23rd February

A day that was memorable only for its mightily unpleasant mix of sleet and hail showers blown through on a raw north-westerly - spring weather it certainly was not. The day's dearth of reports reflected the lack of observers braving the elements: 8 Common Scoter and 3 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill, the wintering 6 Purple Sandpipers and singles of Black Redstart and Blackcap were still about on the land there, another Black Redstart was still at Reap Lane and the Black Guillemot off Portland Castle and Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Ferrybridge were both still about.