January 2001

    January 31st The Surf Scoter couldn't be found in Portland Harbour, but there were 4 Slavonian Grebes and a Great Northern Diver there. The single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge, where there were also 6 Little Egrets. A single Red-throated Diver passed the Bill. January 30th The immature Surf Scoter was still showing in Portland Harbour, where there were again plenty of divers and grebes, as well as 2 Common Scoter and 2 Mute Swans. A Great Northern Diver was still at Ferrybridge, and the adult Glaucous Gull was on the Air Station in the morning. A single Red-throated Diver passed the Bill, and there were 2 Black Redstarts there. In the evening a single Long-eared Owl left its roost at Verne Common. January 29th All the news today came from the Bill, where seawatching produced 10 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver, as well as the adult Glaucous Gull that was seen following a fishing-boat in the afternoon; on the land there was just a single Purple Sandpiper and a Black Redstart. January 28th Portland Harbour remained busy, with the Surf Scoter and plenty of divers and grebes still present. Seawatching at the Bill produced 8 Red-throated Divers, 7 Wigeon and 2 Brent Geese, whilst on the land there were 6 Fieldfares, a Redwing and a Black Redstart. Late news just received: on January 18th at Verne Common there was a female Ring Ouzel (the first mid-winter record for Portland), 3 Firecrests, 2 Woodcock and a Long-eared Owl. January 27th All the birds were again in and around Portland Harbour. The Surf Scoter was off the Air Station in the morning, but, after being flushed by windsurfers, ended up off Sandsfoot Castle in the afternoon. Six Great Northern, a Black-throated and a Red-throated Diver, and 6 Black-necked, 6 Slavonian and 2 Red-necked Grebes, as well as 2 Eider, were also off the Air Station; 3 more Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver were at Ferrybridge. The Glaucous Gull was at Chesil Cove in the late morning. January 26th The Surf Scoter showed up of the Air Station in Portland Harbour again today, and there were 6 Great Northern Divers and 4 Slavonian Grebes there; the Glaucous Gull was also on the Air Station again in the morning. Nearby, the Black-throated and the Great Northern Divers were still at Ferrybridge. A Firecrest was seen in Southwell village in the morning. January 25th Another fair day, albeit with a few heavy showers to dodge. The adult Glaucous Gull showed up on the Air Station during the afternoon. Nearby in Portland Harbour there was no sign of the Surf Scoter, although there were 5 Great Northern Divers, an Eider, and 6 Black-necked, a Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe. Single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were still at Ferrybridge. At the Bill, seawatching produced a Red-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe, as well as the resident flock of Common Scoter. Seven Purple Sandpipers were at the Bill itself, and there were still 2 Black Redstarts there. January 24th The pleasant, warm and sunny weather saw Skylarks in full song at the Bill for the first time this year. However, few birders were out in the field and there was no news of anything especially noteworthy from the area. January 23rd When it wasn't pouring with rain it was drizzling today, and very few birds were seen. The only sightings came from the Bill where there were single Fieldfare and Black Redstart, and a lone Red-throated Diver passed on the sea. January 22nd Another dreary day, with much the same in the way of birds as yesterday. The Surf Scoter was again in Portland Harbour, and there were several Great Northern Divers there still. A Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver were still showing well at Ferrybridge, and a Mediterranean Gull was there in the morning. Five Fieldfares were at the Bill. January 21st The return of milder weather also saw the return of rain and mist, and few birds were seen today. The Surf Scoter was spotted in the gloom at Portland Harbour, and the 2 Great Northern and 1 Black-throated Diver were still at Ferrybridge. January 20th More of the same today, with the Surf Scoter in Portland Harbour still very much the highlight. There were also still plenty of divers and grebes in the Harbour, and the 2 Great Northern and 1 Black-throated Diver were still showing well at Ferrybridge. Black Redstarts were found at several sites including Weston, the Bill and Ferrybridge. The Bill also produced 10 Fieldfares, several Purple Sandpipers, a Lapwing and a Knot. January 19th A really calm day - almost spring-like in the afternoon - saw plenty of birds reported around the area. The Surf Scoter was off Portland Castle, and also in the Harbour there were 8 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver, 8 Black-necked Grebes (the latter from Sandsfoot Castle) and a Common Scoter. Nearby there were 2 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver showing well off the Ferrybridge Inn, and single Black Redstarts at Ferrybridge and the Oil Tanks. At the Bill there were 14 Fieldfares, 5 Lapwings and a Mistle Thrush, as well as 5 Purple Sandpipers and 3 Black Redstarts; 5 Red-throated Divers passed on the sea, and the wintering flock of Common Scoter were still offshore. In the afternoon the adult Glaucous Gull showed up in fields outside the Obs front gate, before joining other gulls feeding around a fishing boat off the East Cliffs. January 18th No news from Portland Harbour today. At the Bill there were 4 Fieldfares, 3 Black Redstarts, a Knot, a Purple Sandpiper and a Lapwing, as well as 4 Red-throated Divers past on the sea. Five Little Egrets were at Ferrybridge. January 17th Portland Harbour continues to provide the best birds: the Surf Scoter was still present and there were a good selection of divers and grebes. At the Bill there was a Knot showing well on the East Cliffs again; also there were 6 Purple Sandpipers, a Turnstone and a Golden Plover. January 16th The gloomy, damp and very cold weather kept most birders indoors. The Surf Scoter was still in Portland Harbour in the afternoon, but all the other observations were from the Bill where there were 2 Black Redstarts, a Golden Plover, a Snipe and a Fieldfare, and 4 Red-throated Divers passed by on the sea. January 15th Very little change today, with most of the action still at Portland Harbour. The Surf Scoter was again off the Air Station, and there were 6 Great Northern Divers, 2 Slavonian and 2 Eider there. The Black-throated and Great Northern Divers were still showing well at Ferrybridge, where there were also 2 Knot. Off the Bill there were still very good numbers of auks passing, along with 14 Red-throated Divers and 14 Black-headed Gulls. Black Redstarts were seen at the Bill and Blacknor.

 

 

Black-throated Diver (left) and Great Northern Diver (right) - January 14th 2001

video-stills © Charlie Moores

 

January 14th Portland Harbour was still busy: the Surf Scoter was the highlight but there were also several Great Northern Divers, and 3 Slavonian and 2 Red-necked Grebes showing from Portland Castle and the Air Station. Nearby, single Black-throated and Great Northern Divers showing well at Ferrybridge were popular attractions. The adult Glaucous Gull was at Chesil Cove in the morning. A Knot on the East Cliffs and a Jack Snipe at Culverwell were both unusual for the Bill, where 5 Red-throated Divers also passed offshore and there were 2 Black Redstarts at the DERA compound. January 13th With conditions in Portland Harbour having improved more was seen there today. The Surf Scoter was still present off Portland Castle and the Air Station, and there were also 7 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, 2 Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe, and 3 Eider. The close Black-throated Diver was still at Ferrybridge, and a single Red-throated Diver passed the Bill. January 12th The wind had hardly abated at all, so once again very little was seen today. The immature Surf Scoter was seen off the Air Station in the morning, and there were still several Great Northern Divers in the Harbour. Good numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks were passing the Bill all day. January 11th The east wind had increased overnight to a blasting gale and very few birders ventured out. The only birds of note were a very close Black-throated Diver among the moored boats beside the Ferrybridge Inn, and a lone Brent Goose grounded on the Common at the Bill. January 10th A strong and cold north-east wind swept the Island today and made birding difficult. The Glaucous Gull was on the Air Station in the middle of the day, but the Surf Scoter wasn't seen in a brief search of a very rough Portland Harbour. Off the Bill there was a surge in auk numbers, with more than 2000/hour passing in the morning; also past there were 6 Brent Geese and a Red-throated Diver. January 9th A new discovery today was a tristis Chiffchaff seen on the Blacknor housing estate at Weston. The Surf Scoter continued to show at Portland Harbour, and the adult Glaucous Gull was again on the Air Station in the morning. Two Red-throated Divers and a Great Crested Grebe passed the Bill, and there were also 2 Black Redstarts and a Redwing at the Bill. January 8th Portland Harbour was still busy: the Surf Scoter was again the highlight, but there were also 4 Great Northern and 2 Black-throated Divers, 2 Red-necked, 2 Slavonian, a Great Crested and a Black-necked Grebe, 3 Eider and a Little Egret. Single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers were also at Ferrybridge. The adult Glaucous Gull was on the Chesil Beach opposite the Oil Tanks in the morning. Seawatching from the Bill produced 4 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver, and a Red-breasted Merganser. A Firecrest was at the Eight Kings Quarry in the morning. January 7th Very little change today.  The Surf Scoter remained in Portland Harbour, where there were also 6 Great Northern and 2 Black-throated Divers, 2 Red-necked and 2 Slavonian Grebes, and 3 Eider. The adult Glaucous Gull spent much of the morning loafing on the Air Station. Elsewhere there were Black Redstarts at several sites, a Great Northern Diver off the Bill, a Chiffchaff at Weston and a Blackcap at Wakeham. January 6th Portland Harbour remained the most productive location today. The Surf Scoter was found again and showed well off the Air Station, and it was joined by a Little Auk for a short while in the morning. There were also still 3 Eider in the Harbour, but a drop in the numbers of divers and grebes there. The adult Glaucous Gull paid a short visit to the Air Station in the late morning, but was not seen before or afterwards. There was a single Purple Sandpiper at the Bill, and 2 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver passed offshore. January 5th The Surf Scoter could not be found in a short search of Portland Harbour in the morning. A full count of  divers and grebes in the Harbour produced totals of 20 Great Northern and 4 Black-throated Divers, 15 Black-necked, 10 Slavonian and 4 Red-necked Grebes, there were also 3 Eider there. Elsewhere around the Island there were 2 Black Redstarts at Weston and another 2 at the Bill, 7 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, and 2 Red-throated Divers and the wintering flock of Common Scoter off the Bill. The wintering Firecrest at the Obs garden has not been seen this week, and seems likely to have left or perished in the cold weather before the New Year. January 4th The Surf Scoter was still present and showing well in Portland Harbour, but it was otherwise a quieter day. There were 4 Little Gulls in Chesil Cove in the morning, and 8 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, but few other noteworthy sightings.

 

Surf Scoter - January 3rd 2001

video-still © Charlie Moores

 

January 3rd Portland Harbour and Chesil Cove were the productive sites today. The immature Surf Scoter continued to show well off the Air Station and Portland Castle, and there were still plenty of divers and grebes to be seen. There were up to 6 Little Gulls and a Grey Phalarope in Chesil Cove during the morning, and the adult Glaucous Gull put in a brief appearance there at midday.  January 2nd Plenty to see again today. The Surf Scoter and a good selection of divers and grebes were still to be found in Portland Harbour, where there was also an Arctic Skua in the morning. The adult Glaucous Gull showed for a short while at Ferrybridge in the early afternoon. Off the Bill there were 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Skuas, as well as the wintering flock of Common Scoter and a steady passage of Kittiwakes. January 1st A big improvement in the weather, and plenty of birders in the field, saw 2001 get off to an excellent start. The best new discoveries were of an adult Glaucous Gull at Ferrybridge, and a Marsh Harrier at the Bill. Portland Harbour continued to be very busy, with, in addition to the Surf Scoter that showed very well, counts of 14 Great Northern and 2 Black-throated Divers, and 8 Slavonian, 3 Red-necked and 2 Black-necked Grebes. Nearby, there were 3 Little Gulls and an Arctic Skua at Chesil Cove. The Bill produced 9 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Golden Plovers, a couple of Redwings and a Red-throated Diver, whilst elsewhere on the Island there was a Merlin at Weston and a Woodcock at Wakeham. At dusk, a Long-eared Owl was seen leaving its roost at Verne Common.