Overhead passage has saved the day for us rather too often just lately and, once again, it provided all of today's numbers. The clearance after yesterday's storminess saw Wood Pigeons resume moving, with 16700 leaving from the Bill through the morning; accompanying them were 625 Goldfinches, 125 Linnets, 180 Meadow Pipits, 150 Chaffinches, 140 Stock Doves, 70 Starlings, 24 Skylarks and a miscellany of lower totals of routine fare. A late Yellow Wagtail was a surprise on the ground at the Bill, where the lingering Sand Martin reappeared, the even longer-staying Ring Ouzel was still ensconced and a Short-eared Owl was about; elsewhere, a Black Redstart was at Portland Castle. An Iceland Gull was a surprise from a Bill seawatch; 9 Brent Geese, 2 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a late Sandwich Tern also passed by there. Seven new Pale-bellied Brent Geese dropped in at Ferrybridge where 2 Common Scoter flew over, whilst the sheltered waters of Portland Harbour hosted 4 Great Northern Divers and a good total of 68 Shags .
A November Yellow Wagtail's always worth scrutiny but, sadly for us, today's bird didn't look or sound in any way out of the ordinary. It seemed to be constantly drooping one wing that likely accounted for its tardiness © Martin Cade:
