31st December

A low-key end to the year over the last few days, with a Ring-necked Parakeet at Easton (28th) the only sighting of particular interest; other local/seasonal oddities included a Shoveler in Portland Harbour (29th) and the first Merlin of the winter at the Bill (31st). More routine winter fare included up to 4 Snipe, 2 Chiffchaffs and singles of Golden Plover, Purple Sandpiper and Reed Bunting at the Bill, a Firecrest at Pennsylvania Castle, singles of Redwing and Goldcrest at Easton, a Mute Swan at Ferrybridge and up to 42 Turnstones, 11 Black-necked Grebes, 5 Great Northern Divers, 5 Common Scoter and 2 Black-throated Divers at Portland Harbour. Sea movement included daily Red-throated Divers off the Bill (max 9 on 28th) and a single Red-breasted Merganser through off there on 29th.

Although no strangers to exhibitions of gluttony, you'd think this Cormorant's catch was right at the limit of what it could cope with; per Pete Saunders, a c30cm fish would be expected to weigh in at c800gms - BWP records that a Cormorant's average daily consumption is 425-700gms © Pete Saunders: 



First Dark Sword Grass since mid-November a new arrival in the Obs moth-traps overnight; single Rusty-dot Pearl the only other migrant

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 10:53 AM