12th February

Passage continued apace off the Bill again today, where an increasing range of early migrants were on the move. Auks were again dominant although not fully counted - we forgot to mention that the eastbound passage first recognised two days ago was maintained yesterday - whilst the variety consisted of 32 Red-throated Divers, 9 Brent Geese, 8 Pintail, 6 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Black-throated Divers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver and a Great Crested Grebe. A Golden Plover headed north over the Bill, where 2 Purple Sandpipers and a Blackcap were still in residence. Reports from elsewhere around the island included the Grove Hooded Crow and the Portland Harbour Black Guillemot both still about.