9th April

Far busier on the numbers front today, with 120 Willow Warblers, 40 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 4 Wheatears, 2 White Wagtails and 2 Redstarts making landfall at the Bill; at least 3 Short-eared Owls and 2 Firecrests were also still about there. Despite what was clearly an upturn in nocturnal passage movement by day scarcely picked up at all, with nothing more than a light trickle of Meadow Pipits, hirundines and finches. With an unfavourable wind direction seawatching at the Bill produced just small numbers of Manx Shearwaters, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua.



Short-eared Owl and Willow Warbler - Portland Bill and Southwell, 9th April 2016 © Mark Eggleton (SEOwl) and Pete Saunders (Willow Warbler)