If Carlsberg did dips...

After indulging in a day of 'brown' birding, twitching a Nutcracker on 25th October, I was determined to get out on the bike the following weekend. Extra incentive was provided by the fact that I had gone the whole month without adding to the non-motorised year list - and Saturday 31st October would be the last chance to change that. Late breaking news on the Friday evening of a Siberian Stonechat on Portland - a potential bike tick - seemed like fate so I packed the bike up that night ready for an early start.

Pallas's Warbler, Portland, 31st October

Pallas's Warbler, Portland, 31st October

A traffic and trouble free journey saw me reaching Weston Road, where the Sibechat was last seen, in just under 2.5 hours - not bad given how out of practice I was. Before getting there, the first 'year tick' of the day had already been added with a couple of Black Redstarts in the half light at Chiswell. On arrival at Weston Road it was brightening up but the mood soon darkened when I approached Brett who broke the news that there had been no sign of the Sibechat in the first hour or so of daylight. 

Pallas's Warbler, Portland, 31st October

Pallas's Warbler, Portland, 31st October

Not to worry, I thought, there were other birds to look for, not least a Snow Bunting which had been frequenting the east cliffs below the Observatory for over a week. I rolled down towards the Bill, turning left to the coast path before the Observatory and, over the next couple of hours, grilled every inch of the coast and the sites apparently preferred by the Bunting. By this time I was getting hungry and considered heading to the Lobster Pot cafe before trying again, but en route another birder reported that he had just seen the Bunting in the Bill quarry close to the toilet block. I headed straight there and after a bit of a search happened across Simon Craft who had just located it through his thermal imager. Phew.

Pallas's Warbler, Portland, 31st October

Pallas's Warbler, Portland, 31st October

I celebrated with a bacon and egg bap at the Lobster Pot, went back for another quick look at the 'Snob', and figured it was time to start heading home, not least as there were other potential year ticks on offer, including a Ring Ouzel last seen heading in the direction of the Top Fields. Just as I reached them another report came through of an Ouzel heading north from that area, so my hopes dropped a bit at that point. They were soon lifted though when news broke of a Pallas's Warbler, located close to where we had dipped the Sibechat earlier in the day. 

Snow Bunting, Portland, 31st October

Snow Bunting, Portland, 31st October

I was 5 minutes away so put the pedal down to get there as quickly as possible. A small crowd had gathered and not long after the Pallas's was relocated. It performed superbly for a good while, so after a few photos, and with time pushing on, I agreed a plan with Phil Bentley to meet up at the Verne at the top of the island before leaving Portland, as Ring Ouzel had been seen there in the preceeding days. 

Snow Bunting, Portland, 31st October

Snow Bunting, Portland, 31st October

Alas, we couldn't find one and after about an hour had to admit defeat. But I still had one more year tick in mind and this one ought to be a dead cert: Golden Plover at Lodmoor. After another brief stop in Chiswell for a few pics of a Black Redstart, in less than an hour I had reached Lodmoor and was enjoying the sights and sounds of a large and nervous flock of Golden Plover. 

Black Redstart, Chiswell, 31st October

Black Redstart, Chiswell, 31st October

It was a memorable way to end the birding day and put the spring in my step needed to complete the remaining 17 miles of the journey back. I arrived home at 1732, precisely 12 hours after I left, and chalked 4 new species for the year onto the non-motorised list - a good haul at this late stage of the year, and it certainly rescued what would otherwise have been a pretty barren October. 

Golden Plover, Lodmoor, 31st October