Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre: January 2003

January 31st There was another minor flurry of cold weather refugees today, with 40 Song Thrushes, 13 Lapwings, 10 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares and a Golden Plover at the Bill and Reap Lane. A Firecrest was seen at Easton, 3 Short-eared Owls were still at the Bill and 2 Red-throated Divers flew past on the sea there. January 30th The raw northerly wind, together with a brief flurry of snow in the morning, prompted a few thrushes to get on the move: the Bill and Reap Lane hosted 30 Song Thrushes and 7 Redwings. Auks were very conspicuous off the Bill, with more than 5000/hour passing east during the morning, a lone Red-throated Divers passed by there, at least 2 Short-eared Owls were at the Bill and a Black Redstart was at Southwell. January 29th Despite it being a day of unbroken sunshine, the chilly north-west wind kept most birders indoors and it was left to 3 Short-eared Owls on view from the Obs during the afternoon to save the day. January 28th A blast of cold north-westerlies certainly put paid to any thoughts of spring today, and the only news was of 4 Short-eared Owls at the Bill and a Goldcrest at Pennsylvania Castle.

Common Scoter - Portland Bill, January 27th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 27th A fine spring-like day with Skylarks in full song for the first time this year. The Slavonian Grebe was still close inshore near the Bill, the 25 Common Scoter remained off the East Cliffs and at least 4 Short-eared Owls were showing well over the fields at the Bill. Elsewhere on the island there were 3 Redwings at Avalanche Road, the Goldcrest was still at Weston Street and there was a good mid-winter count of 34 Pied and 2 Grey Wagtails at Church Ope Cove.

Slavonian Grebe - Portland Bill, January 26th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 26th The sea continued to provide a few birds, with 6 Red-throated Divers and large numbers of auks passing off the Bill; the resident Common Scoter flock was still present there and a Slavonian Grebe that lingered close inshore throughout the morning along the East Cliffs was also noteworthy. Nine Purple Sandpipers and 5 Short-eared Owls were still on the land at the Bill, and a Goldcrest was found at Weston Street. The 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese remained at Ferrybridge, and 6 Slavonian Grebes and 3 Eider were in Portland Harbour; January 25th Not much change today. Five Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill, several Short-eared Owls remained in the Bill area, the 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Ferrybridge and there were 3 Eider, 2 Common Scoter and a handful of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour. January 24th Six Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill, where the 25 Common Scoter were still present and large numbers of auks continued to linger offshore. On the land, 2 Short-eared Owls were at the Bill and single Black Redstarts were at both Reap Lane and Ferrybridge. The 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and the Sandwich Tern reappeared at Ferrybridge, a Mediterranean Gull was there, and Portland Harbour produced 6 Black-necked, a Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe, 3 Eider and a Common Scoter. January 23rd At least 5 Short-eared Owls were making the most of the sunny, mild and calm weather at the Bill, but otherwise all there was to show for plenty of effort were the 25 Common Scoter off the Bill itself, 2 Chiffchaffs at Easton and a Black Redstart at Reap Lane.

House Sparrow - Portland Bill, January 22nd 2003 © Martin Cade

January 22nd A pleasantly dry and bright day with some surprising new arrivals reported around the island. At the Bill a Merlin was seen along with at least 4 Short-eared Owls; a Great Skua passed through on the sea, and the 25 Common Scoter were still offshore. Elsewhere, a Brambling passed over at Avalanche Road, and there were 2 Redwings there and another 6 at the Windmills. Four wintering Goldcrests were at East Weare and Pennsylvania Castle, and 2 Great Northern Divers were in Portland Harbour.

Short-eared Owl - Portland Bill, January 21st 2003 © Martin Cade

January 21st Plenty of commoner seabirds, particularly auks, remained off the Bill, together with the 25 wintering Common Scoter and a couple of fly-by Red-throated Divers. The only birds of note on the land were 6 Short-eared Owls at the Bill. January 20th Little birding was possible in wet and windy weather throughout the morning and middle of the day. In clearer weather late in the afternoon 5 Short-eared Owls were again showing well at the Bill.

Razorbills - Portland Bill, January 19th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 19th Large number of auks and other common seabirds remained off the Bill, but the only other news was of 9 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Short-eared Owls and a Turnstone on the land there. January 18th Large numbers of commoner seabirds remained off the Bill, with an estimated 10000 auks being a particularly dramatic spectacle. A Red-throated Diver also passed through on the sea, and 3 Purple Sandpipers and a Short-eared Owl were on the land there. Portland Harbour was still fairly quiet, with 3 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver, 3 Eiders and a Red-necked Grebe seen from Portland Castle today; nearby, there was a Great Northern Diver and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge.

Great Black-backed Gull - Portland Bill, January 17th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 17th A stormy morning saw large numbers of Gannets, gulls and auks gathered in an impressive feeding melee off the Bill; the 25 Common Scoter were also still offshore, and a Red-throated Diver and a Great Skua passed through. In better weather during the afternoon at least 3 Short-eared Owls were showing well at the Bill.

Surf Scoter - Portland Bill, January 16th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 16th The unexpected bird of the day today was a first-winter Surf Scoter that flew west past the Bill late in the afternoon; also past there were 1 Red-throated, 1 Black-throated and 1 Great Northern Diver. On the land there were 4 Short-eared Owls, a Redwing and a Reed Bunting at the Bill, 3 more Redwings at the Windmills, and a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff at Church Ope Cove. January 15th Just a few snippets from the Bill today, where there 9 Purple Sandpipers and 4 Short-eared Owls on the land, and 5 Red-throated Divers and a Velvet Scoter past on the sea. January 14th Not a great deal to report. Nine Song Thrushes, a Short-eared Owl and a wintering flock of 26 Linnets were at the Bill; the 25 Common Scoter also remained offshore there. Counts at Ferrybridge included 90 Dunlin, 65 Ringed Plovers, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Little Egret, a Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit. January 13th Interest dwindled as mild westerly weather returned. The only news was from the Bill, where there were 24 Song Thrushes, 10 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Short-eared Owls, 2 Chaffinches, a Water Rail, a Turnstone and a Redwing. January 12th Less on the land today but a few birds seemed to be returning to Portland Harbour. Virtually all of the cold weather birds had moved on from the Bill area, where there were just 23 Song Thrushes, 9 Redwings, 5 Short-eared Owls and a Water Rail; single Red-throated and Great Northern Divers flew past on the sea there. Counts at Portland Harbour included 11 Black-necked, 3 Great Crested and a Slavonian Grebe, 8 Black-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers, 3 Eider and 2 Common Scoter, whilst another Great Northern Diver was nearby at Ferrybridge.

Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone - Portland Bill, January 11th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 11th Fair variety without any particular highlights today. The Bill area produced 25 Song Thrushes, 11 Purple Sandpipers, 5 Short-eared Owls, 3 Lapwings, 3 Redwings, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Fieldfares, a Ringed Plover and a Turnstone. The only other noteworthy bird on the land was a Black Redstart at Reap Lane. Seawatching at the Bill provided more than 3000 auks, 6 Red-throated Divers and 2 Shelducks flying past, as well as the 35 Common Scoter still lingering offshore. The recent cold spell seems to have done nothing for Portland Harbour, where all that could be found were 120 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Eider, 3 Black-necked, 2 Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe, 2 Grey Herons and a Great Northern Diver. The Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Ferrybridge had increased to 4, and there was also an exceptional count of 20 Mute Swans there. January 10th A little less cold today and fewer birds around. The only news was from the Bill area, where there were 50 Song Thrushes, 6 Snipe, 5 Short-eared Owls, 4 Lapwings, 3 Golden Plovers, 2 Redwings and a Water Rail; 4 Red-throated Divers passed through offshore and the flock of 30 Common Scoter reappeared after going missing for a couple of days.

Lapwing - Portland Bill, January 9th 2003 © Martin Cade

January 9th More typical cold weather birds today, with 60 Song Thrushes, 36 Golden Plovers, 15 Snipe, 10 Lapwings, 6 Redwings and 2 Fieldfares at the Bill; 6 Short-eared Owls remained on view there, and 13 Red-throated Divers flew past offshore. January 8th Another very cold and windy day, albeit rather brighter and drier than yesterday. Little Egret numbers have been steadily increasing at Ferrybridge in recent days - presumably as feeding areas inland have become frozen - and today there were at least 31 there. Plovers and thrushes have also begun to arrive around the island, with 130 Lapwings, 40 Song Thrushes, 30 Golden Plovers, 10 Redwings and a Fieldfare grounded or passing overhead at the Bill alone; also there were 9 Snipe and 5 Short-eared Owls. Five Eider and 2 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill and the 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were still at Ferrybridge. January 7th Those foolhardy enough to venture out today were treated to frequent sleet and snow showers driven in on a vicious south-easterly gale - not surprisingly, quality observations were at a premium. The only sign of cold weather movement was a flock of 12 Golden Plovers on the Chesil Beach at Ferrybridge, whilst the only other birds of note on the land were a single Short-eared Owl at the Bill and a Black Redstart at Ferrybridge. Thirty Common Scoter remained off the Bill, where 6 Eider also flew past. Seven more Common Scoter and 2 more Eider were in Portland Harbour, where there were also ones and twos of most of the regular divers and grebes. The 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were still at Ferrybridge.

January 6th The Common Scoter flock off the Bill increased to 50 but there was not so much on the move offshore today, with just 4 Red-throated Divers and 3 Eider passing the Bill. A small influx of Song Thrushes at the Bill resulted in a count of 26 around part of the area, and also there were 4 Short-eared Owls, a Golden Plover and a Redwing. Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Mediterranean Gull were at Ferrybridge.

January 5th Another substantial passage of 77 Red-throated Divers off the Bill was the highlight today; also past there were 28 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Velvet Scoters, 2 Brent Geese and a Red-breasted Merganser. Six Short-eared Owls were still at the Bill and a Black Redstart was again at Reap Lane. Sightings from Ferrybridge included at least 25 Little Egrets on view between there and the Wyke Bridging Camp, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Grey Plover, a Curlew, a Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern. January 4th With ice on the puddles and a raw north-east breeze sweeping the island, conditions were less than pleasant but there was still plenty to see. Off the Bill another 51 Red-throated Divers passed through, along with 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Shelduck and a Mallard; the resident flock of 30 Common Scoter were also still present. Five Short-eared Owls were still showing well at the Bill, with another 2 also now present at Reap Lane. Odds and sods otherwise on the land included a Golden Plover and a Redwing at the Bill, another 4 Redwings at Barleycrates Lane and a Buzzard over Fortuneswell. Portland Harbour produced 6 Great Northern and 2 Black-throated Divers, 11 Great Crested, 7 Slavonian, 4 Black-necked and 2 Red-necked Grebes, 8 Razorbills, 2 Common Scoter and a Guillemot, whilst another Black-throated Diver was at Ferrybridge.

January 3rd The first really nice day of the year got more people into the field and there was plenty to see. The sea provided most of the interest at the Bill, with 39 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver, 25 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Velvet Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, a Brent Goose and a Great Skua passing through, and the flock of 30 Common Scoter still settled offshore. On the land there, Short-eared Owls were constantly on view around the fields and 5 Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone were on the rocks at the Bill itself. Elsewhere there were 4 Redwings and a Black Redstart at Weston, a Blackcap at Church Ope Cove and a scatter of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour. January 2nd After another wet night the day itself was drier, although a strengthening north-west wind hindered birding everywhere. The Short-eared Owls continued to show at the Bill, but there was little else of note on the land. Seawatching at the Bill produced just 2 Red-throated Divers and the settled flock of 30 Common Scoter; over 100 Black-headed Gulls were feeding in Chesil Cove but there was no passage of note there. Elsewhere there were 3 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver, 3 Slavonian and a Black-necked Grebe, 3 Eider and 2 Common Scoter in Portland Harbour, 6 Mute Swans at Ferrybridge and a Merlin near Pennsylvania Castle.

January 1st Wet and windy weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the many day-listers out and about around the area today. They were treated to a good show by up to 9 Short-eared Owls at the Bill; also there were 7 Purple Sandpipers, a Water Rail, a Golden Plover, a Turnstone and a newly arrived Blackcap in the Obs garden. Seawatching there was unexpectedly productive, with a Storm Petrel and a Great Skua seen amongst the fair numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks on the move; the 30 Common Scoter were also still offshore. Elsewhere there were 3 Eider and small numbers of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour, and a lone Black Redstart was again at Reap Lane. After dark, there was a cracking start to the ringing year when a Turnstone - the first ever ringed at the Obs - and a Purple Sandpiper were trapped at the Bill.