The momentum of passage established yesterday was maintained, at least on the ground where there was a decent little flurry of newcomers amongst which a
Spoonbill at Ferrybridge was easily the highlight. The small fall of more routine fare at the Bill included 30
Wheatears, 15
Stonechats, 10
Goldcrests, 8
Chiffchaffs, 5
Song Thrushes, 3
Firecrests and a
Brambling; it had quietened down a lot overhead with very few
Meadow Pipits moving and just 9 incoming
Carrion Crows of note. The sea was worth a look for a while with totals of 47
Red-throated Divers, 33
Common Scoter and the first
Manx Shearwater of the spring the best on offer at the Bill. Additional to the Spoonbill, Ferrybridge came up with 150
Dunlin, 2
Canada Geese and singles of
Grey Plover and
Redshank.
We can't remember a Portland Spoonbill that's been as good a performer as this morning's Ferrybridge bird © Debby Saunders:
Vermin elsewhere but a medium value bird at Portland: this morning's Canada Geese over Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:
A few mid-March staples featured at the Obs: a pollen-horned Chiffchaff...
...a cold-coloured presumably non-British Song Thrush...
...and several Goldcrests (there have been springs at Portland after cold winters when no Goldcrests were ringed at all so it's pleasing to see they didn't all succumb in the recent cold snap) © Martin Cade:
