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