Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset, day 1.

Rain, 11º, fresh to strong variable.

Drove down to Portland, Dorset in rather poor, wet conditions with a lot of surface water on the roads and arrived this afternoon to heavy rain and high winds, over 40mm of rain here today. There were very few if any migrants on the land. Only one brave soul had ventured out in the inclement weather and did not see much.

A few Willow Warblers in the Obs garden, a Whitethroat, a fly-by Hobby and a local Raven.

Sea watching also rather quiet, Gannets were the most numerous, all mainly flying east, Common Shags, Northern Fulmars, 3 Whimbrel flew west, several Manx Shearwaters, a few Kittiwake, a number of Guillemots and Razorbills, a lone Puffin, a Great Northern Diver, west but generally a rather light passage this afternoon.

Let’s hope tomorrow improves!

                                             The observatory

                                   View of the garden