26th March

The return of wild weather for the first time in a while wasn't altogether welcome but in the event didn't get in the way of a surprisingly decent list being garnered from the Bill area. As expected, the sea got plenty of attention and came up with the spring's first Arctic Skua, along with 21 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Sandwich Terns. The land was perhaps the surprise package, with only relatively cursory coverage returning a Willow Warbler - another spring first - together with 5 Firecrests, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Blackcaps, singles of Merlin, Woodcock and Fieldfare and a light scatter of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests.

Kestrel - Portland Bill, 25th March 2016 © Mike Trew