25th January

Another lovely bright, sunny day saw a fair bit of fieldwork as folk got out before the arrival of grottier conditions forecast for the rest of the week. Two Redwings were new in at the Bill where 10 Red-throated Divers passed by on the sea, the 2 Eider were settled offshore and 12 Purple Sandpipers, a Merlin and a Chiffchaff were found on the land; the first Greenfinch of the year was also of minor interest at the Obs. Three Blackcaps remained at Southwell, singles of Black Redstart and Chiffchaff were at Weston and the Rosy Starling remained in situ at Easton. Three Bar-tailed Godwits and a Knot were back at Ferrybridge, where 60 Dunlin, 2 Curlews and a Great Northern Diver were also about.

Diver numbers seemed to dropped right away in Portland Harbour but this Great Northern Diver is still hanging about at Ferrybridge or a little further up the Fleet © Pete Saunders: