With last night's blasting southwesterlies - the official peak windspeed was evidently up towards 60mph - taking most of the morning to subside, it took a fair amount of trudging around in less than ideal conditions before the day's highlight of a Cattle Egret was uncovered along the East Cliffs. With other grounded migrants either tucked well away or more likely absent altogether, the day's only other migrant happenings concerned a steady trickle of Swallows that carried on well into the evening and a lone Sanderling joining the few waders at Ferrybridge. The onshore wind failed to liven up the seawatching, with just 9 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Whimbrels and singles of Arctic Skua and Bonxie logged past the Bill and 60 Sandwich Terns and 20 Bar-tailed Godwits through off Chesil.
Still a decent quality bird at Portland even if it's now a routine sight in so many parts of southern England, this afternoon's Cattle Egret at the Bill was exhibiting all manner of breeding season finery © Martin Cade:
The early few Sanderlings in the last fortnight have still been in pretty well full winter plumage © Pete Saunders:
Sandwich Terns have been featuring in good numbers for the last week of more, with a constant presence off the Bill and strong passage off Chesil including at least 60 in quick time this evening © Pete Saunders:
