27th November

A distinctly wintry feel to the bite in the wind (now more easterly than north-easterly) must have been very unwelcome for the 2 Swallows over the Obs and saw a big clear out on the land with little more than 2 Chiffchaffs and singles of Black RedstartBlackcap and Goldcrest remaining at the Bill. However, the cool weather did bring with it a small passage of wildfowl with 6 Wigeon, 5 Brent Geese, 3 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks and a Velvet Scoter through off the Bill. Elsewhere on the island, the Rosy Starling continued its residence and the white-winged gull at the harbour finally gave itself up and was confirmed as an Iceland Gull

A surprise from this morning's wanderings came in the form of a fully moulted Grey Seal pup - an unusual sight on Portland, with the nearest pupping beaches no closer than the Channel Islands © Martin Cade: