A reminder that the next In Focus field event at the Obs takes place between 10am and 4pm this Saturday, 21st March 2015.
With the sky having cleared still further and the north-easterly freshened up overnight the ingredients were in place for a fair weather fall which duly materialised with Chiffchaffs in particular pulsing through in some quantity at the Bill, where 200 or more - the majority barely stopping - were logged. Wheatears also reached a three figure total there, whilst 25 Stonechats, 2 each of Blackcap (the winterer together with the first migrant), Goldcrest, Firecrest and Bullfinch, singles of Lapwing, Snipe and Reed Bunting, and small increases in the likes of Robin, Song Thrush and Blackbird were all of further note; proper visible passage was unexpectedly light, with Meadow Pipits, alba wagtails and Sand Martins all on the move, although in decidedly lower numbers than yesterday. A 'more of the same' tally elsewhere included a Hen Harrier through over Weston, the year's first Sandwich Tern at Ferrybridge and 4 Black Redstarts and a Firecrest around the centre/north of the island. The only seawatch reports were of 13 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Divers and 2 Brent Geese through off Chesil.
Kestrel and Comma - Portland Bill, 18th March 2015 © Martin King
