20th March

Black-headed Gull passage aside, the sea's been on a run of pretty poor form lately - for example, we're still struggling for a March skua - so the spring's first three figure Common Scoter movement (110 in total) off the Bill was welcome; 2 Red-throated Divers and a lone Wigeon also passed through there, whilst a selection of customary winter divers, grebes and a Common Scoter lingered on at Portland Harbour/Ferrybridge. On the land, what passage there is continues to involve largely typical early fare, with sub-Saharan winterers hardly featuring; the day's totals from the Bill area included 25 Redwings, 8 Wheatears, 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Black Redstarts, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests, a Golden Plover and a Woodcock, whilst Starling numbers which have been building in recent days peaked at 300 (are these off-passage birds?). The only report from elsewhere was of an extra Firecrest joining the lingering winterer at the Grove.