25th March

Passage seems to be getting some momentum behind it now with another decent little flourish of arrivals at the Bill; however, the best of the quality came in the form of raptors over the centre of the island from where there were reports of an Osprey over Southwell, a Goshawk over Weston and two apparent migrant Common Buzzards also over Southwell. The day's numbers came largely in the form of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, with both topping 30 at the Bill; the year's first Willow Warbler, together with 7 Redwings, 4 Short-eared Owls, 4 Wheatears, 2 Firecrests, 2 Bramblings and singles of Golden Plover, Blackcap, Siskin and Bullfinch provided some variety there, whilst elsewhere 3 White Wagtails at Reap Lane, the 'Eastern' Lesser Whitethroat at Southwell, a Black Redstart at Blacknor and 13 Black-necked Grebes in Portland Harbour were nice list-padders.

A party of at least 14 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off East Cliffs at the Bill for much of the day.

Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Brambling at the Bill this afternoon © Martin Adlam: