3rd April

Quite a shocker today with heavy cloud cover extending across the Channel seemingly stopping migration dead, with precious few new arrivals on the ground and, even once the cloud cleared during the afternoon, visible passage reduced to the tiniest trickle. Three Ring Ouzels remained at Barleycrates Lane and a Merlin was again at the Bill but newcomers consisted of no more than low single figures totals of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. The sky of all but bereft of visible migrants, with a total of fewer than 10 hirundines logged all day! The fresh breeze was still too far round in an offshore direction to perk up sea passage, with 11 Red-throated Divers and 3 Sandwich Terns the best that could be managed at the Bill.

An image that perfectly conjures up a time and a place: a migrant Willow Warbler amongst blackthorn blossom on an April morning at Portland © Mark Eggleton


Also from yesterday, an image that shouldn't be conjuring up any thoughts of Portland: this is the escaped Mulga Parrot - ordinarily a native of Australia - that's been doing the rounds of the Weston area for a few days © Mark Eggleton: