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.
