5th December

The lovely, quiet conditions continued and there was a nice reward from the day's fieldwork in the form of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Church Ope Cove. New arrivals were otherwise few and far between although did include a Woodcock at the Bill; Great Spotted Woodpeckers also increased to 2 at the Bill, with a Purple Sandpiper and a Firecrest remaining there and at least another 2 Firecrests still at Church Ope Cove/Pennsylvania Castle. Eight Red-throated Divers and 5 Common Scoter passed through off the Bill and 19 Black-necked Grebes and singles of Black-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver were still in Portland Haerbour.

A small arrival of immigrant moths saw 2 Rush Veneer and singles of Rusty-dot Pearl and Silver Y trapped overnight at the Obs.

There's never been an overwintering Yellow-browed Warbler at Portland so it'll be interesting to see if today's bird lingers or proves to be just a late migrant © Martin Adlam: 



The Portland Harbour Black-necked Grebes are easy enough to see through a 'scope but are notoriously difficult to photograph well from the shore - get out in boat though and the results are a revelation! © Nick Stantiford: