12th March

It's a bit of a bad job when the birds of the day are 3 Canada Geese over the Bill, but beggars can't be choosers and in the absence of a Great Spotted Cuckoo they'll have to do. Migrant-wise, the clearance of yesterday's cloud saw northbound passage of Meadow Pipits return to the fore, with a well into four-figure total logged through the day; overflying alba wagtails also numbered several dozen. On the ground there was nothing in quantity but amongst the expected fare 2 Black Redstart and a White Wagtail at Reap Lane, another Black Redstart at Southwell, a Fieldfare at Barelycrates Lane and 2 Firecrests, a Redwing and a Black Redstart at the Bill were all of note. Amongst the long-stayers, the Black Guillemot in Portland Harbour and Iceland Gull at Ferrybridge both made the list. The only report from the sea was of 2 Red-throated Divers through off the Bill.

 

   Black Redstarts - Reap Lane, 12th March 2014 © Pete Saunders 
 
       ...also of interest, thanks to Ken Dolbear for a photo of the Widow (or Snake's-head) Iris Hermodactylus tuberosus that's just coming into flower at Broadcroft BC reserve; we featured this first record for the island last year when, as a good example of how cold and late the spring was, it was in flower on 29th April: