19th March

A freshening westerly ensured that the day was nowhere near as balmy as had been forecast, whilst overnight clear skies saw to it that the grounded migrant tally remained pegged right back. Visible passage did continue to feature, with the first 2 Swallows of the spring (at Barleycrates Lane) of note amongst the steady arrival of Meadow Pipits, but on the ground there was only a Black Redstart at the Bill and a Grey Wagtail at Southwell to provide interest amongst the very thin spread of Wheatears and Chiffchaffs. The sea fared no better, with just 3 Red-throated Divers and a lone Sandwich Tern off the Bill.

Wheatear - Portland Bill, 19th March 2014 © Simon Johnson