4th November

A day that went downhill as it advanced, with a mild and bright morning giving way to an increasingly windy, dreary and wet afternoon. There was precious little sign of arrivals on the ground, but overhead the skies were clear enough for 450 Goldfinches, 150 Starlings, 105 Linnets, 95 Jackdaws and lower totals of a few other customary late movers to be tallied over the Bill and 45 Cormorants to head over Portland Harbour. Likely winterers at the Bill included 2 Purple Sandpipers, a Cetti's Warbler and a Black Redstart, whilst sheltered spots around the island still held small numbers of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Firecrests. There was plenty to see out to sea but a lone passing Red-throated Diver was the only bird of note off the Bill amongst the melees of feeding Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks.