It'snow joke now

Still very unmediterranean weather at Shore Road

One of 4 Bewick's at East Holme

Swineham Gravel Pits

Record shot of Goosander stood on ice

Global warming

Looks like there should be a Polar bear somewhere

Shore road

Hatch Pond where there was a bit of open water

This Coot means business

Carrion Crow Shell Bay

Still a few Redwing on the move

Tufties also moving

Pintail flying to Brands Bay

Record shot of R.C Pochard at Little Sea, also a female around

Primrose Gardens

Some of the big movement of Thrushes ended up at the end of the road

Not really the weather for nesting

Ballard undercliff

Quick walk to the top of Ballard first. A few Song Thrush about but pretty quiet

Decided to do the undercliff from the Swanage end. Very pleasant indeed here in the sunshine and sheltered from the north wind.

At least 2 Black Redstarts wintering here.

Second bird

Surprised to see this Peacock flying up and down the beach in between settling on the pebbles

Passing Herring Gull wing

View from Middlebeach carpark

Black Redstart heaven

With the wind in the north went up to top of Glebelands where there was still some vis mig going on, even with quite a strong wind. Goldfinch numbered 44, with 2 Redpoll, 9 Siskin, 3 Linnet, 3 Greenfinch and a Pied Wag. These birds were all heading north into the wind. However the highlight was a party of 6 Bullfinch that were using the wind to go south.

Walked along to the trig point where 1+ Black Redstart had been reported. Lots of runners etc around so had a look at the sheltered cliffs. A quick scan revealed an imm/♀ bird.

Looking at the photo it looks like it is a first winter. According to BWP, first years can be distinguished from adult ♀ by retained dull juvenile wing-coverts and fringes to tertials which this looks to have. It was quite a ruddy brown colour, particularly on the underparts and face.

Record shot of other side

As I was watching this bird another one flew in.

No problem in ageing this little beauty!

It appeared to be chasing a third bird and some patient scanning eventually did reveal a third bird.

A smoky grey one this time, completely different to the first bird. It also looks to have offwhite as opposed to buff edgings presumably making it an adult female

A walk west back along the cliff turned up a fourth bird. This one more like the first one with again ruddy brown areas. Edgings here look buff so presumably a 1st year.

North Studland

South Haven at first light to see what would come into the harbour. There was in fact some unexpected vis mig particularly given the west wind.

A total of 84 Goldfinch south, along with 3 Redpoll and a Brambling.

3 Eider also dropped down just off the beach and proceeded to drift into the harbour

This one a first year male

This one also a first year male, you can just see a pale area above the eye running down to the bill.

This one another, perhaps even younger male. A pale area above the eye can just be made out. It also has a dark back unlike adult female and a hint of some white bits lower down.

A scaly patterned juv Great Northern Diver

Strandloper

Baiter

Pale-bellied showing white undercarriage

Hark the Herring 'a' Gulls sing!