10th January

Although there was one of the frostiest dawns of the winter to date the day itself was again calm enough for fieldwork to be a pleasure rather than a chore. The rewards were hardly spectacular but Purple Sandpipers increased to 9 at the Bill where 3 Lapwings were also new arrivals, 3 Eider, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver passed by on the sea and 3 Redwings and the Grey Heron were about on the land. Another Redwing showed up at Reap Lane and Portland Harbour held 18 Black-necked Grebes and singles of Great Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe.