January 2005

January 31st

Yesterday's Waxwing was still around although it was quite mobile; the favoured spot for it today seemed to be a couple of small hawthorn trees on the roadside at Haylands. Another individual was also reported on East Weare. In quiet, mild weather there was plenty to see elsewhere around the island, with 3 Black-throated Divers, 3 Eider and a Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour, a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge, a Chiffchaff at Weston, 8 Redwings at Easton and another at the Bill, 19 Common Scoter off East Cliffs and 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a Great Crested Grebe passing through off the Bill.

The party of Bottle-nosed Dolphins (at least 5 adults and a calf) were again off East Cliffs at the Bill for much of the day.

                                                 

              

 Waxwing - near Royal Manor School, January 30th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 30th

Highlight today was a settled Waxwing that showed on and off throughout the day in the vicinity of Royal Manor School between Weston and Easton. Portland Harbour was busier than it has been, with 4 Black-necked and a Red-necked Grebe, 3 Eider and 2 Black-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers on view during the morning, whilst nearby there were 5 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. Elsewhere there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Siskins at the Bill, a Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea there and a Chiffchaff was at Weston.

January 29th

Just typical winter birds today, with 4 Black-necked and a Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour, 3 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, 21 Common Scoter off East Cliffs and a single Red-throated Diver passing through off the Bill. Late news for yesterday: a Chiffchaff was at Weston.

Additionally, a piece of Portland trivia: yesterday's Waxwings over the Obs garden were - perhaps surprisingly - the first ever recorded there and take the list of birds seen in and from the garden to 290 species. This list doesn't include species trapped elsewhere and released in the garden (eg the 1970 Desert Warbler) but there are still a few queries to answer regarding species that might have been seen from the garden in the past so there may yet be one or two belated additions in the pipeline.

                                                 

   

 Waxwing - ex Portland Harbour, January 28th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 28th

Good and bad news on the Waxwing front today. The good news was the sighting in the afternoon of 15-20 flying rapidly north over the Obs garden - the flock seemingly having just arrived in off the sea; the bad news had been the discovery earlier in the day of a bedraggled dead individual floating in Portland Harbour at Portland Port (the bird had a broken neck so had presumably collided with a window or some other obstruction). Routine sightings otherwise included 20 Common Scoter still off East Cliffs, 4 Red-throated Divers passing the Bill and single Redwings at the Bill and Portland Castle.

January 27th

Thrushes today included 15 Redwings at Easton and 9 Fieldfares at Weston, with another lone Redwing at the Bill. A Black Redstart was at Haylands, 20 Common Scoter remained off East Cliffs, a single Red-throated Diver passed the Bill and there were 4 Black-necked and a Slavonian Grebe, 3 Eider and a Kingfisher in Portland Harbour.

January 26th

Not before time a Waxwing finally reached the island today: it was seen mid-morning in Westcliff Road at Weston although later searches there and elsewhere drew a blank. A Mistle Thrush was a new arrival at the Bill, where there were also 4 Purple Sandpipers and a Redwing; the flock of 21 Common Scoter remained offshore and a single Red-throated Diver passed through.

The party of Bottle-nosed Dolphins reappeared off East Cliffs again this morning.

January 25th

It remained dire on the bird front with nothing more to report than 21 Common Scoter off East Cliffs, 3 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Turnstones at the Bill, 8 Little Egrets at Ferrybridge and 4 Redwings at Portland Castle. 

January 24th

Another clear, crisp day. The only bird news was of 20 Common Scoter still off East Cliffs, 3 Red-throated Divers passing through off the Bill, a Mute Swan at Ferrybridge and a Fieldfare at Barleycrates Lane.

After a couple of days absence the party of 6-8 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again off East Cliffs for much of the morning.

January 23rd

The weather remains extremely changeable, with yesterday's cloud and rain replaced by clear blue skies and sunshine today; however it did remain very chilly in a brisk north-east wind. Despite there being plenty of birders about the only news was of the Common Scoter flock and large numbers of auks still off the Bill and 2 Red-throated Divers passing through there.

January 22nd

A quite miserable damp and chilly day nonetheless produced a few things of interest, notably tremendous numbers of auks off the Bill: sample counts of birds passing by exceeded 200 per minute at times and there were probably more than 10000 birds offshore in total. More mundane fare there included 24 Common Scoter still settled offshore, 3 Shelduck and a Red-throated Diver passing by and a Mute Swan that flew over the Obs and was eventually lost to sight still heading south. Other reports from around the island included 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Little Grebes and 2 Eider in Portland Harbour, 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge, 7 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, a Redwing in the Obs garden and a Pheasant and a Black Redstart on Little Beach below Grove Point.

January 21st

Eight Redwings and 2 Firecrests were at Easton this morning and another 2 Firecrests were found later in the day at Church Ope Cove. Five Purple Sandpipers were at the Bill where the Scoter flock offshore increased to 30 and a single Red-throated Diver passed through.

The small party of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again off the Bill for most of the morning.

                                                 

   

 Bottle-nosed Dolphins - off East Cliffs, January 20th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 20th

The only bird news was of 2 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, 23 Common Scoter settled off East Cliffs, a Red-throated Diver and good quantities of auks passing through on the sea there and 2 Slavonian Grebes in Portland Harbour.

A party of 6-8 Bottle-nosed Dolphins (including a quite small calf) lingered off East Cliffs for a while around midday.

                                                 

  

 Common Dolphin - Chesil Cove, January 19th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 19th

Quieter weather today saw a few more birders get out in the field. The Scoter flock and a Red-throated Diver were still settled off the Bill where another 3 Red-throated Divers passed by, auk numbers offshore increased to the many hundreds and 8 Purple Sandpipers were on the shore near the Trinity House obelisk. Elsewhere there were 4 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Black-throated Divers, a Slavonian Grebe and a Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour.

The local press has recently carried reports of several dead dolphins having been washed ashore on Chesil Beach; a Common Dolphin and the badly decomposed body of another unidentified dolphin were visible on the shore at Chesil Cove today.

January 18th

The sudden change today to blasting, chilly north-westerlies provided as good a reason as any to stay indoors and the only reports received were of 23 Common Scoter and a Red-throated Diver still settled off East Cliffs, 2 Purple Sandpipers at the Bill and a Slavonian Grebe in Portland Harbour.

                                                 

  

 Aurora - off Church Ope Cove, January 17th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 17th

Although the forecast rain amounted to no more than the odd passing shower during the morning it was enough to deter anyone from getting out in the field and the only news was of seawatching from the Obs: the resident Scoter flock and a Red-throated Diver were settled offshore, whilst the ill-fated cruise-liner Aurora was also off the Bill where it had apparently broken-down overnight; it later limped to anchor off Church Ope Cove. Late news for recent days: 4 Redwings, 2 Goldcrests and a Blackcap were at Easton yesterday, whilst a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were at Mallams on 14th.

                                                 

       

 Porter's Rustic and Satellite - Portland Bill, January 16th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 16th

A Lapwing was a new arrival in mild and mainly sunny conditions at the Bill, where 11 Red-throated Divers and 6 Brent Geese passed through on the sea, the Scoter flock was still present offshore and a lone Purple Sandpiper was on the shore below the Trinity House obelisk. The only other bird news was of 3 Eider and a Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour.

With the conditions looking faintly promising for an arrival of immigrant lepidoptera the Obs garden moth-traps were operated last night; immigrants were entirely absent and the pick of the few resident species on the wing was a single Satellite. Last night also saw the emergence of the first Porter's Rustic reared through from eggs obtained from the two specimens of this species caught at the Obs last August (only the larvae kept in a warm room have pupated; many others kept in cooler conditions have spun cocoons but remain in diapause and have not yet pupated).

January 15th

Still precious little to report with persistent rain showers spoiling any sort of birding for much of the morning. Four Red-throated Divers and a Mediterranean Gull passed through off the Bill where the Common Scoter flock remained offshore and a lone Purple Sandpiper was on the shore near the Trinity House obelisk. A Chiffchaff was again in the Obs garden but there has been no sign of the wintering Blackcap there for a couple of days. The highlight of the day came after dark when a Barn Owl that was first seen alongside the Bill Road was then watched by torchlight as it hunted over the fields between Culverwell and East Cliffs.

                                                 

       

Great Black-backed Gulls - Portland Bill, January 14th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 14th

The only news today was of seawatching at the Bill that produced 8 Red-throated Divers and a Red-breasted Merganser passing by and 20 Common Scoter still lingering offshore.

January 13th

A nice still, mild and sunny day but a disappointingly poor selection of sightings to report. A millpond-calm Portland Harbour came up with nothing better than 2 Black-necked, 2 Slavonian and a Red-necked Grebe, a Great Northern Diver and an Eider, 3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge, 18 Long-tailed Tits and a Blackcap were in a garden at Southwell, the Blackcap was still in the Obs garden, 20 Common Scoter remained off East Cliffs and a single Red-throated Diver passed through off the Bill. Late news for recent days: up to 3 Woodcock have been seen at dusk at Verne Common recently but there has still been no sign of any Long-eared Owls there; also a single Sandwich Tern was in Portland Harbour 'several days ago'.

                                                 

  

Shag - Portland Bill, January 12th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 12th

Pleasantly sunny today although the wind remained strong throughout the day. A fly-by Red-necked Grebe was the pick of the birds at the Bill, where 3 Red-throated Divers also passed through, 22 Common Scoter were still lingering and a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were in the Obs garden.

January 11th

Today's bout of wind and rain held off long enough to allow for some seawatching early in the morning when 6 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill, the Scoter flock was still present off East Cliffs and good numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks were lingering offshore. The only other reports were of the Blackcap still in the Obs garden, a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge and a Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe in Portland Harbour.

January 10th

With heavy rain lasting from the late hours of the night until late in the afternoon the only birding possible revealed that the Scoter flock remained offshore and the wintering Blackcap was still in the Obs garden.

January 9th

The only new arrival of note today was a Little Gull that lingered for a while off the Bill; 20 Common Scoter were also still offshore, another 2 Red-throated Divers passed through on the sea, 8 Purple Sandpipers were at the Bill and the Blackcap and a Redwing were in the Obs garden. The only reports from elsewhere were of 4 Black-necked and 2 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Eider and a Great Northern Diver in Portland Harbour and a Mediterranean Gull at Ferrybridge.

                                                 

  

Common Scoter - Portland Bill, January 8th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 8th

More often than not, howling gales are disappointingly unproductive at the Bill and today proved to be no exception, with nothing more interesting than a lone Red-throated Diver passing through on the sea; Chesil Cove was no better and produced just a single Mediterranean Gull. The Scoter flock remained off the Bill, 11 Purple Sandpipers were on the shore near the Trinity House obelisk and the Blackcap was still in the Obs garden. Elsewhere there were 3 Black-necked Grebes and 3 Eider in Portland Harbour.

January 7th

Not much birding activity today in windy but still very mild conditions. Six Purple Sandpipers, a Black Redstart and a Blackcap remained at the Bill, where there were 25 Common Scoter lingering offshore. Also at the Bill, after a long absence through the early winter Little Owls have again been showing in recent days in the Obs quarry. The only other reports from the area were of 3 Eider and 2 Slavonian Grebes in Portland Harbour.

January 6th

It was mild enough today to tempt Skylarks into song for the first time this winter, whilst the continuing presence of both Blackcap and Chiffchaff in the Obs garden and another 2 Chiffchaffs at Southwell gave even more of a spring-like feel to proceedings. A second Black Redstart joined the individual that arrived at the Bill yesterday, 5 Purple Sandpipers, a Redwing and a Goldcrest were also at the Bill and at least 17 Long-tailed Tits were at Southwell. Seawatching produced another 7 Red-throated Divers passing through off the Bill.

                                                 

  

Black Redstart - Portland Bill, January 5th 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 5th

Another day of brisk south-westerlies and squally showers. A Black Redstart at the Bill was the first seen there for over a month, the wintering Blackcap and Chiffchaff were both still in the Obs garden, 8 Red-throated Divers passed through on the sea and 20 Common Scoter remained off East Cliffs. Elsewhere there were 2 Rooks at Portland Heights and 4 Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Egret at Ferrybridge.

January 4th The weather remained mild but very unsettled and it was more of the same on the bird front. Large numbers of Kittiwakes remained offshore but otherwise the sea produced just 22 lingering Common Scoter and single passing Red-throated Diver and Brent Goose. Five Purple Sandpipers and 2 Turnstone were on the shore at the Bill and a Lapwing, a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were also in the Bill area. The only other news was of 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. January 3rd With most birders having logged the island's routine year-ticks over the last couple of days there were fewer people in the field today and the only news was of 500 Kittiwakes and 15 Common Scoter lingering off the Bill, 3 Red-throated Divers passing through there, 2 Redwings and a Blackcap in the Obs garden and 3 Eider, a Great Northern Diver, a Slavonian Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull in Portland Harbour. January 2nd  Still windy but drier and sunnier today. Another 6 Red-throated Divers passed the Bill, at least 12 Common Scoter were off East Cliffs and 9 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Ravens and a Blackcap were on the land at the Bill. Elsewhere there was a Little Gull off Chesil Cove, 3 Eider, 5 Black-necked and a Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour and at least 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge/Portland Harbour. Late news for yesterday: 2 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Brent Geese were pick of the afternoon seawatch reports from the Bill.

                                                 

  

Stormy start to the year - Portland Bill, January 1st 2005 © Martin Cade

  January 1st 

Quite a dismal start to the year with a strengthening wind blowing through increasingly frequent heavy rain showers. Six Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill where at least a dozen Common Scoter were still present and a Great Skua continued to linger. Despite a remarkably heavy passage of Redwings over the Bill in the hours of darkness only one lone individual could be found in the Obs garden at dawn; the wintering Blackcap was also still present there. Elsewhere a Chiffchaff was still at Southwell and a Great Northern Diver, a Slavonian Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull were in Portland Harbour.

Overnight moth-trapping in the Obs garden produced just typical resident winter fare: Winter Moth, Scobipalpa costella, Epiphyas postvittana and Acleris hastiana.

December 2004

December 31st More of the same to end the year. Both the Chiffchaff and the Blackcap were still in the Obs garden, with the Bill area also producing 5 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, a Pheasant and a Redwing.  Offshore, the resident Scoter flock numbered 25, whilst a Great Skua and a Red-throated Diver passed through. Elsewhere there were 10 Long-tailed Tits and a Chiffchaff at Southwell. December 30th With the temperature having shot up overnight it felt almost spring-like and some of the birds on view were hardly seasonal. Single Chiffchaffs were new arrivals at the Obs and at Southwell (the latter joining a second individual that had arrived there a few days ago); the wintering Blackcap was still in the Obs garden and a Goldcrest was at Southwell. More appropriate sightings for the time of year included a Redwing at the Bill and 4 Red-throated Divers passing through offshore. Late news for recent days: a Chiffchaff was in a garden at Southwell on 25th, 28th and 29th. December 29th Calmer, duller conditions allowed for a better look at Portland Harbour, where there were now 7 Black-necked Grebes along with 2 Black-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a Little Grebe. Five Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill where the resident Scoter flock has dwindled to just 17 birds in recent days; 3 Redwings, a Blackcap and a Goldcrest were the pick of the sightings there on the land.

                                                 

  

 Great Skua - Portland Bill, December 28th 2004 © Martin Cade

  December 28th After a stormy and wet night it was again clear and sunny today although a stiff north-west wind made birding difficult. A Great Skua was again lingering off the Bill but diver movement was restricted to just a single Red-throated passing through; 10 Purple Sandpipers were also on the shore at the Bill. Elsewhere there were 2 Black-necked Grebes off Sandsfoot Castle (only the second sighting in Portland Harbour this winter) and up to 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge/Portland Harbour.  December 27th A crisp, clear and sunny morning provided ideal conditions for divers to get moving and a total of 32 Red-throateds passed the Bill by early afternoon; a Great Skua was again offshore harrying the feeding gulls but the only other birds on the move there were 2 Wigeon and a lone Velvet Scoter. Elsewhere, 6 Redwings and a Blackcap were in the Obs garden, a Chiffchaff was at Shepherd's Dinner and 2 Red-throated Divers and several Guillemots were reported from Portland Harbour. Late news for 24th December: a Merlin was seen at Weston Street. December 26th A Great Skua lingered amongst the feeding gulls off the Bill during the morning but the only birds on the move there were 6 passing Red-throated Divers. At least one of the wintering Blackcaps was still in the Obs garden. December 25th Only a couple of short seawatches at the Bill to report on today, although the first did reveal the highest auk numbers so far this winter with a westward movement of between 100 and 150 per minute - almost exclusively Razorbills - for nearly an hour during the morning; numbers had declined to nothing more than a trickle in the afternoon. The resident Common Scoter flock was still present and single Red-throated and Great Northern Divers also passed through. December 24th A windy and at times very wet day that saw birding limited to the occasional peer outside from the Obs lounge. Kittiwake numbers continued to increase, with more than 600 feeding offshore during the morning, but the only other sightings were of the flock of 60 Common Scoter still offshore and the 2 Blackcaps still in the Obs garden. December 23rd The sea has been providing most of what little interest there's been in recent days and that proved to be the case again today. A substantial feeding flock of gulls and Gannets has been building up around the tide race off the Bill lately, with 300 Kittiwakes, 70 Gannets and 2 Mediterranean Gulls among larger numbers of Herring and Common Gulls there today; the flock of 60 Common Scoter remained offshore and 2 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver passed by there. Elsewhere the 2 wintering Blackcaps were still in the Obs garden, a Little Egret and a Pheasant were at Grove Point and a Firecrest was at East Weare. December 22nd Only very limited coverage today in wet and windy conditions. The Common Scoter flock off East Cliffs increased to 65, 3 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill and a Redwing and a Blackcap were in the Obs garden. December 21st The only reports today were of the 2 Blackcaps still in the Obs garden, 4 Brent Geese and 2 Red-throated Divers passing through off the Bill, 55 Common Scoter settled off East Cliffs, 19 Little Egrets and 3 Shelduck at Ferrybridge and a Black Redstart at the Grove. Late news for recent days: a Ring-billed Gull was reported at Ferrybridge yesterday but there was no sign of it there today; Firecrests have been seen quite frequently at Verne Common recently where there have also been occasional sightings of Woodcocks at dusk (but there has been no sign of any Long-eared Owls there so far this winter). December 20th A hint of chill in the air seemed to have got a few birds moving on the land and sea today. Seawatching at the Bill produced a steady flow of passing auks (which have otherwise been in quite low numbers so far this winter) along with 22 Red-throated Divers, 10 Common Scoter, 6 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 2 Brent Geese and a Red-breasted Merganser; the resident flock of 50 Common Scoter were also still offshore. On the land 10 Lapwings passed overhead at the Bill, where there were also 2 Redwings and 2 Blackcaps. A Chiffchaff was a new arrival at Southwell where a lone Black Redstart was also present. December 19th Heavy rain overnight gave way to clearer conditions and a chilly north-easterly blow. The wintering Blackcap in the Obs garden was joined by a second individual but the only other new arrival there was a single Fieldfare. Three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver passed through offshore where the wintering flock of Common Scoter were still present. Elsewhere there were 4 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. December 18th With the forecast heavy rain holding off for much of the day there was better coverage of the island today. The Bill area produced 10 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, a Fieldfare and a Redwing, the Common Scoter flock remained off East Cliffs, 2 Red-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers passed through off the Bill, 5 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge, 6 Redwings were at Portland Castle and 2 Eider, a Slavonian Grebe and a Mediterranean Gull were in Portland Harbour. December 17th A quite stormy day and the only reports were of the Scoter flock still off East Cliffs, another single Red-throated Diver passing through off the Bill and a Fieldfare at Culverwell December 16th The quiet weather of recent weeks gave way to wind and rain and there was precious little coverage of the island. The only news was of the 60 Common Scoter still off East Cliffs, a single Red-throated Diver passing the Bill and a Firecrest at Easton.

                                                 

   

 Blackcap - Portland Bill, December 15th 2004 © Martin Cade

  December 15th Thrushes have remained on the move much later than usual this year and last night produced another heavy nocturnal passage of Redwings over the Bill, with 60 more passing through there after dawn. The only other reports were of a Lapwing at the Bill, the wintering Blackcap still in the Obs garden and 60 Common Scoter still off East Cliffs. December 14th Just routine fare today, with the best on offer being a Black Redstart at Weston, 5 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, a Blackcap and a Brambling at the Bill, 60 Common Scoter and 2 Mediterranean Gulls lingering off East Cliffs and 5 Brent Geese and 2 Red-throated Divers passing through off the Bill.

                                                 

     

      

 White-fronted Geese - Portland Bill and Fortuneswell, December 13th 2004 © Martin Cade

  December 13th An unexpectedly productive day, with the pick of the bunch being a small influx of White-fronted Geese: a lone bird wandered around the Bill area during the morning, whilst a party of 3 that arrived on a playing-field at Fortuneswell at midday later moved down the island and settled near the Windmill Stables off Weston Street. The land otherwise produced 3 Lapwings, 3 Redwings, a Golden Plover, a Snipe and a Blackcap at the Bill, a Black Redstart at Weston Street, a Pheasant on the shore below Grove Point and 400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a Pale-bellied Brent and 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. Seawatching at the Bill provided 7 Brent Geese, 3 Shelduck, 2 Eider and a Red-throated Diver passing through and 50 Common Scoter still settled offshore.  December 12th Grey skies and a cold wind made for unpleasant birding again today, and the only news was of 750 Brent Geese and a Shoveler at Ferrybridge, 15 Redwings and 2 Fieldfares at Avalanche Road, 5 Redwings, 5 Fieldfares, 2 Lapwings, a Golden Plover and a Blackcap at the Bill and 50 Common Scoter still off the East Cliffs. December 11th More of the same at the Bill, where there were 4 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, 2 Turnstones, a Snipe and a Blackcap on the land and 25 Common Scoter still lingering offshore. December 10th A surprisingly long and varied list  from the Bill area today. Overnight, large numbers of Redwings could be heard passing overhead and a few continued to trickle through after dawn; 8 Snipe, 3 Fieldfares, 2 Golden Plovers, 2 Lapwings and a Blackcap were also logged on the land. The flock of 60 Common Scoter remained offshore, where a Mediterranean Gull also lingered and 12 Teal, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Red-throated Diver passed through. December 9th Precious little coverage today, with a fresh south-east wind and very gloomy skies having kept most visitors away. A Redwing, a Fieldfare and a Blackcap were in the Obs garden and 60 Common Scoter were still offshore at the Bill. December 8th The only news today was from the Bill where there was a Golden Plover and a Fieldfare on the land and 60 Common Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull lingering offshore.

                                                 

       

 sunrise and sunset from the Obs - December 7th 2004 © Martin Cade

  December 7th A pleasantly mild and still day that produced another late Swallow over the Obs, a total of 6 Goldcrests scattered between the Bill and Easton, a Black Redstart at Weston, a Firecrest at Southwell, 2 Black-throated Divers in Portland Harbour, 3 Red-throated Divers passing through off the Bill and 60 Common Scoter settled off the East Cliffs. December 6th A Fieldfare was a new arrival at the Bill, where there were also 3 Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone. The Common Scoter flock remained off the East Cliffs, a Mediterranean Gull was again lingering amongst the feeding gulls offshore, where a lone Red-throated Diver also passed through. December 5th One or two surprises to report, notably a Barn Owl seen last night beside the Bill Road near Culverwell and a late Swallow passing through at the Bill today. More routine sightings today included a Water Rail, a Blackcap and a Brambling at the Bill, a Firecrest at Southwell, 57 Common Scoter settled off the Bill, a Mediterranean Gull lingering offshore there and 2 Red-throated Divers passing through on the sea. December 4th The island was remarkably bereft of birds today, with the only news being of a new Goldcrest in the Obs garden and 50 Common Scoter settled offshore at the Bill.  December 3rd A crisp, clear morning produced 5 Snipe and a Fieldfare as new arrivals at the Bill; the 2 wintering Blackcaps were still in the Obs garden and 25 Common Scoter and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were lingering offshore (the 2 Velvet Scoters haven't been seen there for a couple of days).

                                                 

  

      

 Black Brant - Ferrybridge, December 2nd 2004 © Martin Cade

  December 2nd The Black Brant (although its incomplete neck-ring might indicate it is a hydrid/intergrade) was again at Ferrybridge at midday. The only only news was of 2 Blackcaps, a Lapwing and a Redwing at the Bill and 40 Common Scoter still offshore there. December 1st Highlight today was a Black Brant amongst the Brent Goose flock at Ferrybridge early in the afternoon. There was otherwise poor coverage of the rest of the island, with the only news being of 6 Purple Sandpipers, a Blackcap and a Brambling at the Bill, the mixed Scoter flock still present offshore and 5 Eider flying past the Bill.

November 2004

November 30th A party of 100 Starlings arriving from the south at the Bill gave some hope that perhaps everything hasn't quite finished for winter, although on the land the only sign of anything in the way of new arrivals were a handful of 'extra' Song Thrushes and a single Snipe. Two Blackcaps lingered on in the Obs garden, 25 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter were still offshore, 2 Little Gulls were amongst the feeding gulls off the Bill and 5 Eider, a Red-throated Diver and a Brent Goose passed through on the sea. November 29th The only news today was from the Bill where a Blackcap was still in the Obs garden, 2 Velvet Scoters and a Mediterranean Gull were still offshore and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Red-throated Diver passed by on the sea.

                                                 

     

 Blackcap - Portland Bill, November 28th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 28th A chillier day than of late but it was more of the same bird-wise. Two Fieldfares, 2 Blackcaps (one of them a new arrival) and a Redwing were the only noteworthy sightings on the land at the Bill, where the Common and Velvet Scoters remained offshore along with a Mediterranean Gull and 4 passing Little Gulls. Portland Harbour produced 2 Mute Swans, 2 Eider, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe, whilst there were 830 Brent Geese at Ferrybridge. Late news for yesterday: 2 Ruddy Shelducks were settled on a sandbank in Portland Harbour briefly in the afternoon before flying off west over Chesil Beach, 6 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Ferrybridge and a Firecrest was at Southwell. November 27th Uneventful winter birding today, with the last vestiges of autumn movement seemingly now ceased. The Bill area produced 6 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Water Rails, 2 Blackcaps, a Fieldfare and a Goldcrest on the land, 6 Tufted Ducks passing through on the sea and 30 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull lingering offshore. Three Eider, 3 Black-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe were in Portland Harbour. November 26th The Goosander remained in Portland Harbour where there were also 3 Eider, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Black-throated Diver. The only reports from other sites were of 2 Blackcaps, a Short-eared Owl and a Redwing at the Bill, a Red-throated Diver passing through on the sea there and 25 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter still settled off the East Cliffs. November 25th For the most part another fine and warm day although gathering cloud during the afternoon hinted at a change on the way. Yesterday's Pallas's Warbler was searched for but couldn't be found and there was not a great deal else on view anywhere on the land although a Goosander in Portland Harbour (off Sandsfoot Castle) was a quality record for the area. Odds and sods at the Bill included 5 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Goldcrest, with 32 Goldfinches and 4 Skylarks leaving out to the south overhead; elsewhere there were 2 Black Redstarts at Southwell. Seven Red-throated Divers and a Mediterranean Gull passed through off the Bill, where the settled flock of Common and Velvet Scoter were also still present. Late news for yesterday: single Firecrests were at Southwell and on the Grove undercliff.

                                                 

       

 Pallas's Warbler - Portland Bill, November 24th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 24th Early morning cloud cleared away to leave almost summer-like blue skies and warm sunshine for the rest of the day. Late migrants were hardly conspicuous so a major surprise was the discovery of a Pallas's Warbler at the Higher Lighthouse at the Bill; it was present for an hour feeding in low rose bushes early in the afternoon but subsequent searches for it there drew a blank. The Bill area otherwise produced 11 Redwings, 3 Fieldfares, 2 Water Rails, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Siskin, a Brambling and a Reed Bunting, as well as another 60 Starlings arriving in off the sea. A single Red-throated Diver passed through on the sea. November 23rd There was plenty of incentive to get out in the field today in pleasantly mild, still conditions and there were quite a few sightings to show for the effort made. The highlight was a Snow Bunting that dropped in briefly near the Bill lighthouse, whilst other new arrivals around the Bill included 10 Redwings, 2 Reed Buntings, a Golden Plover, a Woodcock, a Fieldfare and a Blackcap; another Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were also still lingering on there from previous days. Overhead a total of at least 500 Starlings arrived from the south and carried on northwards. The only movement on the sea involved 3 passing Red-throated Divers although the settled Common and Velvet Scoters were also still offshore. Portland Harbour produced 3 Eider, 2 Black-throated Divers and a Slavonian Grebe. November 22nd Yesterday's minor flurry of interest proved to be nothing more than a flash in the pan and it was right back to normal service today. A couple of small parties of Starlings arrived in off the sea at the Bill but the only worthwhile new arrivals on the land were a Siskin at the Bill and a Brambling at the Grove; 2 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff also at the Bill were left-overs from yesterday, whilst the Water Rail and Goldcrest there look to be attempting to winter at Culverwell and the Obs garden respectively. The Common Scoter flock off the Bill declined to fewer than 40 but the 2 Velvet Scoter were still offshore as was a lone Mediterranean Gull. November 21st November's reputation as a reliable month for late passage and good rarities has taken quite a dent this year but much milder conditions today at least produced a suggestion of a few more birds getting moving again, with the Bill area provided new arrivals including 16 Redwings, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Lapwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Snipe and a Brambling. The Scoter flock, including 2 Velvets, was still offshore, 3 Red-throated Divers passed by and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were lingering amongst the feeding flock of gulls offshore. Ferrybridge provided an excellent count of 1300 Brent Geese, whilst 3 Eider, 3 Black-throated and 2 Great Northern Divers and 2 Slavonian Grebes were in Portland Harbour. November 20th A really grim morning with constant rain or drizzle blown in on a raw south-east breeze. New arrivals at the Bill included 4 Redwings, 3 Golden Plover, 2 Fieldfares and a Snipe, whilst the sea provided 3 passing Red-throated Divers and the lingering Scoter flock offshore (that included 2 Velvet Scoter again). November 19th The gloomy skies of recent days gave way to clearer, chillier conditions and there was just a hint of late movement, with 230 Starlings and a Snow Bunting arriving in off the sea at the Bill and a handful of Redwings and Chaffinches dropping in through the morning. The flock of 50 Common Scoter remained off the Bill but only 1 of the 2 Velvet Scoters could be seen there. Portland Harbour produced 2 Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver and single Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes. November 18th The only news today was from the Bill where there were 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, 2 Redwings and a Goldcrest on the land, the settled Common and Velvet Scoters were still offshore and a single Red-throated Diver passed by. November 17th Another very quiet day. A few small parties of Goldfinches left to the south from the Bill but the only noteworthy birds reported on the ground were 4 Blackcaps and 2 Goldcrests at Pennsylvania Castle and a Redwing, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest at the Bill. The Common and Velvet Scoters were still off the Bill, where a lone Red-throated Diver also passed by. November 16th No sign of a resurgence in passage today, with a Grey Wagtail and a Redwing the only new arrivals at the Bill and the handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests lingering on in sheltered spots looking likely to be attempting to winter on the island. Fifty Common and 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill, a Black-throated Diver and a Great Skua passed by there, 4 Mediterranean Gulls were at Ferrybridge and a Sandwich Tern was in Portland Harbour.

                                                 

       

 Sparrowhawk - Portland Bill, November 15th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 15th Autumn continues to run out of steam, with the only new arrivals at the Bill today being 70 Starlings in off the sea, 11 Redwings, 4 Fieldfares, 2 Goldcrests and a Lapland Bunting; elsewhere there was a small increase in Goldcrest numbers at Pennsylvania Castle. Three Purple Sandpipers and a Black Redstart remained at the Bill, where the Common and Velvet Scoters were still offshore and single Red-throated and Black-throated Divers passed by. Portland Harbour produced 4 Black-throated and a Great Northern Diver, 4 Eider and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. November 14th More of the same weather and more of the same birds. The best the Bill area could muster were 5 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Snipe, 2 Turnstones, 2 Goldcrests, a Grey Heron, a Ringed Plover, a Swallow, a Redwing, a Fieldfare and a Chiffchaff. The Common and Velvet Scoters were still settled offshore and 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Great Northern Diver and a Mediterranean Gull passed by.

                                                 

     

 Buzzard - Portland Bill, November 13th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 13th Crisp, clear weather didn't look likely to produce much on the ground and surprisingly didn't produce much overhead either. Single Lapland Buntings were reported near Verne Prison and on the East Cliffs near Southwell, a Buzzard toured the south of the island during the afternoon and a Merlin arrived in off the sea at the Bill, but in the way of commoner migrants the only new arrivals were 6 Blackcaps, 2 Redwings, 2 Reed Buntings, a Snipe and a Swallow at the Bill. The resident flock of Common Scoter and 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill, where 5 Eider, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Pintail also passed through. November 12th An overcast early morning saw quite a bit of movement at the Bill, with 200 Linnets, 120 Redwings, 40 Blackbirds, 40 Chaffinches, 20 Fieldfares, 3 Brambling, 2 Siskin, 2 Reed Buntings and a Lapwing passing through soon after dawn and 1100 Starlings arriving in off the sea a little later. Skies soon cleared and more extensive searching of the island revealed precious few new arrivals on the ground beyond a handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests; a single presumably now wintering Black Redstart was still at the Bill. Sixty Common and 2 Velvet Scoter were still settled off the Bill and 2 Red-throated Divers passed through there.

                                                 

     

 Black Redstart - Portland Bill, November 11th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 11th Despite plenty of legwork in very fair weather there was poor reward all around the island today. The customary trickle of thrushes and finches passing overhead at the Bill included 3 Bramblings, but otherwise there was nothing much more interesting there than 4 Lapwings, a Merlin, a Short-eared Owl, a Swallow and a Black Redstart. Elsewhere there were 2 Firecrests and a Chiffchaff at Cheyne Weare and another Firecrest at Pennsylvania Castle. The 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the Bill where 2 Red-throated Divers also passed through.

                                                 

     

 Yellow-browed Warbler - Portland Bill, November 10th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 10th A subtle change in the weather saw the wind remain in the north but pick up to a stiff breeze as skies cleared and the temperature dropped considerably. Whilst the change had little effect on migrant numbers it produced two good scarcities in the form of a Yellow-browed Warbler that was trapped and ringed in the Obs garden at dawn and a Serin that made a typically fleeting visit to the same site early in the afternoon. If anything commoner migrants were even more thinly spread than in recent days, with a handful of thrushes and finches, 4 Snipe, 2 Lapwings, a Short-eared Owl, a Black Redstart and a late Wheatear the best on offer at the Bill. The 2 Velvet Scoter remained off the East Cliffs and 2 Wigeon passed by off the Bill.

                                                 

     

 Redstart - Portland Bill, November 9th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 9th The prevailing gloomy, quiet weather continued to reduce late movement to no more than a trickle. Small numbers of thrushes, Blackcaps, Goldcrests and finches made up what numbers there were today, with the only quality being a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock and late Swallow and Redstart at the Bill; 2 probable Twite overhead at Wakeham would have been birds of the day had they have been pinned down. The Common Scoter flock off the Bill increased to 70 again, the 2 Velvet Scoter were still present and a Great Northern Diver and a Brent Goose passed by there.

                                                 

  

   

 Yellowhammer and migrating Starlings - Portland Bill, November 8th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 8th Precious little change today with only a handful of new arrivals on the ground and not much more passing overhead. Under heavily overcast skies at the Bill there was a constant trickle of ones and twos of thrushes arriving in off the sea all morning, whilst around midday a pulse of more than 600 Starlings passed through in quick time; 3 Lapwings, a Golden Plover, a Short-eared Owl and a Woodlark also passed through there and a late Swallow was at Ferrybridge. Apart from a handful of Blackcaps and Goldcrests the only obvious new arrivals on the ground were a party of 7 Yellowhammers at the Bill; 2 Black Redstarts and a Merlin were also still present there and another Black Redstart was at Church Ope Cove. Fifty Common and 2 Velvet Scoter were still settled offshore and 2 Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver also passed through. Belated news for yesterday: a Dartford Warbler was in Top Fields and a male Redstart (reported as showing features of the eastern form samamisicus) was seen near the Higher Light at the Bill.

                                                 

     

 Fieldfare - Portland Bill, November 7th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 7th Still very quiet on the late migrant front with nothing much more than a trickle of Blackcaps, thrushes and finches passing through at the Bill. Two Black Redstarts and a Short-eared Owl were the pick of the scarcer species there, whilst the wintering group of Purple Sandpipers had increased to 8 birds and the 2 lingering Velvet Scoter remained off the East Cliffs. Elsewhere there were 4 Eider and 2 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour.

                                                 

     

 no birds but the fireworks were great - Southwell, November 6th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 6th Today's rarity interest was provided by a Yellow-browed Warbler reported from Pennsylvania Castle early in the morning and a Tree Sparrow that wandered between the Obs garden and the Coastguard gardens later in the morning. Commoner migrants were again extremely thin on the ground, with the only worthwhile reports being of a 3 late Swallows, 2 Bramblings, a Dartford Warbler and a Corn Bunting at the Bill and a Merlin at Barleycrates Lane. The 2 Velvet Scoters remained off the Bill where 2 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver and a Little Egret also passed through.

                                                 

     

  Long-eared Owl - Portland Bill, November 5th 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 5th A great start to the day saw a Long-eared Owl trapped and ringed in the Obs garden at dawn. Unfortunately the clear anticyclonic conditions otherwise delivered next to nothing in the way of grounded migrants and an ominous wintery silence had descended on all the areas of sheltered cover around the island. It was also surprisingly quiet overhead with just 140 Wood Pigeons, 10 Reed Buntings, 4 Redpolls, a Swallow, a Siskin and small numbers of commoner finches passing over the Bill. Offshore there were still 40 Common and 2 Velvet Scoter lingering off the East Cliffs. Belated news for yesterday: a Little Auk was seen close inshore off Pulpit Rock at the Bill late in the afternoon. November 4th Overnight there were plenty of thrushes on the move in overcast, damp conditions but although it was still raining at dawn most passage had petered out and the only grounded new arrivals at the Bill were a few Goldcrests; at least 5 Black Redstarts and a Merlin were still lingering on there from previous days. Despite the initially gloomy conditions there was quite a bit of visible passage overhead as the morning went on, with 400 Linnets, 250 Goldfinches, 70 Meadow Pipits, 40 Chaffinches, 25 Skylarks, 20 alba wagtails, 4 Swallows, 2 Reed Buntings, a Lapwing, a Snipe, a Siskin, a Lapland Bunting and a Corn Bunting over the Bill and a Snow Bunting over Weston Street. The only birds of note on the sea were a settled flock of 25 Common and 1 Velvet Scoter off the Bill. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose was again at Ferrybridge where there have been over 900 Dark-bellied Brents in recent days. November 3rd More of the same today with small numbers of thrushes, Goldcrests and finches still passing through. The best on offer on the land included a scatter of Firecrests everywhere as well as 9 Black Redstarts, 2 Short-eared Owls and a Merlin at the Bill and another Short-eared Owl at Weston Street; late migrants included 2 Wheatears and 2 Swallows at the Bill and another Swallow at the Grove. The Velvet Scoters off the Bill increased to 3 where there also 40 settled Common Scoter and 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Shelduck flying past.

                                                 

      

  Velvet Scoter - Portland Bill, November 2nd 2004 © Martin Cade

  November 2nd Another very heavily overcast day with occasional showery rain and a moderate south-east wind: seemingly promising conditions at this time of year although clearly the birds didn't seem to think so. A Great Grey Shrike seen briefly near the Portland Heights Hotel was the one quality find of the day, with the only other oddities reported on the land being 5 Black Redstarts, 2 Firecrests, a Merlin, a Woodcock and a Short-eared Owl at the Bill. Thrushes continued to trickle through but there was precious little else of note in the way of commoner migrants. At sea, the 2 Velvet Scoter continued to linger off the Bill, where 2 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Red-throated Diver and a Pintail also passed through. November 1st Yesterday's excesses proved to be something of a flash in the pan with similar-looking conditions today providing much more mundane numbers of birds. Thrushes were still conspicuous but numbered in the low hundreds as opposed to the thousands, and Goldcrests and a few of the commoner finches were the only other migrants that were even faintly numerous. Oddities included 10 Black Redstarts, 3 Firecrests, 4 Short-eared Owls, 3 Dartford Warblers, a Merlin, a Woodcock, a Ring Ouzel and a Lapland Bunting at the Bill and the same or another Lapland Bunting over Reap Lane, whilst late migrants included several House Martins and Swallows, a Hobby, a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler at the Bill. Seawatching at the Bill provided a settled flock of 30 Common and a Velvet Scoter, as well as 5 Red-throated Divers, a Brent Goose and a Red-breasted Merganser passing by.