15th-19th December

The downward spiral into very samey mid-winter birding continued this week, with one day entirely rained off and little to show beyond the regulars when conditions did allow for some fieldwork. A Black Redstart at Church Ope Cove on 19th was added to their seemingly meagre tally so far this winter, a Slavonian Grebe (also on 19th) was new in Portland Harbour, Purple Sandpipers increased to 12 at the Bill tip and a Redwing was a likely tardy migrant at the Obs on 16th. Regulars still about included the Black-throated Diver in Portland Harbour.

These days, the Purple Sandpiper flock at the Bill is only half the size it once was but this week's increase to a dozen at least brings their numbers up to what's become par in recent times © Debby Saunders (top) and Pete Saunders (bottom):

A sad sight off the Bill this week have been a few badly oiled seabirds like this Kittiwake © Pete Saunders:

felt a bit better today and my first male black redstart of the winter was a nice lift.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) December 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM

plenty of other birds enjoying the flies off the washed in vegetation in church ope cove, 1cy grey wagtail the pick of them but stonechat, rock pipit, pied wagtail and wren were knocking about and could hear a chiffchaff in the background. surprisingly no butterflies at all.

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— andylportland.bsky.social (@andylportland.bsky.social) December 19, 2025 at 7:42 PM

Still the odd migrant moth showing up at the Obs - last night's tally from the moth-traps singles of Rusty-dot Pearl and Pearly Underwing

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— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) December 15, 2025 at 11:26 AM