13th November

Back to mid-November par today with a fair bit on the move overhead in predominantly overcast and increasingly quiet conditions. The mix of pigeons, thrushes and finches over the Bill included 750 Wood Pigeons, 535 Stock Doves, 200 Goldfinches, 175 Chaffinches, 60 Linnets, 29 Bramblings, 23 Redwings and 8 each of Fieldfare, Siskin and Redpoll, with a late Swallow amongst the extra odds and ends. It was considerably quieter on the ground where 5 Blackcaps and an extra Jay joining the long-stayer were amongst the few new arrivals; the Siberian Chiffchaff was still present, as were 4 Short-eared Owls and singles of Purple Sandpiper and Black Redstart. A lone passing Great Skua was as good as it got on the sea, whilst elsewhere 4 Black-necked Grebes were in Portland Harbour.

The Siberian Chiffchaff was looking ghostly-pale at times under the dreary sky...


...and it was prone to decent bursts of calling from time to time © Martin Cade:


As usual, out of another reasonable total of Bramblings hardly any dropped in to afford any sort of views; this female though did linger at a seed patch in the Obs garden © Martin Cade:


The wintering Purple Sandpiper tally remains woefully low: there was a report of three back in October but most sightings subsequently have been of this single youngster © Pete Saunders: