19th February

Not too much on offer today although there were some signs of passage in the form of several small groups of Meadow Pipits - along with a single Rock Pipit - arriving in off the sea at the Bill during the afternoon. Regulars still about included the Firecrest at the Obs, at least 2 Short-eared Owls at the Bill, the Blackcap and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Wakeham and 12 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Great Northern Divers at Portland Harbour.

We haven't done any systematic night recording yet this year but judging by the number of times we've heard Oystercatchers in recent nights - they're always an early migrant over here - it won't be long before it'll be worth giving it a try; this one was heading north over the Obs during a rain shower late yesterday evening:



One of the Great Northern Divers was showing nicely on the mill-pond calm waters of Portland Harbour © Pete Saunders: