10th March

Although by late afternoon it had turned out beautifully mild and sunny the morning had been blighted by a stiff breeze, drizzly spells and dreary skies that made for difficult fieldwork. That said, there were a few new arrivals amongst which the year's first Brambling at the Obs and singles of Arctic Skua and Great Skua through on the sea at the Bill were of particular note; 2 new Chiffchaffs were also of interest at the Bill. The rest of the offerings were relatively routine: 4 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Reed Buntings, the Grey Heron and a Short-eared Owl at the Bill, 8 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Shelduck through on the sea there, 3 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour and 270 Dunlin, 2 Shelducks and a Sanderling at Ferrybridge.