirals in each case - were on the wing in the Obs garden and in a garden at Mallams.

   

    

  yesterday's Pochard - Chesil Cove, January 19th 2006 © Nigel Gidney

  January 20th

More fairly routine reports today, with 6 Purple Sandpipers still at the Bill, 3 Eider still settled offshore there and 4 Slavonian, 4 Black-necked and 2 Red-necked Grebes, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 2 Sandwich Terns in Portland Harbour. 

January 19th

The sea continues to provide much of the interest with an unseasonable Manx Shearwater off the Bill being today's highlight; another 7 Red-throated Divers also passed through and the usual few Common Scoter and Eider were still settled offshore. Four Purple Sandpipers and a Common Buzzard remained at the Bill, a Chiffchaff was at Southwell, 2 Redwings and a Firecrest were at Easton and a Pochard was settled in Chesil Cove.

Despite very mild conditions overnight the Obs garden moth-traps were again unproductive; the first Mottled Grey of the year was the only minor highlight among the handful of routine residents caught.

Late news for yesterday: Portland Harbour produced totals of 11 Common Scoter, 5 Slavonian and 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver, 2 Eider and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Our links page has been updated with the addition of several Obs members new websites; these include Simon Woolley's Birding by Bike, along with Anserbirding that includes sightings updates from Slimbridge WWT by Martin McGill and James Lees.

January 18th

A small movement of divers off the Bill this morning included 12 Red-throateds and 2 Great Northerns but otherwise just standard fare to report, with 40 Common Scoter and 6 Eider still settled off the Bill, 3 Common Buzzards and a Snipe at the Bill and a Chiffchaff at Avalanche Road.

January 17th

A Great Skua passing through off the Bill was an addition to the year list but otherwise it was more of the same as in recent days. A Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and a Mediterranean Gull also passed through off the Bill where 5 Eider were still settled offshore.  A single Chiffchaff was again at Reap Lane, 16 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge and 13 Common Scoter, 8 Slavonian and 4 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Great Northern  and 2 Black-throated Divers, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Eider and 2 Sandwich Terns were in Portland Harbour. 

   

      

  Oystercatcher and Little Gull - Portland Bill, January 16th 2006 © Martin Cade

  January 16th

Lots of coverage today and plenty of birds to show for the effort. Four Red-throated Divers, a Little Gull and a Mediterranean Gull passed through on the sea at the Bill where 6 Eider were still settled offshore and a Common Buzzard was still present on the land. Portland Harbour produced totals of 13 Common Scoter, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 Slavonian, 4 Black-necked and a Red-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Divers and an Eider, whilst elsewhere there were 2 Goldcrests and a Firecrest in the Pennsylvania Castle/Wakeham area, 3 Redwings at Easton and 2 Chiffchaffs at Reap Lane.

January 15th

Large numbers of auks, predominantly Razorbills, remained off the Bill where 6 Eider were still settled off East Cliffs, 8 Red-throated Divers passed through and a Common Buzzard, a Purple Sandpiper and a Blackcap were still present on the land. Elsewhere there 11 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge and 4 Black-necked Grebes, a Black-throated Diver and an Eider in Portland Harbour.

Late news for yesterday: additional reports for Portland Harbour include a fly-by Scaup and a single Black Redstart.

January 14th

A very different day with the wind having dropped right away and an early spell of light rain being quickly replaced by clearer skies. Many hundreds of auks remained off the Bill but gull numbers had dropped markedly; 6 Eider were still offshore, a Mediterranean Gull lingered for a while and a lone Red-throated Diver passed through. Five Purple Sandpipers, a Common Buzzard and a Blackcap were also still at the Bill and a Chiffchaff  was in a garden at Reap Lane. The only other news came from Portland Harbour where there were 11 Common Scoter, 6 Great Northern Divers, 6 Slavonian and 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Eider and 2 Sandwich Terns.

January 13th

A stiff southerly wind spoilt what was otherwise a pleasantly sunny and mild day. Gannets, gulls and auks were still feeding in quantity off the Bill where 40 Common Scoter and 5 Eider were also still settled. Six Purple Sandpipers and a Blackcap remained at the Bill, 8 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Sandwich Terns, a Slavonian Grebe and a Kingfisher were at Portland Harbour/Ferrybridge and a Red-throated Diver flew over the harbour. 

The lit windows of the Obs lounge have been festooned with Winter Moths in recent nights but the one moth-trap operated in the Obs garden last night failed to attract a single moth of any species.

   

    

  feeding melee of gulls - Portland Bill, January 12th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 12th

Large feeding flocks of gulls and auks - presumably attracted by shoaling sprats or the like - were a feature off the Bill throughout the morning, but the only other news was of 25 Common Scoter and 5 Eider still settled off the Bill, a Common Buzzard and a Blackcap still at the Bill, the Velvet Scoter still in Portland Harbour and a Kingfisher on the harbour shore near Portland Castle.

January 11th

A pleasantly sunny day but no great change on the bird front. Auks were very conspicuous, with more than 4000 passing the Bill in the first hour of the day, but the sea otherwise produced just 2 passing Red-throated Divers and the usual settled groups of 50 Common Scoter and 6 Eider. Six Purple Sandpipers and a Blackcap remained at the Bill and the Velvet Scoter remained in Portland Harbour.

January 10th

A change to much milder weather came courtesy of a freshening south-west wind but any rain held off until after dark. The only worthwhile news came from the Bill where there was an unexpected westerly movement of more than 170 Great Black-backed Gulls; a single Red-throated Diver also passed through on the sea and 50 Common Scoter and 7 Eider were still settled offshore. There was nothing better on the land than 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Common Buzzards and a Blackcap.

January 9th

Another damp and dismal start to the day although the arrival of clearer weather permitted a good deal of coverage during the afternoon. Portland Harbour provided totals of 210 Red-breasted Mergansers, 16 Great Crested, 4 Black-necked and 2 Slavonian Grebes, 13 Common Scoter, 3 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver, 3 Eider, 2 Sandwich Terns, a Goldeneye and a Velvet Scoter, whilst nearby at Ferrybridge there were 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Little Grebes, 4 Brent Geese and a Little Egret. Elsewhere there were 2 Black Redstarts at Portland Castle, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff at Mallams and 2 Common Buzzards and a Blackcap at the Bill.

January 8th

A truly grim day of constant sleety rain blown in on a cold north-easterly breeze. Six Purple Sandpipers, a Redwing and a Blackcap were at the Bill where 8 Eider were still settled offshore. Elsewhere there were 25 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge and 3 Redwings and a Snipe at Kingbarrow Quarry.

   

    

  Velvet Scoter - Portland Harbour, January 7th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 7th

The grey skies of recent days had cleared but a keen easterly breeze kept it feeling very chilly. A Pomarine Skua was off the Bill early in the morning but the only other reports from there were of a single Red-breasted Merganser passing by on the sea, 2 Eider still settled offshore and 2 Common Buzzards, a Brent Goose, a Lapwing, a Snipe and a Blackcap on the land. A Velvet Scoter was a new arrival in Portland Harbour where there were also 7 Common Scoter, 4 Black-necked and 2 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Sandwich Terns and a Great Northern Diver. At least 13 Mediterranean Gulls were again at Ferrybridge.

January 6th

Not much change in the weather or the birding. The only reports were from the Bill where 11 Eider were still settled offshore, 3 Red-throated Divers passed through on the sea and 2 Pheasants, a Common Buzzard and a Blackcap were scattered around the area.

January 5th

A cold wind and grey skies deterred all but the most enthusiastic birders today. Nine Eider, 2 Little Gulls and a few Common Scoter lingered off the Bill where 3 Red-throated Divers also passed by. The land produced just 3 Purple Sandpipers and a Blackcap at the Bill and at least 3 Common Buzzards wandering around the centre and south of the island.

January 4th

A chillier day with a brisk north-easterly wind having set in overnight. Another 10 Red-throated Divers, 2 Brent Geese and a Wigeon passed through off the Bill, where 40 Common Scoter and 7 Eider were still settled offshore and a Little Gull lingered amongst the feeding flock of gannets, gulls and auks off East Cliffs. Three Sandwich Terns remained in Portland Harbour but the only other news was from the land, with a Common Buzzard, a Lapwing and a Blackcap at the Bill and a large post-roost gathering of more than 220 Jackdaws (probably accounting for the majority of the island population) at Weston.

January 3rd

Not such a pleasant day with drizzly rain and low cloud settling over the island by midday. Three Sandwich Terns, several Mediterranean Gulls and a good variety of divers, grebes and sea-duck were again in Portland Harbour although the reduced visibility hampered attempts at a full count. Seven Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill, where 7 Eider were still offshore and 2 Purple Sandpipers, a Common Buzzard and a Blackcap were still present on the land. Elsewhere there was a Chiffchaff at Mallams.

In surprisingly balmy conditions overnight a single Plutella xylostella was an unseasonable visitor to the Obs garden moth-traps; the only resident species trapped were Winter Moth, Scobipalpa costella, Epiphyas postvittana, Crocidosema plebejana and Acleris hastiana.

January 2nd

Another long list from the area today in perfect mild and still winter birding weather. Portland Harbour provided totals of 11 Common Scoter, 6 Great Northern and 2 Black-throated Divers, 3 Black-necked, 2 Slavonian and 2 Red-necked Grebes, 2 Eider and a Sandwich Tern; additionally, both Kingfisher and Black Redstart were seen near of Portland Castle. Mediterranean Gulls were well spread around the harbour and Ferrybridge and thought to number at least 26 in total; Ferrybridge also held 50 Dunlin, 40 Oystercatchers, 8 Little Egrets, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Curlew. All the rest of the news came from the Bill where 15 Red-throated Divers, a Red-necked Grebe and a Red-breasted Merganser passed by offshore, 75 Common Scoter and 11 Eider were still settled off East Cliffs and a Common Buzzard, a Redwing, a Blackcap and a Bullfinch were seen on the land.

January 1st

The customary flurry of new year birding activity produced reports of a variety of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour that included 3 Red-throated, a Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver and 4 Black-necked, 2 Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe; both the recently arrived Sandwich Terns were also still present there. Nine new Eider joined the 3 birds already present off the Bill where 70 Common Scoter were still settled offshore and a Red-throated Diver and a Mediterranean Gull passed by. The only other reports were of a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge and 9 Purple Sandpipers, a Common Buzzard and a Blackcap at the Bill.

Late news for yesterday: 6 Mediterranean Gulls and a Sandwich Tern were at Ferrybridge.