20th March

The variety of migration on offer today was perfectly in keeping for the first day of astronomical spring, with birds continuing to make the most of the current clear and bright conditions. Meadow Pipits were once again the main feature, with 2070 through on West Cliffs this morning, in addition to 39 Linnets,  20 'Alba' Wagtails, 17 Goldfinch, 3 each of Sand Martin and Swallow, and a Bullfinch. A gradual easing in the strength of the easterly wind seemed to hamper sea passage somewhat, although a total of 235 Common Scoter, 18 Brent Geese, 18 Red-throated Diver, 10 Shoveler, 4 Avocet, 4 Little Gull and a single Sandwich Tern provided plenty of interest at the Bill; a further 12 Shoveler and 2 Teal were logged from Chesil. On the land, the first 3 Ring Ouzels of the spring were on cue arrivals at the Verne Citadel, with 2 Yellowhammers and 2 additional Black Redstarts also present at the Bill. Wheatears just about managed double figures with Chiffchaffs trailing behind on even fewer. 

The Ring Ouzels above the Verne Moat were putting on a good show © Pete Saunders:

With so many thousands of Brent Geese passing the watchpoints at the far end of the Channel you wouldn't think Portland could get so few as it does and that's always been the case here - presumably those that do pass this part of the world mostly do so over Chesil before gathering up at staging points in the harbours and estuaries to our east. This is a spectacle we'd love to see more of but we doubt we'll ever do much better than the odd flock such as these that passed the Bill this morning © Geoff Orton:

A few new for the year butterflies put in appearances in today's lovely sunshine - this Comma was in the Obs garden this morning, whilst Small White and Brimstone were logged at spots around the middle of the island © Martin Cade:

Beautiful weather today at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social - Reasonable sea-passage with ~200 Common Scoter, 15 RT Diver, 4 Avocets & Sandwich Tern east, and lots of northbound Meadow Pipits and the first two Ring Ouzels of the year made up for somewhat meagre numbers of migrants on the ground

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— Ben Sheldon (@sheldonbirds.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM

More photos of the 3 Ringed Ouzels at the Verne, Portland today

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— Debra Saunders (@debbyseamist.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 9:39 PM