6th-9th January

Still very quiet around the island so far this week - many of the regular winterers remain on station and the likes of Red-throated Divers continue to tickle by off the Bill. The only new arrival of particular note was a Common Sandpiper at Ferrybridge on 7th; a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Pennsylvania Castle on 9th was also the first reported for several weeks although it's more than likely been about and just escaped attention with so few people out looking.

Barn Owls have been quite showy at the Bill this winter, with - uncharacteristically for Portland - quite regular broad daylight sightings in the vicinity of the Obs © Martin Cade...

Our stalwart owl-catchers, Mark Cutts and Verity Hill, made the most of a still evening last weekend and trapped two new Barn Owls in the Crown Estate Field © Verity Hill:

With nothing much going on around the island we took the opportunity today to make the most of some decent weather and pop over to Lodmoor for a look at the Green-winged Teal that's been there for a couple of days - after a very long period of inactivity it actually ended up showing pretty well © Martin Cade: