3rd December

Dribs and drabs of late passage still, with today's offering from the Bill being 25 Goldfinches and a Merlin south overhead and 4 Redwings, a Fieldfare and a few new Chaffinches on the ground; moving Great Black-backed Gulls were also a feature, with 428 west past the Bill in an hour early in the morning - perhaps these were more likely birds displaced by the recent stormy conditions than longer-distance migrants? Although still very busy with feeding activity, the sea there didn't otherwise come up with much more than 2 passing Red-throated Divers. Five Purple Sandpipers, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Short-eared Owl and a Firecrest also remained at the Bill, with 2 Black Redstarts again at Blacknor, the Siberian Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart still at Portland Castle and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Redshank at Ferrybridge.