Nice to be back for another spring 63 years after my first stay at PBO! Portland Bird Observatory for Trustees meeting . New 'Jodie's pool' in front garden ready for spring migrants and my 3 week ringing visit in April. Warm convivial atmosphere to finish.

IN FOCUS SOUTH WEST Optics day this Sunday 18th March is at Portland Bird Observatory Dorset Bird Club Dorset Wildlife Trust 01225 891352 for further info Opticron SWAROVSKI OPTIK Vortex Optics UK ZEISS Birding Hawke Optics Hopefully the first Wheatears will be around.

A change is as good as a rest.
Taking a break from the fascists, bile and ads on X/Twitter and, at least for the time being, migrating our news to bsky.app/profile/portla…

We had a good turnout for the Sea Watch at Portland Bill today. With reports of dolphins off the Bill yesterday, hopes were high, but sadly they didn't appear. We did see a grey seal though & watched purple sandpipers foraging on the rocks below us Sea Watch Foundation Dorset Wildlife Trust

Portland Bird Observatory vismig so far this morning, started at 0810, 425 Meadow Pipits, 14 'alba' Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff and the highlight an adult Spoonbill at 0930 all 'in-off' and north.

First seawatch of the season on Chesil this morning 06.30 to 08.00. ENE and cold. Nice migrating flocks of gulls; 47 BHG, 11 Common Gull, 8 Scoter, 3 RTDiver, 2 Shelduck and a Mipit in off. 3 Bottle nosed Dolphin also offshore.

3+ slav grebe back of portland harbour (1 hanging out with a GCG) 3+BNGrebe (maybe 5) 3+ GNDiver, probably 5x cmn scoter (at least 3, 3+2?). 3x GNDiver portland castle

Ferrybridge, Fleet on falling tide #Dorset
2 Bar Tailed Godwit, 5 Dunlin, 60+ Brent, 4 Oyc, LtEgret, Mipit flock.
Hamm beach, 2 BNG, 2 Turnstone, 20+ RBM, Brent, several singing Skylark ♥️
Portland Bird Observatory Dorset Bird Club RSPB Arne and Weymouth Wetlands Abbotsbury Swannery Dorset Wildlife Trust Dorset National Landscape

very much same old same old.......... at osprey quay whilst taking a lunchtime walk. not long till migration proper kicks in!

This morning at Church Ope Cove:

5 Rock Pipit (including both AAL and AAX)
2 Stonechat
2 fem Black Redstart
5 Chiffchaff

Portland Bird Observatory Dorset Bird Club BTO Dorset Nature of Dorset Dorset Wildlife Trust Mark Cutts

portandwey.blogspot.com/2024/02/23-feb…

Today's wind gusts in the south.

white wagtail at reap lane this morning around the lying water & 4x purple sands at the bill off the cafe where a fem/imm black redstart was also present. nice to see fulmar and razorbill back

purple sands like living dangerously!

I relocated the Diver flock from Osprey Close (east of Ferrybridge) but they have since split up into 2+3. Also another GND but only 1 Black-necked Grebe. Portland Bird Observatory

A tight flock of 5 Black-throated Diver feeding together off Portland Castle, all diving synchronously. Have now lost them behind the breakwater. Also 1 GND. Portland Bird Observatory

Popped up to look for owls but got distracted by the sunset. One shorty flying around the field in front of the obs at 17:50, but then got a bit dark.

IN FOCUS SOUTH WEST Optics day this Sunday 18th February Portland Bird Observatory Dorset WildlifeTrust Dorset Bird Club 01225 891352 for further info Opticron SWAROVSKI OPTIK Vortex Optics UK Hawke Optics ZEISS Birding check out our range of Optics in the field infocus

Lovely day around Portland Harbour and Portland Bird Observatory despite horrid weather. Great to see lots grebe and diver species, incl close juv GND, but purple sandpipers dodging the waves stole the show.

Church Ope Cove this afternoon with all the overwintering birds still here: 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart, 4 Chiffchaff, plus a newbie and my first for the year a (f) Blackcap. Portland Bird Observatory Dorset Bird Club BTO Dorset

portandwey.blogspot.com/2024/02/11-feb…

Portland Osprey Quay this morning with this super male Black Redstart