Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre: 3rd November

Prolonged birding opportunities were limited today, with showers or longer spells of rain cropping up with depressing frequency. What coverage there was of the land yielded just a thin scatter of mainly expected migrants on the ground, including 3 Redwings and singles of Short-eared Owl, Wheatear, Black Redstart and Fieldfare at the Bill and further Black Redstarts at Blacknor (2), Barleycrates Lane and Castletown; overhead a minor flurry of 700 southbound Wood Pigeons at Weston Street was quite a surprise given the prevailing conditions. The long-staying Hooded Crow was still in residence at the Grove. Seawatching at the Bill produced singles of Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Arctic Skua, whilst the Black Guillemot was still off Portland Castle.