31st January

The only good thing about today was that getting it out of the way gets us one day nearer to spring: this January's been a month that won't live long in the memory and today's offerings under frequently drizzly skies were appropriately meagre. Twelve Teal off Chesil Cove tied in with yesterday's half dozen in Portland Harbour to perhaps hint at some early waterfowl movement, but otherwise there was no change: 13 Goosanders were in Portland Harbour, the Greylag Goose remained at Reap Lane and 5 Red-throated Divers and a Black-headed Gull passed through off the Bill.

Some of the Goosanders off Portland Castle © Pete Saunders: