4th March

No gripes from anyone today - just some mild perplexment that a repeat of conditions that produced next to nothing yesterday should today come up with a really nice little first fall of the spring. Chiffchaffs made up the bulk of the numbers and were noticeably moving straight through everywhere, with sample totals of at least 41 at Portland Castle and 30 at the Bill; also new were 3 Wheatears at the Bill, a handful of Goldcrests both there and at Portland Castle, a Willow Warbler at Portland Castle, a presumed migrant Blackcap at the Bill and 4 Wigeon and 3 Shovelers at Ferrybridge. In pleasantly quiet conditions quite a few winterers also popped up including Black Redstarts at the Bill, Blacknor and Portland Castle, and 6 Purple Sandpipers and the Merlin at the Bill. Although the arrival of the wildfowl at Ferrybridge suggested there might have been some sea movement afoot the only reports from the Bill were of 5 Eider and 2 Red-throated Divers passing by.

We had a fair bit of catching up to do but today's little migrant medley got us right back up to speed; Wheatear © Sarah Hodgson...


...Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Wigeon & Shoveler © Debby Saunders:




And a couple of the winterers were showing nicely; Black Redstart © Pete Saunders...


...and Merlin © Geoff Orton: