June 2001

 

Serin - Southwell, June 30th 2001 © Pete and Debby Saunders

  June 30th Highlight today was a male Serin that visited the Obs garden in the morning, and a garden in Southwell in the afternoon. The only other interest was on the sea, where there were 51 Common Scoter, 4 Manx Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua, a Sandwich Tern and a Mediterranean Gull off the Bill. June 29th Once again, the only birds of note were on the sea, with 7 Common Scoter, 2 Manx Shearwaters, a Great Northern Diver and an Arctic Skua past the Bill in the morning. June 28th The sea produced the few birds reported, with 150 Gannets, 22 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Common Scoter, an Arctic Skua and a Sandwich Tern off the Bill. June 27th The only noteworthy birds today were 2 Manx Shearwaters, a Sandwich Tern, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff at the Bill, 14 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Sanderling and a Dunlin at Ferrybridge, and 2 Arctic Skuas in Chesil Cove. June 26th More of the same again today, with the Bill area producing just 7 Black-headed Gulls, a Curlew and a Chiffchaff. June 25th Back to form today, with the only birds reported being a Grey Heron, a Curlew and a Chiffchaff at the Bill, and 50 Manx Shearwaters milling around offshore there. June 24th Not before time, today saw the arrival of a decent June rarity in the form of a sub-adult Night Heron, although it proved to be only a very brief visitor. It arrived in off the sea over the Obs early in the morning, and was seen a few minutes later over the Top Fields heading towards Southwell; unfortunately it was not relocated. The only other birds of note were a Whimbrel and a Wheatear at the Bill, and a Common Sandpiper at Cheyne Weare. June 23rd The sea produced the only birds of interest today, with 10 commic Terns and 9 Common Scoter passing the Bill in the morning. June 22nd It's not getting any better! Today saw just a lone Buzzard and a few Swifts recorded at the Bill, and a single Manx Shearwater seen on a brief seawatch. June 21st Precious little action again today, with the only birds reported being single Reed and Sedge Warblers at the Bill, and 16 Manx Shearwaters offshore. June 20th A Serin flew over the Obs garden again early in the morning, and other sightings included a Ringed Plover, a Black-headed Gull and a Reed Warbler at the Bill. June 19th A Serin again put in a subliminal appearance at the Obs in the morning, and there were another 2 new Chiffchaffs at the Bill and a Buzzard over the north of the island. The land was otherwise quiet, and it was left to the sea, where there were 4 Arctic Skuas and a few Manx Shearwaters, to provide the only other interest of the day.  

 

Guillemots - Portland Bill, June 18th 2001 © Martin Cade

  June 18th It remained very quiet, although there was again just a hint of some movement taking place. Bird of the day was a Serin that was seen briefly over the Obs and at the dung heap beside the Bill Road in the morning. Also there were a Whimbrel, a Curlew, a Black-headed Gull, a Reed Warbler and another new Chiffchaff. A few Manx Shearwaters continued to linger off the Bill, and 11 Common Scoter also passed. June 17th The sea provided most of the interest today, with the highlight being the first Balearic Shearwater of the summer lingering off the East Cliffs at the Bill in the morning; also there were 25 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Arctic Skuas. The land provided just a few Swifts, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Whimbrel at the Bill. June 16th Two Reed Warblers and a Chiffchaff were new arrivals at the Bill, but the only other reports were of small numbers of Manx Sheawaters and an Arctic Skua offshore. June 15th Manx Shearwaters were again offshore in fair numbers, but the only other sightings of note were of 2 Whimbrel and a Reed Warbler at the Bill. June 14th Almost no news at all today, with an afternoon/evening movement of 200 Manx Shearwaters off the Bill being the only worthwhile occurrence. June 13th The summer doldrums continue, with the only noteworthy birds being 2 new Chiffchaffs and a Sand Martin at the Bill, a lone Manx Shearwater on the sea there, and 10 Turnstones, 5 Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Ferrybridge. June 12th Still nothing much to show for plenty of effort, with the only migrants at the Bill being a Black Redstart and a Reed Warbler. The sea was scarcely more exciting, with 21 Common Scoter, 12 Manx Shearwaters and 5 commic Terns past the Bill. June 11th Five Sand Martins and a Reed Warbler were new at the Bill today, with seawatching there producing a few Manx Shearwaters, 7 Common Scoter and a late Great Northern Diver. June 10th New migrants today at the Bill included 2 Reed Warbler, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap, a Buzzard was also seen over Southwell in the afternoon. Waders at Ferrybridge in the evening included 29 Dunlin, 9 Turnstones, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Redshank. June 9th A Honey Buzzard flew north over the island during the late afternoon, after another unidentified buzzard sp. had flown north at midday. There was otherwise no great change in the migrant situation today, with the Bill area producing 3 Sand Martins, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Curlew and a Yellow Wagtail. Seawatching produced just 2 Arctic Skuas and a Manx Shearwater off the Bill.

 

Reed Warbler - Portland Bill, June 8th 2001 © Martin Cade

  June 8th Late migrants at the Bill today included 2 Reed Warblers, a Yellow Wagtail and a Spotted Flycatcher, and another 2 Spotted Flycatchers were at Reap Lane. Seawatching produced just a few Manx Shearwaters off the Bill.

 

Little Owl - Portland Bill, June 7th 2001 © Martin Cade

  June 7th Still no change today, with the only birds of note being a Sand Martin and a Sedge Warbler at the Bill, and a few Manx Shearwaters milling around offshore. June 6th Interesting birds are becoming fewer by the day, with the Bill area producing just a Whimbrel, a Reed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. A freshening wind in the afternoon stirred up plenty of Manx Shearwaters offshore, and by the early evening they were passing the Bill at several hundred per hour; single Arctic Skuas also passed both the Bill and Chesil Cove. June 5th The sea provided most of what little interest there was today, with 36 Common Scoter, 32 commic Terns, 26 Manx Shearwaters and a Great Skua off the Bill in the morning. Six Wheatears, a Reed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher around the Bill area were the only noteworthy migrants on the land. June 4th Late migrants were thin on the ground again today. The Bill area held just 4 Wheatears, 2 Reed Warblers and a Yellow Wagtail, although a Hobby and an unidentified buzzard sp. also flew through during the course of the day. Seawatching revealed just 20 Manx Shearwaters off the Bill. Sanderling increased to 30 at Ferrybridge. June 3rd After several lean days there was a minor flurry of new migrants around the island, with the Bill area producing 7 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Wheatears, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Turtle Dove, a Black Redstart, a Sedge Warbler and a Garden Warbler. Manx Shearwaters continued to figure conspicuously offshore, with more than 600 off the Bill in the morning. On the falling tide in the evening at Ferrybridge there were 36 Dunlin and 17 Sanderling present, but no sign of the putative Kentish Plover reported there during the afternoon. June 2nd Two Hobbies flew north over Weston in the morning, but there was no increase in migrant numbers anywhere, with the Bill area producing just a couple of Spotted Flycatchers. Manx Shearwaters were fairly numerous offshore throughout the day, and 2 Arctic Skuas also passed the Bill. June 1st June hardly arrived with a flourish, with the only birds of note being another meagre sprinkle of late migrants at the Bill, where there were 70 Swifts, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Turtle Dove, a Sand Martin, a Reed Warbler and a Willow Warbler. 

May 2001

May 31st The run of quiet days continued, with the only migrants of note being 2 Wheatears and a Turtle Dove at the Bill (despite the mist-nets being open for 7 hours, no birds were trapped and ringed at the Obs!). Seawatching at the Bill in the morning produced just 12 Manx Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua.  May 30th The only reports came from the Bill area, where there were 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Wheatears, a Hobby and a Willow Warbler on the land, and a few Manx Shearwaters and 2 Arctic Skuas offshore. May 29th Despite the return of warm, sunny weather there was no change in the rather dire migrant numbers. The Bill area produced just 4 Wheatears, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Hobby (the 39th of the spring), a Sedge Warbler and a Willow Warbler. Seawatching was no more productive, with the highlights being single Arctic and Great Skuas.

 

Sedge Warbler - Portland Bill, May 28th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 28th A hint of a few new arrivals today, with 2 Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher trapped and ringed at the Obs. Unfortunately, thick fog restricted birding elsewhere and the only other reports were of 3 Turtle Doves and another Reed Warbler elsewhere at the Bill, and 17 Sanderling at Ferrybridge May 27th No change in the weather or the birds. Migrants at the Bill today totalled just 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Wheatears, a Turtle Dove, a Sedge Warbler and a Willow Warbler. May 26th A pretty dismal start to the Bank Holiday weekend, with the island blanketed in thick fog, and very few birds about. The only reports came from the Bill, where there were 9 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Turtle Dove, a Sedge Warbler and a Chiffchaff. May 25th After the hot weather of recent days there was a sudden change today as misty low cloud and a stiff north-east wind kept the temperature pegged right down for most of the day. Unfortunately there was little improvement in migrant numbers, with the Bill area producing just a few Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel,  a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, a Whinchat, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler.

 

  

Bee-eater and Storm Petrel - Portland Bill, May 24th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 24th The highlight today was a Bee-eater at the Bill at 08:30; unfortunately it made a typically brief visit, and after settling on wires beside the Coastguard Cottages for a couple of minutes made off north over the Top Fields and was not seen again. Common migrants remained thin on the ground, with just 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Reed Warbler at the Bill; other oddities there included a single Mistle Thrush and another late Firecrest. Seawatching during the day has produced nothing of note, although last night 4 Storm Petrels were trapped and ringed during a tape-luring session at the Bill. Access update: All previously closed footpaths and rights of way on the island have been officially reopened today. May 23rd There was another good early morning tern passage today, with 370 commic and 6 Black Terns logged off the Bill. The land is even quieter than on recent days, with, for example, just a single Spotted Flycatcher trapped at the Obs all day; other migrants included 2 Sedge Warblers, a Turtle Dove and a Yellow Wagtail around the Bill, and several Spotted Flycatchers at other sites. A Marsh Harrier flew north up the West Cliffs early in the morning, and a Hobby was settled in the Strips at the Bill later on. May 22nd The settled spell of weather continued, but a freshening north-east breeze grounded a few more late migrants than in recent days. At the Bill, Swifts passed through in fair numbers, and there were also 7 Wheatears, 6 Willow Warblers, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, a Turtle Dove, a Whinchat, a Redstart and a Chiffchaff. Seawatching at the Bill produced 140 commic Terns in the morning.

 

Spotted Flycatcher - Portland Bill, May 21st 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 21st The lean spell continued today, with little evidence of movement beyond a good passage of Swifts in the morning. The Bill area held 10 Wheatears, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, a Reed Warbler and a late Brambling. Seawatching at the Bill produced 60 commic Terns and a Great Northern Diver. May 20th More of the same today, with a sprinkle of late common migrants around the island. Reed Warbler has been the only species in any numbers, with 4 at the Bill and several singles elsewhere. Oddities included a Firecrest at the Obs and a Tree Sparrow at Barleycrates Lane. Forty Common Scoter and an Arctic Skua passed the Bill in the morning. May 19th The Bill area remained rather quiet, and produced just a few typical late migrants, including 3 Spotted and a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, and both Sedge and Reed Warbler. Elsewhere there was a Hobby and a Ring Ouzel at Tout Quarry, and several Spotted Flycatchers at other sites. Two Arctic and a Pomarine Skua passed the Bill in the morning, but otherwise the sea was as quiet as the land.

 

Grey Heron - Portland Bill, May 18th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 18th The island remains firmly off-the-boil at the moment, with very little movement on the land or sea. The Bill area produced 8 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Willow Warblers, a Grey Heron,  a Turtle Dove, a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a Blackcap today. Offshore, there was just 3 Arctic Skuas, a few Manx Shearwaters and a Little Gull. May 17th A miserable day, with the island swept by near-gale force westerlies, and little of interest reported anywhere. Seawatching from the Bill produced just 90 Manx Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua, whilst a Spotted Flycatcher in the Obs garden was the sole migrant of note on the land. Twenty Sanderling were at Ferrybridge in the early afternoon. May 16th Heavy rain before dawn forced down a small flurry of late migrants this morning. Willow Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers numbered just into double figures, and there were ones and twos of Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail, Reed and Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Garden Warbler about the island. Another Hobby arrived in off the sea at the Bill, but seawatching there produced nothing better than 100 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver. Waders at Ferrybridge included 10 Sanderling and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. May 15th The Wryneck at Suckthumb Quarry was relocated behind the Craft Centre off Weston Street during the morning, but proved to be fairly elusive throughout the rest of the day. Also seen today were a Nightjar that showed for a while settled in a tree beside the RN cemetery at Verne Common in the afternoon, and a singing Wood Warbler at the Grove in the morning. Common migrants remained very thin on the ground, with just 3 birds trapped and ringed at the Obs, and little more elsewhere. Seawatching at the Bill produced 2 Great Northern Divers, and an Arctic and a Pomarine Skua.  May 14th An odds and sods day, with a surprising variety of birds reported. The highlight was a Wryneck that spent most of the morning at Suckthumb Quarry. Migrants included a fair number of Turtle Doves (including at least 10 at Southwell), 2 Pied Flycatchers at Suckthumb Quarry, Spotted Flycatchers at several sites, a Cuckoo at Inmosthay Quarry, a Nightingale at Suckthumb Quarry and a late Goldcrest in song at Delhi Lane. The arrival of clearer westerly weather all but halted sea passage, with the Bill producing just 2 Great Northern Divers, a Storm Petrel, a Pomarine Skua and a handful of waders and commic Terns; a lone Mute Swan settled on the sea off the Bill was another unexpected sight during the morning. Passage waders at Ferrybridge included 17 Whimbrel and 10 Sanderling. May 13th The sea provided virtually all the action today. Day totals at the Bill included 960 commic, 18 Black and 2 Roseate Terns, 200 Manx Shearwaters, 37 Common Scoter, 26 Pomarine, 7 Arctic and 3 Great Skuas, a Storm Petrel and plenty of waders. Full totals for Chesil are not available yet, but morning watches there produced 1000 commic, 2 Roseate and 14 Black Terns, 9 Pomarine and 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Little Gulls and a good variety of waders; a Roseate Tern also showed well at Ferrybridge during the afternoon. The land remained very quiet, with just a sprinkle of late migrants, including a Turtle Dove and a Redpoll, seen at the Bill. May 12th Terns were still on the move today, with counts from Chesil of 200 commics, 2 Roseate and 2 Black Terns, and from the Bill of 500 commic, 5 Black, 4 Little and 3 Roseate Terns. In the morning, a Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier also passed Chesil, and an unidentified ringtail Harrier was seen briefly over Top Fields at the Bill. Migrants on the land have been very sparse everywhere, with, for example, just 7 birds trapped and ringed at the Obs all day. May 11th The sea provided most of the interest today, including a remarkable passage of terns off Chesil Beach. Highlight was a Caspian Tern that flew past during a movement that produced counts of 1200 commic, 4 Black and 2 Roseate Terns; a variety of waders and 5 Arctic Skuas were also seen there. In the misty weather, passage off the Bill was much slower, with just 370 commic and 3 Black Terns seen, along with 2 Arctic, 2 Great and a Pomarine Skua, a Little Gull and a Mediterranean Gull. On the land, it is looking likely that the bulk of spring passerine migrants have now passed through, and it is certainly relatively quiet again today. Three Dotterels were flushed from Tout Quarry in the morning, but unfortunately flew off high to the north, and scarcer migrants elsewhere included 3 Greenshank and a Hobby at the Bill.

 

Greenland Wheatear - Portland Bill, May 10th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 10th Highlight today was a Tawny Pipit that was reported from Tout Quarry in the morning; unfortunately it flew off in the direction of Verne Common soon after it was discovered, and could not be relocated. Elsewhere, 4 Little Egrets flew over the Bill, and a lone Hobby passed north up the West Cliffs in the morning. Swifts and hirundines were still on the move in good numbers, but there was only a meagre sprinkle of grounded migrants on the island. Seawatching produced 4 Tufted Ducks, a Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Skua off the Bill in the morning, and 210 Arctic Terns, 40 Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Whimbrel and a Black Tern off Chesil Beach in the evening. May 9th A much quieter day. Among the common migrants, only hirundines and Swifts were on the move in good numbers, with most other species much scarcer than in recent days. The recent run of Hobbies continued, with 4 passing through during the morning, and in the evening a Marsh Harrier and a Merlin arrived from the south at the Bill. The only other oddity reported was a single overflying Greenshank.  Seawatching at the Bill produced just a few commic Terns, 6 Sanderling, 4 Arctic and a Pomarine Skua, and a Red-breasted Merganser. May 8th There were again a good variety of common migrants about, although numbers were not quite as high as in recent days. Hirundines, Swifts, Willow Warblers, Garden Warblers and Blackcaps were most conspicuous, with all the other expected species present in lower numbers. A Short-eared Owl arrived from the south at the Bill in the afternoon, singles Hobbies passed through at both the Bill and Weston, and a Tree Sparrow was an unusual but brief visitor to Reap Lane. With the wind remaining in the north-east, the sea was still quiet, with just 20 Common Scoter, 20 commic Terns, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Pomarine Skua past the Bill.

 

   

Hobby and Bar-tailed Godwit - Portland Bill, May 7th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 7th Despite a less than promising start, with little around at dawn, the stiff north-east breeze forced surprising numbers of migrants down as the day went on. Willow Warblers were numerous, with more than 250 at the Bill alone, but most of the other expected common migrants were represented; other counts from the Bill included 17 Yellow Wagtails, 15 Garden Warblers, 8 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Redstarts, 3 Tree Pipits, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, and single Black Redstart and Pied Flycatcher. Scarcer migrants included Hobby, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Siskin at the Bill, and 3 Hobbies passing through in the morning at Church Ope Cove. A single Roseate Tern lingering off the Bill in the morning livened up some otherwise dire seawatching, with the only other birds of note being single Arctic and Great Skuas. 

 

   

Chough, Tree Pipit and Wood Warbler - Portland Bill, May 6th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 6th Yesterday's probable Chough was confirmed early in the morning when it showed well for a while in fields beside the East Cliffs at the Bill; unfortunately it proved as elusive as the birds seen earlier in the spring, and showed just once more near the Bill later in the morning. Common migrants were fairly numerous everywhere today, with counts at the Bill of, for example, 150 Willow Warblers, 40 Blackcaps and 30 Garden Warblers. Scarcer migrants included 4 Hobbies at various sites during the day,  2 Wood Warblers and a Nightingale at the Bill, and a Green Sandpiper at Yeolands Quarry. Seawatching produced just a Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Skua off the Bill in the morning, and 4 Pomarine Skuas there in the evening. May 5th Inevitably perhaps, the Bank Holiday weekend started very quietly. Numbers of common migrants were much reduced, although still included 50 Willow Warblers, 35 Blackcaps, 15 Garden Warblers, 10 Whinchats, 10 Whitethroats, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Sedge Warblers and single Whimbrel, Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, and Pied and Spotted Flycatcher at the Bill. A fly-over Goosander at the Bill was the most unusual bird of the day, and there were also 2 Hobbies at the Bill, and a Buzzard over Weston. Seawatching at the Bill produced 3 Great Northern Divers in the morning and 3 Pomarine Skuas in the evening. Late in the evening a possible Chough was watched flying in from the south at the Bill.

 

aberrant Blackcap - Portland Bill, May 4th 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 4th Migrants were distinctly fewer than during the last two days, but there was still plenty to see. Around the Bill area, totals included 100 Willow Warblers, 30 Blackcaps, 30 Whitethroats, 15 Garden Warblers, 15 Whinchats, 7 Whimbrel, 5 Redstarts, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Common Sandpiper, a Turtle Dove, a White Wagtail, a Black Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler. Among the oddities, raptors continue to figure well, with a total of 6 Hobbies and an unidentified ringtail Harrier in off the sea at the Bill, and another Hobby seen over East Weare. The latter site also produced a typically brief Serin in the morning. The stiff northerly wind continued to spoil seawatching, with nothing better than a trickle of Manx Shearwaters, and 3 Arctic and a Pomarine Skua seen off the Bill.

 

Pied Flycatcher - Portland Bill, May 3rd 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 3rd There were plenty of migrants on the island again today, with the day's ringing total at the Obs reaching over 150 (taking the spring total to over 2000 - a well above average figure). The same array of common migrants as yesterday were present, with counts at the Bill including 300 Willow Warblers, 30 Whitethroats, 20 Whinchats and 10 Lesser Whitethroats; less common species included a Cuckoo, a Turtle Dove, a Redpoll, a Brambling and a Black Redstart. Three Great Northern Divers were also still in Portland Harbour. Oddities on the island included 3 Hobbies and a Marsh Harrier in off the sea at the Bill, another Hobby and another Marsh Harrier over Weston, 3 Goosanders and 2 Pomarine Skuas past the Bill, and a Firecrest trapped at the Obs.

 

Swallow - Portland Bill, May 2nd 2001 © Martin Cade

  May 2nd A busy day on the island, with the highlights being a female Serin (the same individual as the bird trapped last week) around the Hut Fields for much of the morning, a female Marsh Harrier in off the sea at the Bill in the morning, a Garganey past the Bill with Common Scoter, and a probable Dotterel seen in flight over Southwell. Common migrants were in reasonable supply everywhere, with counts at the Bill of 250 Willow Warblers, 50 Chiffchaffs, 30 Wheatears, 40 Whitethroats, 15 Blackcaps, 12 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Reed Warblers, and lower numbers of all the other expected species and a few oddities, including single Hobby, Turtle Dove, Grasshopper Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Redpoll; hirundines and Swifts were also on the move in good numbers all day. Bearing in mind the offshore wind, the sea was fairly productive, with totals at the Bill of 800 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Pomarine and 3 Arctic Skua, and 4 Tufted Ducks.  May 1st May arrived with grey skies, a blasting north-east wind and frequent heavy rain, and, not surprisingly, migrants were at a premium for most of the day. A Serin was an unexpected but brief visitor to Cheyne Weares, where there was also a Grasshopper Warbler. The Bill area produced nothing better than a few Swifts, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps. Seawatching was no better, with just 10 Common Scoter, 7 Manx Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua off the Bill. Clear weather finally arrived in the early evening, and there was a late flurry of activity at the Bill: hirundines and Swifts moved through in some numbers, and a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier flew in from the south in quick succession.

April 2001

 

Lesser Whitethroat - Portland Bill, April 30th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 30th Despite very clear skies, the cold northerly wind ensured a reasonable scatter of common migrants were grounded on the island at dawn. The Bill area held 100 Willow Warblers, 50 Wheatears, 20 Whitethroats, 15 Blackcaps, 8 Garden Warblers, 5 Redstarts, 4 Whimbrel, 4 Whinchats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, and single Black Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and Firecrest; a Serin was also seen briefly at the Obs Quarry in the morning. The offshore wind saw to it that seawatching produced very little, with just 3 Arctic Skuas and a Great Northern Diver seen from the Bill. April 29th Migrants were again in fairly short supply today, with the Bill area producing 10 Whimbrel, 5 Redstarts, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, a Nightingale and a Pied Flycatcher, among a sprinkle of commoner species. Elsewhere the highlights were a Hobby and a Tree Sparrow at the Grove. The sea was equally slow, with the best birds being 2 Great Northern Divers and an Arctic Skua off the Bill. 

 

Whinchat - Portland Bill, April 28th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 28th A much quieter day that produced a good variety of migrants, but none in very high numbers. At the Bill there were plenty of hirundines, along with a few Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtails, Tree Pipits, Wheatears, Whinchats, Redstarts, Sedge Warblers, Grasshopper Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Willow Warblers, and Pied and Spotted Flycatchers. Elsewhere there was a Wood Warbler at Verne Common, and a Firecrest was still at Pennsylvania Castle; waders are also starting to show up in higher numbers at Ferrybridge, where there were 200 Dunlin and 3 Sanderling. Seawatching from the Bill produced 5 Arctic and 5 Great Skuas, a Great Northern Diver and a few Manx Shearwaters, and 4 Black Terns passed through Ferrybridge in the morning.

 

Serin - Portland Bill, April 27th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 27th Damp and murky conditions at dawn saw migrants arrive in excellent numbers everywhere today. Counts at the Bill included 400 Willow Warblers, 40 Whitethroats, 40 Redstarts, 25 Garden Warblers, 20 Whinchats, 15 Tree Pipits, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Turtle Doves, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, a Black Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Nightingale; there were also lots of hirundines and Swifts, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a Little Egret, and in the afternoon a female Serin, that was eventually trapped and ringed, showed up around the Obs and the Hut Fields. Elsewhere there were plenty more common migrants, with other species recorded including Hobby and  Nuthatch at Verne Common, and Firecrest at Pennsylvania Castle; a male Serin was also seen briefly at Southwell in the afternoon. The sea was much quieter than in recent days, with the best birds being 60 commic Terns, and 2 Arctic and a Pomarine Skua off the Bill.  April 26th The sea produced most of the action today, with totals of 9 Great, 8 Arctic and 6 Pomarine Skuas off the Bill; also seen there were 3 Red-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers, and plenty of Manx Shearwaters. A Serin made a couple of fleeting visits to the Obs garden in the morning, and plenty of hirundines were on the move all day, but otherwise migrants were very thin on the ground at the Bill. Elsewhere there were single Firecrests at both Pennsylvania Castle and East Weare. April 25th There was again a good variety of migrants about the island, although numbers were generally on the low side. The Bill area held several Yellow Wagtails, Redstarts, Sedge Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats, as well as single Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Firecrest and Pied Flycatcher; there was also a brief sighting of a Serin over the Obs in the morning. The sea remained productive, with totals off the Bill of 68 commic Terns, 35 Common Scoter, 8 Arctic Skuas, 4  Pomarine Skuas, 4 Great Northern Divers, 3 Great Skuas and 3 Red-throated Divers. 

 

Nightingale - Portland Bill, April 24th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 24th Wind and rain had swept in overnight and there were a fair number of migrants, including both Nightingale and Grasshopper Warbler, about the Bill area at dawn. Unfortunately most quickly left as soon as the rain stopped during the morning, and it was left to the sea to provide most of the interest during the rest of the day. Watches from the Bill produced 200 Manx Shearwaters, 120 Common Scoter, 29 Great and 14 Arctic Skuas, 24 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 15 commic and 9 Arctic Terns, 2 Little Gulls, a Red-throated Diver and a Black Tern. April 23rd Fine spring weather returned to the island, but there were not many birds about to make the most of it. Migrants at the Bill included 70 Willow Warblers, 33 Whimbrel, 15 Wheatears, 4 Redstarts, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Garden Warbler; hirundines passed through in good numbers as the day went on. Following the strong passage yesterday, the sea was still productive, with 100 Manx Shearwaters, 89 Common Scoter, 7 Great and 5 Arctic Skuas, and 3 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver off the Bill. April 22nd A really miserable day, with rain setting in for the day a couple of hours after dawn. The land was very quiet, with the only birds of note being 10 Whimbrel at the Bill. Sea passage was slow in the morning, but picked up well in the late afternoon when the first really strong up-Channel movement of the spring got going; totals off the Bill included 1000 Gannets, 450 Common Terns, 300 Fulmars, 300 auks, 85 Manx Shearwaters, 67 Whimbrel, 31 Common Scoter, 15 Sandwich Terns, 12 Arctic Skuas, 11 Arctic Terns, 6 Eider, 6 Red-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Gadwalls, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Little Tern and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. The only other birds reported from the area were 42 Little Terns and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge. April 21st Another very clear night saw to it that migrants were rather thin on the ground. The Bill area held 60 Willow Warblers, 30 Wheatears, 25 Blackcaps, 8 Whimbrel, 4 Whitethroats, a Yellow Wagtail, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Bullfinch. The sea was quiet until the afternoon, when a change in wind direction produced totals of 400 Manx Shearwaters, 27 Common Scoter, 4 Arctic Skuas, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Skuas and an Eider off the Bill. Elsewhere there were 3 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour and a Buzzard at Tout Quarry.  April 20th With no great change in the weather, the migrant situation was much the same as in recent days. The Bill area held a scatter of a wide variety of species, including 70 Wheatears, 50 Willow Warblers, 40 Blackcaps, 5 Whimbrel, 3 Redstarts, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a Bullfinch. Elsewhere there were single Cuckoo, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher at Verne Common. The sea was still very quiet, with the only birds of note off the Bill in the morning being 41 Common Scoter, 7 Sandwich Terns and 2 Red-throated Diver; in the evening there was an up-Channel passage of 70 Manx Shearwaters. Six Little Terns were at Ferrybridge, and 2 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour.

 

Serin - Portland Bill, April 19th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 19th The cold northerly winds continued, and there was another surprisingly good scatter of migrants on the island. A Serin in the Obs garden briefly in the morning was the highlight, but the Bill area also held 75 Willow Warblers, 30 Wheatears, 30 Blackcaps, 8 Whimbrel, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Redstarts, 4 Pied Flycatchers, a Yellow Wagtail, a Whitethoat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Firecrest, a Siskin and a Bullfinch; the first Swift of the year also passed through, and plenty of hirundines were again on the move. Seawatching produced 15 Eider and a Great Skua, and 3 Great Northern Divers remained in Portland Harbour. April 18th The quietest day for a while. At the Bill there were 16 Wheatears,10 Willow Warblers, 5 Whimbrel, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grasshopper Warblers and single Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Ring Ouzel, Redstart, Whinchat and Firecrest; the sea produced nothing more than 8 Sandwich Terns. Elsewhere a Serin passed north over Easton, there were 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Common Scoter and a Black-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour, and several Little Terns were at Ferrybridge.

 

Subalpine Warbler - Southwell, April 17th 2001 © Pete and Debby  Saunders

  April 17th Despite the continuing clear and cold weather there was still plenty to see on the island, with the highlight being a male Subalpine Warbler that made a brief visit to a garden in Southwell during the morning. The Bill area held 100 Willow Warblers, 25 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, 4 Wheatears, 4 Redstarts, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Grasshopper Warblers and single Buzzard, Merlin, Whimbrel, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Firecrest and Pied Flycatcher. Hirundines were conspicuous everywhere, with over 1000 Swallows counted moving north at Weston, and migrants at other sites included a Hen Harrier passing over Ferrybridge, a Ring Ouzel at Tout Quarry and a Grasshopper Warbler at Weston. Seawatching produced just a single Red-throated Diver, and lone Great and Arctic Skuas off the Bill.

 

Pied Flycatcher - Portland Bill, April 15th 2001 © Charlie Moores

  April 16th After a very clear night it was a surprise to find a fair sprinkle of migrants about the island in the morning. There were 75 Willow Warblers, 30 Wheatears, 20 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Redstarts, 5 Whimbrel, 4 Tree Pipits, 3 Firecrests (all new individuals), a Common Sandpiper, a Yellow Wagtail, a Ring Ouzel and a Black Redstart at the Bill, with other species including Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Pied Flycatcher elsewhere; as the day went on plenty of hirundines and finches also started to arrive from the south. With the wind in the north, the sea remained quiet, with the best birds being 21 Manx Shearwaters, a Great Northern Diver, a Pintail and a Great Skua off the Bill. Rarities of the day were the Hoopoe that continued to show occasionally at Weston, and a Little Egret that flew past the Bill in the evening.

 

Hoopoe - Weston, April 15th 2001 © Charlie Moores

  April 15th A quieter day for common migrants; the species mix was similar to recent days, but numbers were much reduced. Highlights at the Bill were a Buzzard and a Firecrest, and there were also a few Redstarts there, and single Pied Flycatchers both there and at Barleycrates Lane. Seawatching produced nothing better than 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Teal and single Arctic and Great Skuas off the Bill. In the afternoon news came through of a Hoopoe frequenting gardens on the south side of Weston, and eventually the bird showed for a while in a small paddock near the junction of Barleycrates Lane and Weston Road (please note that Barleycrates Lane itself is still closed). April 14th Passage remained strong in some more chilly, overcast weather. The Bill area produced another 250 Willow Warblers and 200 Swallows, together with 30 Chiffchaffs, 30 Wheatears, 28 Whimbrel, 20 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 5 Redstarts, 4 Tree Pipits, 2 Goldcrests, a Fieldfare and the first Garden Warbler of the spring. Elsewhere on the island there were plenty of hirundines and finches moving north along the West Cliffs at Weston, and single Buzzard, Redwing and Grasshopper Warbler at Verne Common. Seawatching  produced 7 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, and 5 Great Skuas off the Bill, and there were 2 Great Northern and a Black-throated Diver in Portland Harbour. There was a report of the Subalpine Warbler being seen by a single observer near the Obs Quarry early in the morning, but later searches proved fruitless. April 13th Migrants were still on the move in good numbers, with a cold north-easterly wind and drizzle grounding many around the Bill in the morning. There were more than 200 Willow Warblers, along with 50 Chiffchaffs, 15 Redstarts, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Goldcrests, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Ring Ouzel and a Firecrest at the Bill, with several Redstarts and another Ring Ouzel at Verne Common. Despite plenty of searching the Subalpine Warbler could not be found today. 

 

  

Subalpine Warbler -  Portland Bill, April 12th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 12th A still and mainly overcast day that produced plenty more migrants. Highlight was a first-summer female Subalpine Warbler that was trapped and ringed at the Obs at midday; it was released in the Obs Quarry but was not seen again until 5 o'clock when it showed briefly several times for half an hour near the edge of the Obs garden. Common migrants at the Bill included 300 Willow Warblers, 30 Chiffchaffs, 20 Wheatears, 4 Redstarts, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Whinchats, 2 Firecrests and 1 Sedge Warbler; other oddities included a Buzzard and a Dartford Warbler. Elsewhere on the island there were 2 Pied Flycatchers and a Reed Warbler at Verne Common, and a Whimbrel at Ferrybridge. Seawatching remained slow, with the best birds being 5 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Skuas off the Bill. April 11th Another flurry of migrants arrived on the island today. Willow Warblers again numbered about 150 at the Bill, and there were also 9 Wheatears, 5 Tree Pipits, 2 Redstarts, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Common Sandpiper, a Brambling and plenty of hirundines (including the first few House Martins) there. Migrants elsewhere included 2 Pied Flycatchers at Verne Common. Rarity of the day was an Osprey that arrived in off the sea at the Bill in the late afternoon, and was then seen moving north over both Weston and Tout Quarry. April 10th Despite the fresh north wind, there was a distinct upsurge in passage today, although variety was still limited. Willow Warblers numbered more than 150 at the Bill, where there were also 25 Swallows, 4 Blackcaps, 2 White Wagtails, a Redstart and a Firecrest; oddities there included a Lapwing and a Little Ringed Plover, and there was also an early Whinchat at the Grove, and the first Little Tern of the spring at Ferrybridge. The offshore wind meant that the only noteworthy birds on the sea were a couple of Great Skuas off the Bill.

 

Stonechat -  Portland Bill, April 9th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 9th No great change today. Migrants remained in low numbers, with the Bill area producing just a trickle of Swallows, 10 Willow Warblers, 4 Wheatears, 2 Firecrests, a Buzzard, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff. Sea passage was equally slow, with 4 Red-throated Divers, 4 Manx Shearwaters, a Common Scoter and a Great Skua off the Bill. April 8th There was a surprise to start the day when the Chough reappeared around the Bill. It proved to be very mobile again, and had left to the north by mid-morning. Migrants were still scarce, with totals at the Bill of just 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Firecrests, a Tree Pipit and a few Swallows. The sea produced 4 Pintail, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Artic Skua and 1 Common Scoter. Eight Sandwich Terns and a single Sanderling were at Ferrybridge. April 7th A cold, damp day, with little improvement on the migrant front. The Bill area produced 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Wheatears, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrests, a Siskin and a few Swallows. The sea was little better, with just 8 Common Scoter, 7 Sandwich Terns, 4 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Skuas counted from the Bill. Two Buzzards were over the middle of the island during the afternoon, and 6 Great Northern Divers were still in Portland Harbour.

 

Goldfinch -  Portland Bill, April 6th 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 6th Passage remained at a standstill, with today's dismal haul of migrants at the Bill consisting of just 1 Swallow, 1 Wheatear, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and a Firecrest that has been present for nearly three weeks. Seawatching was equally unproductive, with the Bill producing 3 Common Scoter, an unidentified Diver and a Manx Shearwater. We received news today that there were 2 Alpine Swifts along the cliffs near Southwell on the afternoon of 3rd April. April 5th Another miserable wet and windy day meant there was little else to do but seawatch, with totals at the Bill of just 16 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Divers, 5 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Arctic Skuas. The handful of birds on the land included a few Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears, a Firecrest  and a Redstart around the Bill.

 

Serin -  Southwell, April 4th 2001 © Pete Saunders

  April 4th Clear weather and a strong north-west wind ensured that migrants remained very sparse. A singing Serin visited several gardens in Southwell in the afternoon, but none of the other rarities seen yesterday could be found today. Oddities at the Bill included a Firecrest and a Black Redstart, but there were otherwise just a handful of Wheatears, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers on the land. The sea produced more than 1000 Gannets, 6 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. April 3rd Common migrants were again thin on the ground, but this was more than made up for by a series of rarities. Single Serins, different birds in each case, were seen briefly at the DERA compound at the Bill and at Southwell in the morning; equally brief was an Alpine Swift that flew north over Southwell at midday. The afternoon saw the arrival of another Chough - seemingly a different individual to the bird seen two weeks ago - at the Bill; quite apart from being extremely vocal, it also proved to be very mobile and left to the north after an hour roaming the Bill area. In the evening a female Kentish Plover showed up at Ferrybridge. Common migrants in the area today included just 2 Blackcaps and a Black Redstart at the Bill, and a Redstart at Southwell, whilst seawatching at the Bill produced only 5 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua. April 2nd The supply of migrants eased again, but there was still plenty to see. A singing Serin at the Obs got the day off to a good start, and there were also 25 Willow Warblers, 20 Chiffchaffs, 5 Goldcrests, 4 Firecrests, 4 Bullfinches and a White Wagtail around the Bill area. Seawatching was much more productive than in recent days, with totals from the Bill of 250 Common Scoter, 14 Sandwich Terns, 8 Red-throated Divers, 4 Pintail, 3 Arctic and a Great Skua; the few breeding Puffins are also now beginning to show regularly in the mornings off the Bill.

 

Redstart -  Portland Bill, April 1st 2001 © Martin Cade

  April 1st There was another good fall of migrants in damp, foggy weather. Counts at the Bill included 100 Willow Warblers, 75 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Redstarts, 4 Firecrests and a Tree Pipit; clearer conditions in the afternoon also saw a few hirundines arriving. Seawatching was spoilt by poor visibility in the morning, and just a few Common Scoter and Sandwich Terns, and 3 Brent Geese passed in the afternoon.

March 2001

 

Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler -  Portland Bill, March 31st 2001

photo © Martin Cade

  March 31st An overcast, damp morning produced plenty of migrants. Around the Bill, there were 150 Willow Warblers, 75 Chiffchaffs, 30 Goldcrests and 25 Blackcaps, as well as 3 lingering Firecrests. The sea produced 19 Common Scoter, 13 Red-throated Divers, 4 Sandwich Terns and a Great Skua.  March 30th Another disappointing day, with few new arrivals. Hardly anything had arrived overnight, but during the day a trickle of Swallows and Sand Martins passed through, and a Buzzard was seen flying north to the east of the island. Odds and sods around the Bill included 20 Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps, 2 lingering Firecrests, a Fieldfare, a Bullfinch, a Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting. Seawatching produced just 4 Red-throated Divers, 4 Common Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull off the Bill.

 

Bullfinch -  Portland Bill, March 29th 2001

photo © Martin Cade

  March 29th Migration has virtually ground to a halt, with little evidence of any new arrivals today. There were still a scatter of Wheatears and Chiffchaffs at the Bill, along with 3 Black Redstarts, 2 Firecrests, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a Bullfinch. The sea produced just a Red-throated Diver and a Sandwich Tern, and there were 4 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour. March 28th The quietest day for common migrants for some while. Around the Bill area there were a sprinkle of Wheatears and Chiffchaffs, 5 Black Redstarts, 4 Firecrests, 3 White Wagtails, a Willow Warbler, a Dartford Warbler and a Bullfinch. Seawatching there produced 6 Red-throated Divers, 6 Sandwich Terns and a Great Skua. March 27th Another small flurry of common migrants arrived today. Wheatears again totalled about 100 at the Bill, where there were also 40 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Firecrests, 2 Black Redstarts, a Golden Plover and a Fieldfare. Seawatching at the Bill produced 40 Common Scoter, 11 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver and 4 Curlew. Four Great Northern Divers, 2 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Eider were in Portland Harbour. Belated news for yesterday: a probable female Bluethroat was reported near Lloyd's Cottage at the Bill early in the morning - searches today proved fruitless. March 26th Wheatears remained relatively numerous, with around 100 at the Bill again, but most other migrants were in rather short supply. The total of 3 Firecrests at the Bill included a new individual that took the number ringed at the Obs in the last ten days to a remarkable 22. Other migrants around the Bill included a Dartford Warbler, a Ring Ouzel, a Fieldfare and a Black Redstart, and another 100 Common Scoter flew east offshore. In the afternoon more than 400 Meadow Pipits passed north over Weston. March 25th A male Serin paid a brief visit to the Obs garden early in the morning, but the supply of common migrants dwindled somewhat today. The Bill area held 75 Wheatears, 25 Chiffchaffs, 25 Goldcrests, 6 Firecrests, 2 White Wagtails and a Blackcap, and there was another Firecrest at Pennsylvania Castle. Late in the day a male Hen Harrier was seen flying north over Weston. Off the Bill, spring passage of Common Scoter is now getting going: 150 flew up-Channel during the morning. March 24th Migrants continued to arrive in good supply, with another fall of 100 Wheatears, 50 Goldcrests, 50 Chiffchaffs and 11 Firecrests at the Bill. Also there were 5 Swallows, 3 Redwings, 2 Blackcaps, 2 White Wagtails, a Golden Plover and a Black Redstart; 27 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Terns and a Red-throated Diver passed on the sea. March 23rd The calm, drizzly start to the day was quite busy, at least at the Bill, with plenty of Wheatears, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around; with them were 6 Firecrests, 3 Blackcaps and a couple of Willow Warblers. Unfortunately the arrival of brighter weather by midday saw most of the migrants leave very quickly, and the only birds of note in the afternoon were a steady passage of Fulmars and Gannets, 3 Red-throated Divers and a Manx Shearwater off the Bill. Despite plenty of searching, the Chough was not seen today. March 22nd The Chough continued to show well on the East Cliffs for the first couple of hours of the day, but then became much more elusive and showed just briefly at midday near the dung heap beside the Bill Road - there were no more sightings in the afternoon. Wheatears still numbered more than 200, but otherwise there were fewer migrants about. Three Black Redstarts, 2 Swallows and a Firecrest were in the Bill area, a Merlin was seen at Reap Lane, and 2 Red-throated Divers and a Sandwich Tern passed the Bill.

 

Chough -  Portland Bill, March 21st 2001

video-still © Martin Cade

  March 21st Highlight today was the appearance of a Chough on the island - the first record for Portland, and the first in Dorset since the 1920's. It was seen initially over Penn's Weare in the early afternoon, and subsequently settled on the East Cliffs at the Bill for the rest of the day. Migrants were still present in good supply everywhere, with totals including 300 Wheatears, 8 Ring Ouzels, 5 Firecrests and 5 Black Redstarts; at the end of the day a Stone Curlew was also seen briefly at Suckthumb Quarry.

 

 

Avocet -  Portland Bill, March 20th 2001.....it even walked across the Bill Road!

photo and video-still © Martin Cade

  March 20th A stormy and very wet day that produced a major surprise in the form of an Avocet that spent several hours on floodwater in the field outside the Obs front gate. There were still quite a few common migrants on the island, with Wheatears again numerous, but full counts proved impossible in the wild weather. At least 1 Ring Ouzel was still at the Bill. March 19th Although distinctly fewer new migrants arrived today there was still plenty to see. Wheatears were again prominent, with more than 500 on the island. Other migrant totals included 50 Chiffchaffs, 30 Goldcrests, 20 Stonechats, 8 Black Redstarts, 5 Ring Ouzels, 3 Blackcaps and a Firecrest. 

 

Wheatear -  Obs garden, March 18th 2001

photo © Martin Cade

  March 18th Migrants continued to arrive in excellent numbers again today. Wheatears were everywhere, and were conservatively estimated to number 1200 over the whole island; other thrushes and chats included conspicuous arrivals of Robins and Stonechats, 4 Ring Ouzels, and single Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare. Other migrant totals included 150 Chiffchaffs, 100 Goldcrests, 5 Black Redstarts, 3 Firecrests, 4 Blackcaps, and single Short-eared Owl, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Brambling and Corn Bunting; more than 60 Wood Pigeons also arrived from the south during the day. Seawatching produced 6 Red-throated Divers off the Bill.  March 17th A misty, damp day saw the arrival of plenty more early migrants, with all-island counts of 1000 Wheatears, 200 Chiffchaffs, 150 Goldcrests, 6 Ring Ouzels, 4 Firecrests, 3 Black Redstarts, 2 Blackcaps, a Common Sandpiper, a Redstart and a Willow Warbler. Other oddities included 6 Golden Plovers, 2 Curlew, 2 Reed Buntings, a Grey Heron, a Water Rail, a Lapwing, a Snipe and a Mistle Thrush. Seawatching from the Bill produced 80 Common Scoter, 3 Brent Geese and a Red-throated Diver.

 

Firecrest -  Obs garden, March 16th 2001

photo © Martin Cade

  March 16th Spring finally sprung to life today, with the first decent fall of migrants of the year. The Bill was busy with more than 100 Goldcrests, 50 Wheatears, 25 Chiffchaffs, 13 Stonechats and 7 Firecrests; visible passage was also very conspicuous, with totals of over 1000 Meadow Pipits, 50 alba Wagtails and 2 Sand Martins. There were also plenty of birds elsewhere on the island, including 5 Firecrests around Weston. Everything was conspicuously on the move, and by afternoon most of the migrants had filtered away to the mainland. Seawatching at the Bill produced 12 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver and the first Sandwich Tern of the year, and during the afternoon the first-year Glaucous Gull was watched following a fishing boat off the East Cliffs. March 15th A light passage of pipits and wagtails continued, and there were also a couple of new Goldcrests, a Wheatear and a Chiffchaff at the Bill. Three Mallards roamed the island throughout the day, and 4 Common Scoter passed the Bill. March 14th Apart from a constant trickle of pipits and wagtails moving north, the only new migrants today were a Redwing at the Bill and a Chiffchaff at Weston; a singing Blackcap at Weston was presumed to be a wintering bird. Seawatching at the Bill produced 8 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver, as well as the first sighting of Puffin since the very early arrivals back in February; a single Purple Sandpiper was also on the rocks at the Bill. March 13th Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails continued to pass through in small numbers, but no other new migrants were seen on the land. Off the Bill, a Mediterranean Gull arrived from the south in the morning, and a second-winter Glaucous Gull was reported flying west at midday. In the afternoon the first-winter Glaucous Gull, first seen a couple of days ago, was again at Ferrybridge. March 12th The only new migrants today were a few more Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails trickling northwards. Seawatching from the Bill produced 50 Gannets, 7 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver, and there was still a Black Redstart at the Bill. Two Eider and a Great Northern Diver were in Portland Harbour, and there was another Black Redstart beside the Harbour near the Oil Tanks.  March 11th Foggy and wet weather saw the arrival of a few more new migrants, with the Bill providing 2 Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear and a Redwing, as well as a conspicuous increase in grounded Meadow Pipits; 6 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Turnstones were also still there. Five Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe were in Portland Harbour. March 10th Still not much action, with the Bill producing the first Sand Martin of the year, but otherwise just a lone Goldcrest, a Purple Sandpiper and a Red-throated Diver. Late news for yesterday: a first-winter Glaucous Gull was apparently at Ferrybridge, but there has been no sign of it there today. March 9th Spring may have arrived, but the birds still don't seem to have realised. At the Bill the first Goldcrest and the first 2 Linnets of the year showed up, but otherwise the only new migrants were a very few Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails trickling through, and 30 Brent Geese moving east offshore. March 8th More fine weather, but still not many birds about. Another Wheatear showed up at the Bill, and there were also a few Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails passing north over the island.  March 7th A better day, with fine weather and a few birds. The first 2 Wheatears arrived at the Bill, and there were also several new Stonechats, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones and a Black Redstart there. March 6th The promised milder weather unfortunately arrived with a strengthening wind and heavy rain, and the only noteworthy report was of a trickle of Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails moving north up the West Cliffs. March 5th Very little to show for efforts today. Seawatching at the Bill produced a Red-throated and an unidentified Diver. Also at the Bill there were 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Fieldfares and the first 2 Rooks of the year. 

 

An island rarity - snow at the Bill, March 4th 2001

photo © Martin Cade

  March 4th The day begun - very unusually - with the second snowfall in a week, although it again produced no cold weather movement. Seawatching provided most of the noteworthy birds of the day, with 2 Red-throated, a Black-throated and 3 unidentified Divers seen off the Bill. Elsewhere a Merlin was seen at Southwell. March 3rd The cold weather and access restrictions kept most birders indoors, and not much was reported again today. Five Common Scoters and a Red-throated Diver passed the Bill, and there were single Black Redstart and Purple Sandpiper there. A Great Northern Diver and a Black-necked Grebe were off Portland Castle, and there was a male Black Redstart at Weston. March 2nd Despite a bitter easterly wind the first visible passage of the spring was noted today, with 16 Meadow Pipits and an alba Wagtail watched arriving from the south at the Bill. Also at the Bill a lone Red-throated Diver passed offshore, and 3 Common Scoter and single Purple Sandpiper and Black Redstart were seen. A single Pale-bellied Brent Goose was again at Ferrybridge.  March 1st The month started in very low-key fashion, with the only noteworthy sighting being of a single Red-breasted Merganser passing the Bill.