17th December

A little milder today with a freshening southwesterly seemingly ushering in the beginnings of a complete change from the Arctic influence of the last week back to a more usual Atlantic airflow.

Portland Bill Red-throated Diver 1e, Common Scoter 20etc, Lapwing c30, Golden Plover c155, Snipe 10, Green Sandpiper 1, Redwing 4, Fieldfare 1.

Reap Lane Cirl Bunting 1.

Grove Lapwing 3, Redwing 10, Blackcap 1, Goldcrest 1.

Whilst a run of three records in the three years between 2019 and 2021 has seen to it that Cirl Bunting isn't quite the rarity it had been for many years (these were the first since 2008 and today's bird is only the seventh this century) it's still a high value scarcity that'll get a fair bit of attention if it sticks about; a nice find by Graham Bright who's been plugging away at the Weston/Reap Lane area throughout what would usually be considered the most unpromising of seasons © Debby Saunders (top) and Pete Saunders (bottom):