Although we didn't feel the full force of the latest storm to roll in off the Atlantic it was far too windy for much serious birding on the land and most of the day's news was from the sea. A Leach's Petrel battling across Portland Harbour and another reported from Chesil Cove were the highlights, with an influx of Little Gulls and Sandwich Terns - seemingly as many as 13 of the former and 5 of the latter - in the same area, a Pomarine Skua through off the Bill and 6 Eider through at Ferrybridge also of note; a few storm-driven Kittiwakes also featured around the Harbour and Ferrybridge, and 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Brent Geese passed by off the Bill. The third Pallas's Warbler in the last two days made a fleeting appearance in a private garden at Southwell, with yesterday's Avalanche Road bird also still in situ; also from the land, 2 Black Redstarts were at the Bill and 120 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Sanderling were at Ferrybridge.
Although it remained windy all day there weren't any passing showers to drive quantities of birds closer to shore; the day's only Leach's Petrels were this one through at Portland Harbour and another reported by visitors from Chesil Cove © Pete Saunders:
This second-winter Little Gull was one of two through at Portland Harbour © Debby Saunders:
The Avalanche Road Pallas's Warbler wasn't any easier to get to grips with today: it had become more mobile than yesterday and many of its appearances were pretty fleeting but just once it did pop up slightly more favourably for us when it was below head height for a few seconds © Martin Cade:
