It is perhaps rather telling that the bird of the day was in fact belated news from yesterday of a Woodchat Shrike found during the evening along Penn's Weare that, despite a fair bit of searching, could sadly not be relocated today. This morning's blasting westerly didn't inspire much hope, with 5 Arctic Skua all heading west plus a trickle of Common Scoter and Sandwich Terns the best on offer out to sea. With the wind dropping right away the afternoon faired a tad better, with double figures of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap filtering through as well as the year's first Wall Brown butterfly basking in the Obs garden.
Not very hot news: a Woodchat Shrike photographed by Doug Orton at 6pm yesterday evening on Penn's Weare - the undercliff just north of Church Ope Cove; ta to Geoff Orton for passing on the news @rarebirder.bsky.social
— Portland Bird Observatory (@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social) April 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
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