10th May

It was certainly quality rather than quantity that made the day today, with the Tawny Pipit again showing from time to time at the Bill and a real surprise in the form of a Portland record total of 4 Golden Orioles that showed up behind the Easton Fire Station before becoming extremely mobile and ranging off as far as Wakeham. Common migrant remained stubbornly uncommon for the most part: although variety increased, numbers were far from impressive, with nothing except Chiffchaff managing a double figure total on the ground at the Bill; the best of the oddities were singles of Cuckoo, Turtle Dove and Ring Ouzel at the Bill, at least 1 more Turtle Dove at Southwell, a Hobby over Blacknor and 2 each of Canada Goose and Curlew Sandpiper at Ferrybridge. The sea got plenty more attention, with a total of 11 passing Great Northern Divers of particular note at the Bill where, in the continuing absence of the expected terns, 3 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Black-throated Diver made up the bulk of the rest of the day's tally.






Great Northern Diver and Golden Orioles - Portland Bill and Easton, 10th May 2015 © Colin White (GNDiver) and Martin Cade (Orioles)