16th February

The morning wasn't quite a write-off but frequent poor visibility hindered seawatching and the stronger wind and sporadic drizzle spoilt attempts on the land. An unquantified trickle of up-Channel gull passage continued and 7 grounded Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also new. Regulars included 3 Red-throated Divers through and 40 Common Scoter lingering offshore and 7 Purple Sandpipers, one of the Black Redstarts and the Cetti's Warbler on the land.

A small party of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were lingering off the Bill during the afternoon.

After west-bound movements dominated all winter suddenly pretty well all the Red-throated Divers - and everything else for that matter - are heading east:

Stonechats are typically one of the first spring passerine arrivals at this time of year but thus far the majority if not all of those about look to be the local winterers that are still on station:

The present faintly promising immigration conditions don't look to be doing anything much on the moth front, with this Pearly Underwing at the Obs last night - the first record for the year - the only migrant trapped in recent nights © Martin Cade: