26 Dec - An unexpected Boxing Day as I wasn't expecting to be birding - but plans rapidly changed mid-morning when news of a Brunnich's Guillemot at Portland coincided with a beautiful fine day, with my Boxing Day meal out not being until 6pm.....so a trip down to the coast resulted in very good views of this extremely rare visitor to the UK (usually, if anywhere, to Shetland....) and this Arctic auk species was eventually very obliging. eventually giving a point blank photo opportunity (3-5), with its distinctive stubby profile, and shorter, the blunter bill compared with Common Guillemot showing a white gape line. An amazing record for the south of England, presumably resulting from the very stormy weather of recent weeks. A surprising number of people turmed up during the afternoon considering it was a Christmas bank holiday with family commitments planned for most. The harbour also contained a very obliging close Great Northern Diver (12-14) with 2 other distant birds, together with a 1st-winter Black Guillemot, similarly storm-driven, and a few Razorbills and Guillemots.
Firstly Ferrybridge (6-7) - with 11 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose - then Radipole, with a Glossy Ibis and 2 further Med Gulls (8-11) - provided an excellent supporting cast. Photos JM.
Home in time for Boxing Day evening!
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