There's nothing like a nice scarce to lift the spirits during a lean spell and that came today in the form of a Red-rumped Swallow that lingered for several hours between the Coastguard Cottages and Culverwell. It's appearance was all the more welcome in the light of today's continuing migrant drought that saw no more than ones and twos of a few expected regulars uncovered around the Bill; elsewhere, a tardy Dark-bellied Brent Goose was a surprise arrive at Ferrybridge where the White Wagtail lingered. The Red-rumped Swallow certainly didn't arrive in tow with a strong push of other hirundines - neither they nor Swifts were at all numerous overhead where the only other oddity was a Redpoll over Blacknor. Commic terns were again on the move off the Bill albeit in lower numbers and at vanishingly longer range than yesterday in dawn's brisker northeasterly - they just topped 250, with 6 Sanderling, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Great Northern Diver also providing interest there; another Great Northern Diver was settled off Chesil.
Another quiet ringing day @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with only 11 bids, the first juv. Goldfinches of the year, 4 pulli Meadow pipits, with only 1 each of WW, CC, Chaffinch & House Sp.It could have been greatly enlived by the addition of a Red rumped swallow which refused all attempts at capture!
