7th January

Although the promised rain largely held off until late in the afternoon today was an uninspiring mix of dreary skies and a chilly and constantly freshening wind. Although nobody imagined it had actually left the island there hadn't been any reports of the Hooded Crow for several weeks, so it was good to glean belated news that it had been seen a couple of days ago; today it was showing as before amongst the mass of Carrion Crows and Jackdaws around the Grove pig farm. Given the conditions and the good numbers of birds still off the Bill it was no surprise that a lingering Great Skua was still about, but a passing Manx Shearwater there was of much higher value for the season; 2 Red-throated Divers also passed through off the Bill and another Great Skua passed through at Portland Harbour. Winterers included 3 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Blackcaps at the Bill and 3 Eider and the Black Guillemot in Portland Harbour.



Hooded Crow - The Grove, 7th January 2015 © Martin Cade

...and since we were uploading this video we thought we may as well do another little one of a rather confiding Sparrowhawk on the Obs patio yesterday morning: