8th May

The beginnings of a change to fresher conditions were evident today but it came too late to perk up migrant interest that remained at a very low level. Wheatear and Chiffchaff again crept into double figures at the Bill but 2 White Wagtails and a Grasshopper Warbler were about as good as it got amongst the tiny handful of other grounded arrivals there. The sea got plenty of attention and it was again Manx Shearwaters that dominated on the numbers front, with upwards of 1000/hour heading east through the late afternoon and evening; 3 Arctic Skuas and 2 each of Great Northern Diver, Pomarine Skua and Arctic Skua passed by at other times, whilst 2 more Arctic Skuas also passed by off Chesil.

The first Small Blues of the year were on the wing at Bottomcombe today © Ken Dolbear: