22nd November

Today's crisp and clear conditions felt a lot like the calm before the storm, with a nice variety of birds turned up in the winter sunshine. A Balearic Shearwater lingering off the Bill marked another out of season record, with a further 2 Red-throated Divers and 10 Common Scoter also recorded there. The 4 Purple Sandpipers were again on the rocks below the Obelisk and the lingering Blackcap remained at the obs. Further afield, a total of 80 Dunlin, 2 Knot and 2 Shelduck were seen at Ferrybridge, with up to 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Great Northern Diver and a Caspian Gull present off Portland Castle. 

Today's Dunlin flock at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders

Whilst challenging to connect with, there have now been 5 sightings of Caspian Gull this autumn © Thomas Miller