With a few Song Thrush already moving on up through the gears in regards to building their spring song, which is typical for mild mornings in late December/early January, it was a total shock upon visiting the PCW Drain this morning to also find 4 Common Chiffchaff in total full song making it feel more like late March rather than a week before Christmas. In total there were around 15 Common Chiffchaff when eventually a Siberian Chiffchaff was also found at the top end. They’ve been notable by their absence the last few years here, despite having always been a reliable site for this species. Just down the road from there in Upton CP a flock of 35 Redwing were feeding, which have also been pretty scarce this winter with only tiny flocks noted in a few areas with the same going for Fieldfare of which there were c30 at Hartland Moor. Off Jerry’s Point the Slavoniain Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver were counted, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 White-tailed Eagle and 2 Spotted Redshank were in Middlebere and out in Studland Bay there were 8 Common Scoter. A female Eider in Bramble bush Bau was new in and there were 3 Great Northern Diver off Pilot’s Point, Studland Bay.

Redwing – Upton CP – Rene Goad