11th March

Bar the non-appearance of the year's first Wheatear there was precious little to fault today, with plenty enough to enjoy in lovely calm conditions. An overcast dawn looked to have promise and it was soon evident there was nice little spread of new arrivals everywhere, with thrushes in particular a feature around the south of the island, with 25 Blackbirds, 9 Redwings and a Fieldfare at the Bill and 20 Redwings at Suckthumb. Four Long-tailed Tits, 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Woodlarks, 2 Siskins and a Firecrest were the pick of the migrants at the Bill, where 3 Short-eared Owls, 2 Water Rails, 2 Black Redstarts and 2 more Firecrests were also still about; 2 Black Redstarts at Blacknor were the best elsewhere. Black-headed Gulls were again trickling through offshore, including 50 off Chesil, but the sea didn't come up with much more besides single Curlews off both the Bill and Chesil, and a Slavonian Grebe settled off Chesil.

Firecrest - Portland Bill, 11th March 2016 © Martin Cade

Also a short recording of one of the Woodlarks as it flew past the Obs:

...and, as a bit of a Portland novelty, later we were treated to one of the Siskins issuing forth with something that presumably accords to song:

10th March

Quiet, fair and at times quite warm in the sun: today's conditions couldn't have been in starker contrast to yesterday's weather excesses. The clear skies and northerly breeze looked rather promising for migrants but the birds seemed to think otherwise, with a very light trickle of passing Redwings (including 11 at the Bill and 8 at Suckthumb), Meadow Pipits and alba wagtails everywhere, 8 Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and 2 likely White Wagtails at Blacknor and 2 Chiffchaffs and a Grey Wagtail at the Bill the best on offer on the ground and overhead; 2 Firecrests, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart also remained at the Bill. Reports from the water included 3 Great Northern Divers and 2 Common Scoter in Portland Harbour, 2 Mallards through off Chesil and a Red-throated Diver through off the Bill.

Mammal interest came in the form of 2 Harbour Porpoises off the Bill and an unidentified bat persistently hawking over the Obs pond in broad daylight.

unidentified bat - Portland Bill, 10th March 2016 © Martin Cade

9th March

On a day of a battering northerly gale and constant rain it was good to have so much to get on with indoors. The only reports were of a Black Redstart that briefly dropped in on the Obs patio and 4 Great Northern Divers and a Common Scoter in Portland Harbour.

8th March

Although there were still migrants on the move it was a tad disappointing that early cloud cover and later drizzly rain looked to have dropped very little by way of grounded arrivals. Overhead passage was strong enough, with Meadow Pipits heading north along West Cliffs at around 100 an hour at times, and plenty of alba wagtails tagging along; the first moving Linnets of the season - 34 over the Bill - were also of note. On the ground, 5 Redwings and a Firecrest were new at Suckthumb, but just about the only news from the Bill was bad news, with one of the wintering Firecrests at the Obs being killed by a Sparrowhawk; one of the long-staying Black Redstarts was also still about at the Bill. Portland Harbour held 9 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Black-throated Diver, and 3 Red-throated Divers passed through off the Bill.

Sparrowhawk (aka Firecrest killer!) - Portland Bill, 8th March 2016 © Martin Cade

7th March

A chilly but fair day came up with the best species list of the year to date that included a typically miscellaneous selection of seasonable oddities. First records for the year at the Bill (as opposed to all-island, from where two have already clocked up records) included singles of Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare and Yellowhammer, whilst a Merlin showed up along the Beach Road, 2 Wigeon passed through off Chesil and the Avalanche Woodlarks lingered on. Meadow Pipits and alba wagtails continued to trickle in overhead, with the likes of a Redwing also through over the Bill, but grounded arrivals consisted of little more than one or two extra Chiffchaffs and 2 more Great Tits at the Bill; sea passage included 68 Black-headed Gulls off Chesil and 20 Common Scoter and 6 Red-throated Divers off the Bill. Given the pretty chilly conditions it probably wasn't a surprise that many winterers continued to linger on, with 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Firecrests and singles of Water Rail, Purple Sandpiper and Chiffchaff all still about at the Bill.

6th March

A good lot of coverage came up with a decent little selection of birds around the island today, with highlights that included 7 Avocets through off the Bill and what seemed most likely to be the rediscovery - after a couple of days missed - of both the 2 Barleycrates Woodlarks that had wandered over the road to Avalanche and the 2 Portland Harbour Pintail. Routine passage consisted of more Meadow Pipits and alba wagtails - including 20 or so each over the Bill, a Reed Bunting at the Bill, at least 1 new Chiffchaff at Avalanche and 18 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Divers and 2 Shelducks through off the Bill. Winterers hanging on included 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Firecrests and a Black Redstart at the Bill.

5th March

Clear skies and chilly northerly - pretty decent fall conditions in a few weeks time - did perk things up today, with by far the best tally of new arrivals so far this spring. Overhead passage accounted for the bulk of the numbers, with incoming Meadow Pipits likely getting into a three figure total over the island as a whole; Wood Pigeons, alba wagtails, Redwings and a variety of common finches also trickled in and made it into double figures, whilst singles of Stock Dove and Skylark were tagging along. On the ground the only obvious arrivals were 2 new Chiffchaffs at the Obs, with further interest there coming in the form of the 2 lingering Firecrests.

Chiffchaff - Portland Bill, 5th March 2015 © Martin Cade

...and the Obs looking rather fine in the sunshine this morning:

4th March

Really nothing much changing with an unfavourable north-westerly pegging back what early passage we perhaps ought to be seeing by now. Odds and ends of new arrivals included 4 Great Tits and 3 alba wagtails heading through high to the north at the Bill, a Merlin in Top Fields, a Redwing at Blacknor and a Black Redstart at Verne Common. Two Firecrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Short-eared Owl and a Black Redstart were still at the Bill, the Black-throated Diver was still in Portland Harbour and 2 Red-throated Divers and a Common Scoter passed through off the Bill.

Great Tit - Portland Bill, 4th March 2016 © Martin Cade

...one of those odd little things that you had to see to fully appreciate: one of a party of 4 Great Tits migrating north so high over the Bill as to be barely discernible with the naked eye.

3rd March

A perfectly nice day to be out there looking but, with the notable exception of 2 Woodlarks that dropped in at Barleycrates Lane, the rewards in terms of early migrants were pretty scant, with the only other obvious new arrivals being 2 Pintail through at Portland Harbour and a handful of in-bound visible migrants - 3 Meadow Pipits, a Wood Pigeon and a Redwing - at the Bill. The increasingly quiet conditions allowed for good looks at Portland Harbour, where 12 Black-necked Grebes, 4 each of a Great Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe, and a single Black-throated Diver made up the quality; singles of Red-throated Diver and Black-throated Diver, together with 4 Common Scoter, also passed through off the Bill. The day's other reports concerned a few of long-stayers, including 2 Firecrests, a Short-eared Owl and a Dartford Warbler, still about at the Bill.

2nd March

A blasting north-westerly gale and, at least during the morning, vicious squally showers made for a day best forgotten in a hurry. The only worthwhile reports were of singles of Chiffchaff and Firecrest at the Obs and a Black-throated Diver in Portland Harbour.

Raven - Ferrybridge, 2nd March 2016 © Debby Saunders

1st March

With the threat of rain enough to deter most potential fieldworkers the only reports from prior to its setting in were of a showy Black-throated Diver at the Portland Marina and singles of Red-throated Diver and Common Scoter through off the Bill. Cursory coverage at the Bill in clearer conditions late in the day revealed nothing more than the usual 2 Firecrests and 2 Chiffchaffs at the Obs.

Black-throated Diver - Portland Harbour, 1st March 2016 © Pete Saunders

29th February

A largely uneventful month ended quietly with precious little to excite amongst the handful of newcomers. The majority of arrivals at the Obs - including the likes of 3 Great Tits and a Robin - were only distinguishable in the hand when their lack of a ring singled them out amongst their already marked congeners. Although the lovely calm conditions favoured sticking it out in the field the only other reports were of 13 Black-necked Grebes, 4 Great Northern Divers and 3 Slavonian Grebes in Portland Harbour, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Firecrests and singles of Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart and Rook at the Bill and 8 Common Scoter through on the sea at the Bill.

28th February

Still chilly and not really feeling very migranty but odd morsels of interest did manage to put in appearances. Two Canada Geese over Ferrybridge were a first for the year and a Redshank was the first there for a while, whilst on the passerine front a few more Meadow Pipits trickled in and at least 2 new Stonechats showed up amongst the winterers. Routine fare included a Black Redstart at Chesil Cove, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Firecrests and a Chiffchaff at the Bill and 4 Red-throated Divers and 3 Common Scoter through on the sea there.
Finally, Nick Hopper has been in touch with some nocturnal passage news from his stay at the Obs last week, when the recording gear logged 12 Redwings, 7 Song Thrushes and singles of Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Skylark on Wednesday/Thursday night (24th/25th) but no likely migrants on Thursday/Friday night.

Canada Geese, Redshank and Black Redstart - Ferrybridge and Chesil Cove, 28th February 2016 © Pete Saunders (Canada Geese) and Debby Saunders (Redshank and Black Redstart)

27th February

Yesterday's brisk easterly was even more of a feature and quelled enthusiasm for prolonged fieldwork. Two Firecrests were at the Obs, 5 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver and a Black-headed Gull passed through off the Bill and a Black Redstart was at the Grove.

26th February

Sharp showers at dawn marked the beginning of an increasingly unpleasant day, with a chilly easterly gathered strength throughout. Up-Channel Gannet passage was conspicuous for the first time this year, with small parties a constant feature off the Bill through the morning; 2 Red-throated Divers also passed by there, with 19 Black-headed Gulls and another 6 Red-throated Divers through off Chesil. At least 50 Meadow Pipits grounded on the Bill Common during the afternoon suggested there was passerine passage afoot that wasn't being picked up overhead. The only other reports were of 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Firecrests and a Purple Sandpiper at the Bill and a Black Redstart at Blacknor.

The party of at least a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins were again off the Bill early in the morning.

25th February

A millpond calm day saw the water come up with most of the action. Seawatches at the Bill produced 13 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Red-throated Divers, 9 Common Scoter and 6 Mediterranean Gulls, with 8 Common Scoter also through off Chesil, 11 Black-necked Grebes and 6 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Great Northern Divers at Ferrybridge. Odds and ends from limited coverage of the land included 3 Black Redstarts and 2 Firecrests at the Bill, 6 Ravens and a Rook over Blacknor, another Black Redstart at Chesil Cove and 2 Chiffchaffs at Portland Castle.

A party of around a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the east side of the island during the morning.

Mediterranean Gulls and Pale-bellied Brent Geese - Ferrybridge, 25th February 2016 © Sean Foote (Med Gull video) and Pete Saunders (PbBrents)

24th February

Today's keen easterly breeze didn't deter a few more early movers from putting in appearances, with 64 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Shelduck and 2 Common Scoter through off Chesil, a Mistle Thrush at Blacknor, a Meadow Pipit in off the sea at the Bill, 7 Long-tailed Tits at the Obs and a Red-throated Diver through off the Bill. Long-stayers showing off under the sunny skies included 2 Short-eared Owls and 2 Firecrests at the Bill and 2 Great Northern Divers at Ferrybridge.

Long-tailed Tit - Portland Bill, 24th February 2016 © Martin Cade

Ken Dolbear was also on patrol today and reported that the Widow Iris at Broadcroft BC reserve is already in flower:

...as a sign of how advanced the season is this plant was first in full flower on 12th March in both of the last two years, whilst in the late, cold spring of 2013 it wasn't in flower until late April.

23rd February

A day that was so pleasant that it merited a good bit more than the relatively mediocre selection on offer around the island. That said, there were a few more signs of spring including several Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Common Buzzard and an alba wagtail heading north, a Redwing at Southwell and a Great Tit that dropped in at Ferrybridge. Sadly, the only other rewards from plenty of fieldwork were a good selection of the regulars: 12 Linnets, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Firecrests, a Dartford Warbler and a Chiffchaff at the Bill, another Chiffchaff at Southwell, a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Pennsylvania Castle, the Siberian Chiffchaff at Portland Castle and 3 Sandwich Terns and 2 Great Northern Divers in Portland Harbour.

The first Peacock butterfly of the year was on the wing at the Obs.

The Bill lighthouse - 23rd February 2016 © Martin King

And news of a couple of interesting 'other orders' discoveries. At the weekend Seth Gibson, Danny Cooper and their pan-listing friends happened across the fungus, Collared Earthstar Geastrum triplex, at Pennsylvania Castle:

...Bryan Edwards, via Ken Dolbear, has kindly let us know that this is the first record for the island (evidently the nearest occurrence on Bryan's database is from near Dorchester). Ken Dolbear has also sent us through a photo of a new lichen for the island - Arthonia cinnabarina:

...Ken reports that he first discovered this lichen last year on a tree beside the Bottomcombe Trail and that the specimen is still there today, albeit now somewhat worn (...if only birds were that long-staying/twitchable!)

22nd February

The weather forecast was awry today with the promised rain amounting to no more than showers around dawn and again towards dusk, with most of the daylight hours calm, overcast and eminently birdable. As it was interest was limited, although 4 northbound alba wagtails at the Bill were a minor migration event of interest. The wintering Siberian Chiffchaff put in its first appearance for quite a while at Portland Castle; a Black Redstart was also still there, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was amongst the brents at Ferrybridge, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Grey Heron were at Penn's Weare and at least singles of Chiffchaff and Firecrest remained at the Obs. The sea came up with no more than 5 Common Scoter and a Black-headed Gull through off the Bill.

21st February

On a largely uninspiring dreary day most of the interest was on the sea, with 19 Brent Geese, 3 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver and a Great Skua through off the Bill. Six Black-necked Grebes, 3 Slavonian Grebes and a Great Northern Diver remained in Portland Harbour and 2 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest were still at the Obs.

20th February

A disappointing selection today with the influx of weekend observers turning up next to nothing by way of quality. The dreary, blustery conditions were a constant downer and the only worthwhile sightings were of 220 Brent Geese at Ferrybridge, 8 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers and 2 Slavonian Grebes in Portland Harbour, a Black Redstart at Blacknor and a Common Scoter through off the Bill.

19th February

Portland Harbour came up with the pick of the day's sightings, with first a Black Guillemot discovered off Sandsfoot Castle, and later a Velvet Scoter spotted from the same viewpoint during an otherwise unrewarded search for the guillemot; a thin scatter of the usual divers and grebes were also on offer in the harbour. At the Bill a Puffin was reported twice during the morning but, apart from a new Robin trapped at the Obs - most likely a migrant? - the land came up with no more than a few of the regulars that included singles of Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart and Firecrest.

18th February

 

A reminder that there's an In Focus field event at the Obs between 10am and 4pm this Saturday, 20th February.

The return of sunny skies saw the appearance of a welcome harbinger of things to come when a lone Skylark arrived in off the sea at the Bill. Winterers on show in the fair weather included the 3 Firecrests and Dartford Warbler at the Bill and at least 1 of the Short-eared Owls at Southwell. Two Red-throated Divers passed by off the Bill.

17th February

All the good work done by the last couple of days of sunshine in drying out the ground was resoundingly undone by today's rain that set in not long after dawn and lasted until well past dusk. The only reports were of a Red-throated Diver through off the Bill and singles of Chiffchaff and Firecrest at the Obs.

16th February

A second successive overnight frost was enough to prompt a small reaction, with a Jack Snipe and a few new thrushes - including 2 Redwings - at the Bill and another Redwing at Chesil Cove; the other new arrivals were likely more related to the advance of the season, with the first Rook to stray out as far as the Bill so far this year and a general increase in Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Winterers still about included 3 Short-eared Owls, 2 Firecrests and a Black Redstart at the Bill and another Black Redstart at Reap Lane; seawatching produced 6 Red-throated Divers off the Bill and 3 Red-throated Divers and 3 Brent Geese off Chesil.

Rook - Portland Bill, 16th February 2016 © Martin Cade

The Neil Arnold Memorial Fund

We're very pleased to announce the establishment of The Neil Arnold Memorial Fund. Visitors to the website will recall the sad news last year of Neil Arnold's death; Neil was a well-known figure in the birding community both locally - including serving on the management committee of PBO for many years - and further afield, and he is particularly remembered as a pioneer teacher and author in the field of environmental education for young people.

Following his death, Neil's partner, Chris Milner, proposed establishing a fund in his memory that would provide financial support for young people wishing to visit Portland Bird Observatory; through kind donations from Chris and others it has now proved possible to formally establish the fund. Although it will be administered at PBO the fund is a UK registered charity in its own right, with its own trustees - including Chris Milner and Jane Arnold, one of Neil's daughters - and a separate bank account. Although the fund will initially support residential visits to PBO, as further funding becomes available it is hoped to extend its remit to encompass visits to any accredited UK bird observatory. We will shortly make available details of the funding arrangements for applicants, but in the meanwhile we welcome any donations in Neil's memory.

15th February

A glorious sunny day, albeit with a keen northerly breeze always a feature, saw plenty of coverage by the many half-term visitors out and about around the island. A Mute Swan that lingered off Chesil was the only unexpected find, but among the regulars the likes of Purple Sandpipers, Short-eared Owls and Firecrests were all on view from time to time at the Bill.

Purple Sandpipers and Peregrine - Portland Bill, 15th February 2016 © Pete Saunders

14th February

The sea came up with the oddest of the day's sightings, with weekend visitors reporting 3 Manx Shearwaters off the Bill. More routine fare making the list included 3 Red-throated Divers through off the Bill, 8 Purple Sandpipers and singles of Short-eared Owl, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Firecrest and Goldcrest still about at the Bill/Southwell, Black Redstarts again at Blacknor and Chesil Cove (2) and a selection of divers and grebes in Portland Harbour. 

Common Buzzard, Blackcap, Black Redstart and Short-eared Owl - Portland Bill, Chesil Cove and Southwell, 14th February 2016 © Tony Hovell (Buzzard, B'cap & Black Red) and Pete Saunders (SEOwl) 

13th February

With a good part of the morning and the end the afternoon rained off birding opportunities were limited today. There were few surprises amongst what was on offer, with singles of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Firecrest still at the Bill, 3 Red-throated Divers through on the sea there, a Sandwich Tern at Ferrybridge and 20 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Great Northern Divers, 3 Slavonian Grebes and 2 Black-necked Grebes in Portland Harbour.

Great Crested Grebe, Dunlins, Raven and Chiffchaff - Portland Bill, 13th February 2016 © Debby Saunders (GCGrebe and Dunlins), Tony Hovell (Raven) and Martin Cade (Chiffchaff)

And many thanks indeed to Andrew Sloane for taking the trouble to send us a record shot of yesterday's Puffin off the Bill:

12th February

Yesterday's fair weather didn't last and was replaced by pretty miserable conditions today, with frequent drizzle blowing through on a brisk and chilly easterly. The quality of the birding actually improved, with new arrivals that included a Puffin settled off the Bill, a Blackcap at Southwell, a Short-eared Owl at Verne Common and a Little Gull at Ferrybridge. Routine fare included 2 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap at the Obs, 3 Red-throated Divers through on the sea at the Bill, 2 Chiffchaffs at Portland Castle and 155 Dunlin at Ferrybridge.

We also received encouraging news from Nick Hopper of what seems likely - given the absence of any cold weather - to be the first signs of spring passage: Nick gave his recording equipment another outing the night before last (10th/11th) and logged 3 Redwings and singles of Song Thrush and Blackbird over the Obs.

Blackcap - Southwell, 12th February 2016 © David Rashley