Gulls were back to the fore today, with a welcome prize
being a Kumlien's Gull that was first spotted passing through Chesil Cove,
before being relocated settled off West Cliffs south of Blacknor Point; one of
the Iceland Gulls was also lingering again in Chesil Cove. Early migrant
interest was restricted to a handful of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks arriving
in/off at the Bill, 39 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Red-throated Diver
passing through on the sea there and singles of Red-throated Diver and Manx
Shearwater through off Chesil Cove. Winterers/long-stayers still making the
list included the Firecrest at Suckthumb
Quarry, the Great Skua at Ferrybridge and 187 Mediterranean Gulls, 19
Black-necked Grebes, 8 Great Northern Divers, 5 Black-throated Divers, 4 Red-necked
Grebes, 2 Slavonian Grebes and singles of Eider and Black Guillemot still in
Portland Harbour.
Iceland Gull, Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Kumlien's Gull - Chesil Cove, Ferrybridge and off Blacknor, 4th March 2014 © Pete Saunders (Iceland Gull and Pale-bellied Brent) and Martin Cade (Kumlien's Gull)
