26th April

The unrelenting cold finally got to the birds today, with the flow of new arrivals reduced to little more than a trickle and those that did make it surely questioning their wisdom in the face of sheet showers and an icy wind. Whimbrel, Blackcap and Willow Warbler did manage 30+ totals at the Bill, where 5 Redstarts, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Tree Pipits and singles of Redshank, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler and Firecrest - along with a likely Siberian Chiffchaff - provided interest amongst what little else was about. With the wind remaining resoundingly offshore the only real sea interest concerned 3 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua through off the Bill and 5 Great Skuas through off Chesil. Six Whimbrel and 2 Sanderling were the best of the waders at Ferrybridge.


putative Siberian Chiffchaff (with wing-tip detail) - Portland Bill, 26th April 2016 © Martin Cade

...although this bird seems to look perfectly OK we've had more than enough experience with apparent Siberian Chiffchaffs that have subsequently uttered wholly unconventional calls to be rather over-cautious when it comes to sight ID.

And thanks to Pete Saunders for a couple of photos from Ferrybridge/Portland Harbour this afternoon - Sandwich Tern and Whimbrel: