3rd May

A ticking over day rather than one dripping with migrants but more than entertaining enough with plenty of variety to get amongst. Totals of the likes of 10 Reed Warblers, 8 Garden Warblers, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Whinchats, 3 Hobbys, 2 Ring Ouzels and a Pied Flycatcher amongst the good spread of more routine arrivals around the south of the island were complemented by increased wader activity, including totals of 97 Dunlin, 45 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Turnstones, 2 Sanderlings and a Redshank at Ferrybridge. The millpond-calm sea was again well-watched but 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Skuas and a Mute Swan were the only rewards at the Bill.

A Sika Deer on Chesil near the Ferrybridge car park was, to out knowledge, only the second recorded on land at Portland (a third record concerns one spotted swimming in the harbour off Sandsfoot Castle!). A group of c50 Common Dolphins were off the Bill.

The Bar-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge proved popular © Roy Norris (top) and Pete Saunders (bottom)



Needs must if you're knackered but as refuelling stops en route to the Waddenzee go this lonesome Barwit drew the short straw with its rocky cliff-top at the Bill © Martin Cade:


Pied Flycatcher at Southwell © Pete Saunders: