The Bill Boys
Gwent Ornithological Society’s Spring Escape to Portland Bill Bird Observatory My inspiration for the title. Some invitations in life simply cannot be refused. A weekend in one of Britain’s most iconic birding locations. Spring migration in full swing. The chance of scarce migrants dropping into the mist nets. Sea watching from dramatic limestone cliffs. And, perhaps most importantly, three solid days of grown men of a certain age taking the mickey out of one another. So it was that on Friday 24th April 2026, after travelling since the deeply offensive hour of 4.15 am, I rolled into Portland Bill Bird Observatory at around 7.30 am to join the Gwent Ornithological Society’s elite away squad or as I would soon christen us, The Bill Boys . Waiting for me were Dave Brassey, Chris Ball, Bob Potter, Steve Butler, Steve Davies, Ian Smith, Chris Perry, Keith Roylance and John Walsh — all looking surprisingly fresh considering they had travelled down the previous day and, naturally, had alr...
