9th February

In cooler and quieter conditions the effects of yesterday's storm were most noticeable at Portland Harbour where there were several peak counts for the winter amongst totals that included 22 Black-necked Grebes, 18 Great Northern Divers, 5 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Sandwich Terns and 1 Red-necked Grebe; although only tenuously within the island recording area, a Common Sandpiper was also along the mainland shore of the harbour. The day's other reports were from the south of the island, where a Chiffchaff was at Reap Lane, 2 Short-eared Owls and singles of Dartford Warbler, Chiffchaff and Firecrest remained at the Bill and 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Common Scoter passed through off the Bill.




Black-necked Grebes, Slavonian Grebe and Short-eared Owl - Portland Harbour and Southwell, 9th February 2016 © Joe Stockwell (Black-necked Grebes) and Pete Saunders (Slavonian Grebe and Short-eared Owl)