November 2004

November 30th A party of 100 Starlings arriving from the south at the Bill gave some hope that perhaps everything hasn't quite finished for winter, although on the land the only sign of anything in the way of new arrivals were a handful of 'extra' Song Thrushes and a single Snipe. Two Blackcaps lingered on in the Obs garden, 25 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter were still offshore, 2 Little Gulls were amongst the feeding gulls off the Bill and 5 Eider, a Red-throated Diver and a Brent Goose passed through on the sea. November 29th The only news today was from the Bill where a Blackcap was still in the Obs garden, 2 Velvet Scoters and a Mediterranean Gull were still offshore and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Red-throated Diver passed by on the sea.

                                                 

     

 Blackcap - Portland Bill, November 28th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 28th A chillier day than of late but it was more of the same bird-wise. Two Fieldfares, 2 Blackcaps (one of them a new arrival) and a Redwing were the only noteworthy sightings on the land at the Bill, where the Common and Velvet Scoters remained offshore along with a Mediterranean Gull and 4 passing Little Gulls. Portland Harbour produced 2 Mute Swans, 2 Eider, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe, whilst there were 830 Brent Geese at Ferrybridge. Late news for yesterday: 2 Ruddy Shelducks were settled on a sandbank in Portland Harbour briefly in the afternoon before flying off west over Chesil Beach, 6 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Ferrybridge and a Firecrest was at Southwell. November 27th Uneventful winter birding today, with the last vestiges of autumn movement seemingly now ceased. The Bill area produced 6 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Water Rails, 2 Blackcaps, a Fieldfare and a Goldcrest on the land, 6 Tufted Ducks passing through on the sea and 30 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull lingering offshore. Three Eider, 3 Black-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe were in Portland Harbour. November 26th The Goosander remained in Portland Harbour where there were also 3 Eider, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Black-throated Diver. The only reports from other sites were of 2 Blackcaps, a Short-eared Owl and a Redwing at the Bill, a Red-throated Diver passing through on the sea there and 25 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter still settled off the East Cliffs. November 25th For the most part another fine and warm day although gathering cloud during the afternoon hinted at a change on the way. Yesterday's Pallas's Warbler was searched for but couldn't be found and there was not a great deal else on view anywhere on the land although a Goosander in Portland Harbour (off Sandsfoot Castle) was a quality record for the area. Odds and sods at the Bill included 5 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Goldcrest, with 32 Goldfinches and 4 Skylarks leaving out to the south overhead; elsewhere there were 2 Black Redstarts at Southwell. Seven Red-throated Divers and a Mediterranean Gull passed through off the Bill, where the settled flock of Common and Velvet Scoter were also still present. Late news for yesterday: single Firecrests were at Southwell and on the Grove undercliff.

                                                 

       

 Pallas's Warbler - Portland Bill, November 24th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 24th Early morning cloud cleared away to leave almost summer-like blue skies and warm sunshine for the rest of the day. Late migrants were hardly conspicuous so a major surprise was the discovery of a Pallas's Warbler at the Higher Lighthouse at the Bill; it was present for an hour feeding in low rose bushes early in the afternoon but subsequent searches for it there drew a blank. The Bill area otherwise produced 11 Redwings, 3 Fieldfares, 2 Water Rails, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Siskin, a Brambling and a Reed Bunting, as well as another 60 Starlings arriving in off the sea. A single Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea. November 23rd There was plenty of incentive to get out in the field today in pleasantly mild, still conditions and there were quite a few sightings to show for the effort made. The highlight was a Snow Bunting that dropped in briefly near the Bill lighthouse, whilst other new arrivals around the Bill included 10 Redwings, 2 Reed Buntings, a Golden Plover, a Woodcock, a Fieldfare and a Blackcap; another Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were also still lingering on there from previous days. Overhead a total of at least 500 Starlings arrived from the south and carried on northwards. The only movement on the sea involved 3 passing Red-throated Divers although the settled Common and Velvet Scoters were also still offshore. Portland Harbour produced 3 Eider, 2 Black-throated Divers and a Slavonian Grebe. November 22nd Yesterday's minor flurry of interest proved to be nothing more than a flash in the pan and it was right back to normal service today. A couple of small parties of Starlings arrived in off the sea at the Bill but the only worthwhile new arrivals on the land were a Siskin at the Bill and a Brambling at the Grove; 2 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff also at the Bill were left-overs from yesterday, whilst the Water Rail and Goldcrest there look to be attempting to winter at Culverwell and the Obs garden respectively. The Common Scoter flock off the Bill declined to fewer than 40 but the 2 Velvet Scoter were still offshore as was a lone Mediterranean Gull. November 21st November's reputation as a reliable month for late passage and good rarities has taken quite a dent this year but much milder conditions today at least produced a suggestion of a few more birds getting moving again, with the Bill area provided new arrivals including 16 Redwings, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Lapwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Snipe and a Brambling. The Scoter flock, including 2 Velvets, was still offshore, 3 Red-throated Divers passed by and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were lingering amongst the feeding flock of gulls offshore. Ferrybridge provided an excellent count of 1300 Brent Geese, whilst 3 Eider, 3 Black-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers and 2 Slavonian Grebes were in Portland Harbour. November 20th A really grim morning with constant rain or drizzle blown in on a raw south-east breeze. New arrivals at the Bill included 4 Redwings, 3 Golden Plover, 2 Fieldfares and a Snipe, whilst the sea provided 3 passing Red-throated Divers and the lingering Scoter flock offshore (that included 2 Velvet Scoter again). November 19th The gloomy skies of recent days gave way to clearer, chillier conditions and there was just a hint of late movement, with 230 Starlings and a Snow Bunting arriving in off the sea at the Bill and a handful of Redwings and Chaffinches dropping in through the morning. The flock of 50 Common Scoter remained off the Bill but only 1 of the 2 Velvet Scoters could be seen there. Portland Harbour produced 2 Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver and single Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes. November 18th The only news today was from the Bill where there were 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, 2 Redwings and a Goldcrest on the land, the settled Common and Velvet Scoters were still offshore and a single Red-throated Diver passed by. November 17th Another very quiet day. A few small parties of Goldfinches left to the south from the Bill but the only noteworthy birds reported on the ground were 4 Blackcaps and 2 Goldcrests at Pennsylvania Castle and a Redwing, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest at the Bill. The Common and Velvet Scoters were still off the Bill, where a lone Red-throated Diver also passed by. November 16th No sign of a resurgence in passage today, with a Grey Wagtail and a Redwing the only new arrivals at the Bill and the handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests lingering on in sheltered spots looking likely to be attempting to winter on the island. Fifty Common and 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill, a Black-throated Diver and a Great Skua passed by there, 4 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge and a Sandwich Tern was in Portland Harbour.

                                                 

       

 Sparrowhawk - Portland Bill, November 15th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 15th Autumn continues to run out of steam, with the only new arrivals at the Bill today being 70 Starlings in off the sea, 11 Redwings, 4 Fieldfares, 2 Goldcrests and a Lapland Bunting; elsewhere there was a small increase in Goldcrest numbers at Pennsylvania Castle. Three Purple Sandpipers and a Black Redstart remained at the Bill, where the Common and Velvet Scoters were still offshore and single Red-throated and Black-throated Divers passed by. Portland Harbour produced 4 Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver, 4 Eider and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. November 14th More of the same weather and more of the same birds. The best the Bill area could muster were 5 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Snipe, 2 Turnstones, 2 Goldcrests, a Grey Heron, a Ringed Plover, a Swallow, a Redwing, a Fieldfare and a Chiffchaff. The Common and Velvet Scoters were still settled offshore and 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great Northern Diver and a Mediterranean Gull passed by.

                                                 

     

 Buzzard - Portland Bill, November 13th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 13th Crisp, clear weather didn't look likely to produce much on the ground and surprisingly didn't produce much overhead either. Single Lapland Buntings were reported near Verne Prison and on the East Cliffs near Southwell, a Buzzard toured the south of the island during the afternoon and a Merlin arrived in off the sea at the Bill, but in the way of commoner migrants the only new arrivals were 6 Blackcaps, 2 Redwings, 2 Reed Buntings, a Snipe and a Swallow at the Bill. The resident flock of Common Scoter and 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill, where 5 Eider, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Pintail also passed through. November 12th An overcast early morning saw quite a bit of movement at the Bill, with 200 Linnets, 120 Redwings, 40 Blackbirds, 40 Chaffinches, 20 Fieldfares, 3 Brambling, 2 Siskin, 2 Reed Buntings and a Lapwing passing through soon after dawn and 1100 Starlings arriving in off the sea a little later. Skies soon cleared and more extensive searching of the island revealed precious few new arrivals on the ground beyond a handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests; a single presumably now wintering Black Redstart was still at the Bill. Sixty Common and 2 Velvet Scoter were still settled off the Bill and 2 Red-throated Divers passed through there.

                                                 

     

 Black Redstart - Portland Bill, November 11th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 11th Despite plenty of legwork in very fair weather there was poor reward all around the island today. The customary trickle of thrushes and finches passing overhead at the Bill included 3 Bramblings, but otherwise there was nothing much more interesting there than 4 Lapwings, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, a Swallow and a Black Redstart. Elsewhere there were 2 Firecrests and a Chiffchaff at Cheyne Weare and another Firecrest at Pennsylvania Castle. The 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill where 2 Red-throated Divers also passed through.

                                                 

     

 Yellow-browed Warbler - Portland Bill, November 10th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 10th A subtle change in the weather saw the wind remain in the north but pick up to a stiff breeze as skies cleared and the temperature dropped considerably. Whilst the change had little effect on migrant numbers it produced two good scarcities in the form of a Yellow-browed Warbler that was trapped and ringed in the Obs garden at dawn and a Serin that made a typically fleeting visit to the same site early in the afternoon. If anything commoner migrants were even more thinly spread than in recent days, with a handful of thrushes and finches, 4 Snipe, 2 Lapwings, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart and a late Wheatear the best on offer at the Bill. The 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the East Cliffs and 2 Wigeon passed by off the Bill.

                                                 

     

 Redstart - Portland Bill, November 9th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 9th The prevailing gloomy, quiet weather continued to reduce late movement to no more than a trickle. Small numbers of thrushes, Blackcaps, Goldcrests and finches made up what numbers there were today, with the only quality being a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock and late Swallow and Redstart at the Bill; 2 probable Twite overhead at Wakeham would have been birds of the day had they have been pinned down. The Common Scoter flock off the Bill increased to 70 again, the 2 Velvet Scoter were still present and a Great Northern Diver and a Brent Goose passed by there.

                                                 

  

   

 Yellowhammer and migrating Starlings - Portland Bill, November 8th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 8th Precious little change today with only a handful of new arrivals on the ground and not much more passing overhead. Under heavily overcast skies at the Bill there was a constant trickle of ones and twos of thrushes arriving in off the sea all morning, whilst around midday a pulse of more than 600 Starlings passed through in quick time; 3 Lapwings, a Golden Plover, a Short-eared Owl and a Woodlark also passed through there and a late Swallow was at Ferrybridge. Apart from a handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests the only obvious new arrivals on the ground were a party of 7 Yellowhammers at the Bill; 2 Black Redstarts and a Merlin were also still present there and another Black Redstart was at Church Ope Cove. Fifty Common and 2 Velvet Scoter were still settled offshore and 2 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver also passed through. Belated news for yesterday: a Dartford Warbler was in Top Fields and a male Redstart (reported as showing features of the eastern form samamisicus) was seen near the Higher Light at the Bill.

                                                 

     

 Fieldfare - Portland Bill, November 7th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 7th Still very quiet on the late migrant front with nothing much more than a trickle of Blackcaps, thrushes and finches passing through at the Bill. Two Black Redstarts and a Short-eared Owl were the pick of the scarcer species there, whilst the wintering group of Purple Sandpipers had increased to 8 birds and the 2 lingering Velvet Scoter remained off the East Cliffs. Elsewhere there were 4 Eider and 2 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour.

                                                 

     

 no birds but the fireworks were great - Southwell, November 6th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 6th Today's rarity interest was provided by a Yellow-browed Warbler reported from Pennsylvania Castle early in the morning and a Tree Sparrow that wandered between the Obs garden and the Coastguard gardens later in the morning. Commoner migrants were again extremely thin on the ground, with the only worthwhile reports being of a 3 late Swallows, 2 Bramblings, a Dartford Warbler and a Corn Bunting at the Bill and a Merlin at Barleycrates Lane. The 2 Velvet Scoters remained off the Bill where 2 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver and a Little Egret also passed through.

                                                 

     

  Long-eared Owl - Portland Bill, November 5th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 5th A great start to the day saw a Long-eared Owl trapped and ringed in the Obs garden at dawn. Unfortunately the clear anticyclonic conditions otherwise delivered next to nothing in the way of grounded migrants and an ominous wintery silence had descended on all the areas of sheltered cover around the island. It was also surprisingly quiet overhead with just 140 Wood Pigeons, 10 Reed Buntings, 4 Redpolls, a Swallow, a Siskin and small numbers of commoner finches passing over the Bill. Offshore there were still 40 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter lingering off the East Cliffs. Belated news for yesterday: a Little Auk was seen close inshore off Pulpit Rock at the Bill late in the afternoon. November 4th Overnight there were plenty of thrushes on the move in overcast, damp conditions but although it was still raining at dawn most passage had petered out and the only grounded new arrivals at the Bill were a few Goldcrests; at least 5 Black Redstarts and a Merlin were still lingering on there from previous days. Despite the initially gloomy conditions there was quite a bit of visible passage overhead as the morning went on, with 400 Linnets, 250 Goldfinches, 70 Meadow Pipits, 40 Chaffinches, 25 Skylarks, 20 alba wagtails, 4 Swallows, 2 Reed Buntings, a Lapwing, a Snipe, a Siskin, a Lapland Bunting and a Corn Bunting over the Bill and a Snow Bunting over Weston Street. The only birds of note on the sea were a settled flock of 25 Common and 1 Velvet Scoter off the Bill. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose was again at Ferrybridge where there have been over 900 Dark-bellied Brents in recent days. November 3rd More of the same today with small numbers of thrushes, Goldcrests and finches still passing through. The best on offer on the land included a scatter of Firecrests everywhere as well as 9 Black Redstarts, 2 Short-eared Owls and a Merlin at the Bill and another Short-eared Owl at Weston Street; late migrants included 2 Wheatears and 2 Swallows at the Bill and another Swallow at the Grove. The Velvet Scoters off the Bill increased to 3 where there also 40 settled Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Shelduck flying past.

                                                 

      

  Velvet Scoter - Portland Bill, November 2nd 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 2nd Another very heavily overcast day with occasional showery rain and a moderate south-east wind: seemingly promising conditions at this time of year although clearly the birds didn't seem to think so. A Great Grey Shrike seen briefly near the Portland Heights Hotel was the one quality find of the day, with the only other oddities reported on the land being 5 Black Redstarts, 2 Firecrests, a Merlin, a Woodcock and a Short-eared Owl at the Bill. Thrushes continued to trickle through but there was precious little else of note in the way of commoner migrants. At sea, the 2 Velvet Scoter continued to linger off the Bill, where 2 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Red-throated Diver and a Pintail also passed through. November 1st Yesterday's excesses proved to be something of a flash in the pan with similar-looking conditions today providing much more mundane numbers of birds. Thrushes were still conspicuous but numbered in the low hundreds as opposed to the thousands, and Goldcrests and a few of the commoner finches were the only other migrants that were even faintly numerous. Oddities included 10 Black Redstarts, 3 Firecrests, 4 Short-eared Owls, 3 Dartford Warblers, a Merlin, a Woodcock, a Ring Ouzel and a Lapland Bunting at the Bill and the same or another Lapland Bunting over Reap Lane, whilst late migrants included several House Martins and Swallows, a Hobby, a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler at the Bill. Seawatching at the Bill provided a settled flock of 30 Common and a Velvet Scoter, as well as 5 Red-throated Divers, a Brent Goose and a Red-breasted Merganser passing by.