A Red Kite that crossed the island during the afternoon before heading away towards the mainland was a surprise mid-winter oddity today; 4 Knot at Ferrybridge were also an addition to the year-list, albeit a rather less unexpected one, whilst 9 Redwings watched flying in off the sea at the Bill were new arrivals. The remainder of the day's tally consisted of a few of the regulars: the Rosy Starling at Easton, a Black Redstart at Blacknor, a Blackcap at the Grove, 7 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, 8 Common Scoter 2 Eider and a Great Skua lingering off the Bill and a single Red-throated Diver passing by offshore.
As they usually do, the Red Kite provoked consternation amongst the local inhabitants as it meandered across the middle of the island. In days of yore, well before the introduction projects kicked in and when Red Kite was hardly more than a vagrant at Portland, there was the occasional mid-winter record here although it wasn't established whether these reports related to strays from Wales or the Continent © Martin Cade:
