12th December

The recent spell of very changeable weather continued, with today's lovely calm and bright conditions that followed a very frosty start encouraging plenty of folk into the field. A few new arrivals of interest included a Sandwich Tern in Portland Harbour, single Mistle Thrushes at the Grove and the Bill, a Blackcap at Weston and 4 Bramblings at the Bill. Firecrests were on show at the Bill (2), Southwell Landslip and Pennsylvania Castle, whilst 5 Purple Sandpipers, the Grey Heron and a Black Redstart were amongst other winter regulars at the Bill and 7 Redshanks were at Portland Harbour/Ferrybridge. Seawatching at the Bill came up with 16 Red-throated Divers, 4 Brent Geese and a Common Scoter, with 10 Black-necked Grebes, 5 Goosanders, 4 Great Northern Divers and 2 Black-throated Divers dotted about Portland Harbour.

A Red Admiral was on the wing at Fortuneswell.

It was the most perfect of days to scrutinize Portland Harbour, with the 2 Black-throated Divers and other waterfowl gliding about on a mirror-calm sea © Debby Saunders:



Black Redstarts don't get any better than this fine adult male that turned up at the Bill at the weekend and was still about there today © Dan Law:



Today marked the fourth month in residence for this Grey Heron at the Bill; it now ranges more widely than just the Crown Estate Field where it spent virtually all its time back in the early autumn but it's still mainly confined to dry situations where it's patently finding plenty enough to sustain itself © Martin Cade: