21st February

Sadly, a day when the potential far outweighed the reality - with reports of a few early summer migrants elsewhere, Portland certainly should have been in with a shout but drizzle that persisted for the best part of the morning put a dampener on proceedings and all that could be found later were a handful of extra Stonechats. The only other reports were of 4 Red-throated Divers through off the Bill, the 2 Eiders still offshore, a Blackcap at Avalanche Road, the Rosy Starling still at Easton and a few Black-necked Grebes still in Portland Harbour.

Mothing was a little more productive than birding, with the first few immigrants of the year putting in appearances: after a Dark Sword Grass at the Obs yesterday, today's moth-traps there came up with a Diamond-back Moth, whilst by day a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was on the wing at Southwell.