13th March

The presence of a mild airstream isn't always a positive influence at this time of year as the happenings of the last couple of days can attest. Today's migrant activity at the Bill was restricted to just a handful of Chiffchaffs and singles of Wheatear and Redwing on the ground, a trickle of wagtails and pipits arriving overhead and 30 Common Scoter and 8 Red-throated Divers through on the sea - hardly the stuff of dreams. Winter fare still about included 4 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, 7 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Ferrybridge and a good total of 51 Turnstones on the Portland Harbour shore.