Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre: February 2004

February 29th A quiet end to a pretty quiet month. Two Water Rails and a Purple Sandpiper were at the Bill, where an Eider was lingering offshore and 5 Common Scoter flew past on the sea. Ferrybridge still held 90 Brent Geese and a single Mediterranean Gull, whilst there were still 3 Black-necked Grebes in Portland Harbour. February 28th The only news today was of the Goldcrest and a Purple Sandpiper at the Bill, and 23 Linnets and a Black Redstart at Reap Lane. February 27th A little more overnight snow prompted a few Golden Plover to get on the move: a total of 38 were seen during the morning at the Bill, although in rapidly improving weather none lingered for long. The only other sightings were of the wintering Goldcrest still at the Bill, 6 Eider and a Red-throated Diver passing through on the sea there and 35 Linnets at Reap Lane. February 26th A pleasantly sunny morning gave way to snow and hail showers during the afternoon, but the only new arrivals were a few grounded Meadow Pipits at the Bill. The wintering Black Redstart was still there and 3 Red-throated Divers and 3 Eider flew past offshore. Elsewhere, a Mediterranean Gull and 100 Brent Geese were at Ferrybridge. February 25th A Black Redstart and another Siskin were at the Bill, where 4 Red-throated Divers and 4 Common Scoter flew past offshore. The only other news was of a Firecrest at Royal Manor School. February 24th Not a great deal to report. Ten Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver passed through off the Bill, where a lone Eider was also lingering offshore. Two more Eider and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were in Portland Harbour, and there were 2 Curlew at Ferrybridge. The only passerines of note were a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest at East Weare. February 23rd A pleasantly sunny day, with the raw easterly wind of the last few days slowly abating. The wintering Firecrest was at Pennsylvania Castle, where there were also 8 Long-tailed Tits. The wintering Goldcrest and Black Redstart, as well as a new Chiffchaff, were still at the Bill, where 2 Common Scoter and a lone Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea. Elsewhere there were 2 Redwings at Avalanche Road and 17 Little Egrets and 4 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. February 22nd Highlight today was a fly-over Spoonbill at Ferrybridge, where there were also 100 Brent Geese and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. Another Siskin appeared at the Bill, where the wintering Goldcrest was still present and a single Red-throated Diver flew past offshore.

Siskin - Portland Bill, February 21st 2004 © Martin Cade

February 21st Another chilly and windy day. Three Siskins and a Grey Plover were new arrivals at the Bill, where an alba wagtail flew north and 7 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Turnstones were still present. Elsewhere, the only report was of 4 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. February 20th With the recent mild spell having lulled both birds and birders into believing spring had arrived, winter returned with a vengeance today as a raw easterly wind cut across the island. A Grey Heron and a Lapwing were new arrivals at the Bill, where the wintering Goldcrest remained at the Obs and a lone Red-throated Diver flew past offshore. February 19th A Black Redstart and a Goldcrest were both still at the Bill, where a Snipe was the only noteworthy new arrival; another Snipe was also at Southwell. Ten Common Scoter and a single Red-throated Diver flew past on the sea at the Bill.

House Martin - Portland Bill, February 18th 2004 © Martin Cade

February 18th A lone House Martin was an unexpected new arrival at the Bill, where it did a few circuits of the Obs lighthouse tower before heading off north. The only other news was of single Black Redstarts at the Bill and at Ferrybridge, and a lone Curlew at Ferrybridge. February 17th Another very quiet day. Single Black Redstarts were at the Bill and Reap Lane, and the wintering Goldcrest was still in the Obs garden. February 16th Six new Eider arrived and joined the 2 wintering birds off the East Cliffs, but the only other sightings of any note were of 3 Common Scoter passing the Bill and a single alba wagtail arriving in off the sea. February 15th Still not a great deal to be seen. Five Purple Sandpipers and a Black Redstart were at the Bill, where 11 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Divers and a Canada Goose flew past on the sea. February 14th Although the conditions remained very pleasant for the time of year only a handful of birders ventured out and there was little news to report. Six Common Scoter and 2 Eider remained off the Bill, where a single Little Auk was an unexpected fly-by. Portland Harbour produced 15 Razorbills, 8 Black-necked and 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver and an Eider, whilst at Ferrybridge there were 3 Little Egrets and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. Six Ravens flying north over the Grove and the Verne were additional to the two pairs of resident birds that are now settled at their breeding sites. February 13th The first few spring migrants put in an appearance today - perhaps not before time bearing in mind the extremely mild weather of recent days. The highlight was a House Martin at Weston, but there were also 19 Stonechats and a Fieldfare at the Bill, 10 alba wagtails arrived in off the sea there, and there were quite a few new Meadow Pipits grounded at the Bill and Weston. Seawatching at the Bill produced just 4 Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers flying past and the 2 Eider still lingering offshore. February 12th A Lapwing and a Redwing were new arrivals on the land at the Bill, but the only other news was of 3 Red-throated Divers and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers passing through on the sea there.

Eider - Portland Harbour, February 11th 2004 © Martin Cade

February 11th A lovely mild and sunny day, although good birds were at a premium. A Black Redstart and 2 Turnstones were at the Bill, where 2 Eider were still offshore and 9 Common Scoter flew past. Two more Eider were in Portland Harbour, but the only other birds of note there were 3 Black-necked Grebes. Elsewhere, a flock of 36 Linnets were an unusual sight at Portland Castle, and there were 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. February 10th Seven Purple Sandpipers, a Turnstone and a Goldcrest were still at the Obs, 3 Eider were again offshore and 13 Common Scoter, 6 Brent Geese and a Red-throated Diver flew past off the Bill. Elsewhere, a Chiffchaff was at the Grove. February 9th The Black Brant was reported at Ferrybridge again and there was also a Mediterranean Gull there. A total of 16 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill, where 8 Black-headed Gulls also flew past and 3 Eider were settled offshore. The wintering Goldcrest remained in the Obs garden, and at dusk 2 Buzzards and a Woodcock were seen at Verne Common. Belated news from last week: evidently a Barn Owl has been seen at dusk at Verne Common on a couple of occasions. February 8th The only news today was of 5 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, 8 Common Scoter and 2 Eider settled off the East Cliffs there, a single Sanderling flying past the Bill and a Sandwich Tern and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge. During the evening a Barn Owl was seen at Reforne. February 7th The Black Brant and Sandwich Tern at Ferrybridge were again the highlights today, with nothing more at the Bill than a Fieldfare on the land, 15 Common Scoter and 2 Eider off the East Cliffs and single Red-throated and Black-throated Divers flying past.

February 6th The Black Brant was again at Ferrybridge, where there were also 2 Sandwich Terns. A pair of Mallards were new arrivals on some floodwater at Reap Lane, whilst at the Bill 8 Common Scoter and 2 Eider were off the East Cliffs and a Black-throated Diver also flew in and settled offshore. Eight Black-necked and 3 Slavonian Grebes and 3 Great Northern Divers were in Portland Harbour. February 5th For the most part a day of constant rain and such dense mist and low cloud that the sea couldn't even be seen from the Obs. In an hour of clearer conditions late in the afternoon the only birds worthy of mention at the Bill were a lone Common Scoter flying past on the sea and a single Purple Sandpiper on the shore below the East Cliffs. February 4th Another very mild day, but no change on the bird front. The Black Brant and Sandwich Tern were at Ferrybridge, and a Great Northern Diver flew overhead there. Three Red-throated Divers flew past the Bill, where 4 Common Scoter and 2 Eider were still lingering offshore; a lone Siskin was the only noteworthy sighting on the land there.

February 3rd There was almost the promise of early migrants in the air today in exceptionally mild conditions, but, although some lepidoptera seem to have responded - check the Wildlife latest page for details - nothing of note could be found. A fly-by Pale-bellied Brent Goose (with 3 Dark-bellied Brents) was a good record at the Bill, but otherwise the only noteworthy sightings there were of 2 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver passing through and the 2 Eider still offshore. Elsewhere, the Black Brant and Sandwich Tern were again at Ferrybridge. There was good news on the habitat improvement front today, with work starting on reinstating some of the boggy ground at Culverwell that has been lost to scrub encroachment in recent years; this work is funded by the Court Leet and English Nature, and is being carried out by the Dorset County Council Natural Environment Team. February 2nd Damp, dreary weather kept most people indoors, and the only news was of 3 Common Scoter and 2 Eider still off the Bill, a Golden Plover flying past there and 2 Purple Sandpipers on the shore at the Bill. February 1st The Black Brant remained at Ferrybridge, where there was also a Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern. Three Eider were still off the Bill, but although common seabirds were passing in quantity the only oddities past there were 2 Red-throated Divers. Three Purple Sandpipers were still at the Bill, and a Black Redstart and a Fieldfare were also there.