2nd April

After a few false starts in recent days today's fresh onshore wind finally kick started up-Channel sea passage, with decent movements logged off Chesil and the Bill. The constituent species were largely those that tend not to take the short cut over Chesil so it's likely there was almost complete duplication on the numbers front: the Bill returned totals of 670 Common Scoter, 73 Sandwich Terns, 35 Manx Shearwaters, 11 Red-throated Divers, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 2 commic terns and singles of Black-throated Diver, Garganey and Wigeon, whilst a shorter watch at Chesil chipped in 470 Common Scoter, 27 Sandwich Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Red-throated Diver. The land was relatively quiet, with 40 Wheatears, 25 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldcrests and singles of Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart and Firecrest at the Bill, with another Black Redstart at Reap Lane the best of the rest elsewhere.

A random selection from this morning's Bill seawatching - Common Scoters, Arctic Skua, Black-throated Diver and Wigeon & Brent Geese © Martin Cade: