7th July

Another absolutely blazing day saw another surprise oddity arrive in off the sea, this time a Spoonbill that arrived over the Bill before dropping in briefly at Ferrybridge. Routine migration wasn't exactly a spectacle, but 42 Sand Martins and 32 Swifts through over the Bill, 30 Sand Martins through over Ferrybridge, 49 Mediterranean Gulls, 34 Common Scoter and 14 commic terns through off the Bill and a big jump to 140 in Mediterranean Gull numbers at Ferrybridge did provide some numbers to get amongst. List-padders included the lingering Blackcap at the Bill, singles of Arctic Skua and Sandwich Tern through off the Bill and a/the Grey Wagtail at Blacknor.

Always a good Portland scarcity, the Spoonbill was certainly minded to keep moving: having been no more than a 'blink and you miss it' fly-over as it arrived in off the sea at the Bill, it made rapid progress northward before pitching in at Ferrybridge but didn't last there more than five minutes before heading away up the Fleet © Pete Saunders: