1st December

The chilly snap continued and in a brisker breeze than yesterday outdoor fieldwork was a decidedly unpleasant option. A little more cold weather movement was evident, with 6 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares and a Snipe through at the Bill, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Wigeon and a Teal through on the sea there, 22 Wigeon, 4 Fieldfares and a Teal through at Ferrybridge and 12 Wigeon and a Teal in Portland Harbour. A varied tally of more routine sightings included 3 Firecrests and a Chiffchaff still at the Bill, 11 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver through offshore there, 2 Goosanders still in Portland Harbour, 6 Curlew, 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Black Brant and a Redshank at Ferrybridge and 14 Black-necked Grebes, a Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour.

Leading to nothing more than the thinnest skim of ice on the Obs ponds, the current drop in the temperature hardly qualifies as a cold spell but it has been enough to prompt a little waterfowl movement - these Wigeon passed over at Ferrybridge this morning © Pete Saunders: