18 Mar 24

Fancy's Farm and Tout Quarry

It was a late afternoon walk around Fancy's Farm and Tout Quarry, in the hope of spotting a few Spring migrants moving up the island. Sadly there wasn't a single bird and the best I could do was a male Stonechat at Fancy's Farm

Birds Recorded:
1 Common Buzzard
10 Herring Gull
5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
1 Stonechat
Blackbird
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

One of the two resident Common Buzzards at Tout Quarry

This male Stonechat at Fancy's Farm was........

...........singing. Not that you could hear it in the wind

Feeding time for the Carrion Crows, as a dog walker throws some scraps of bread onto the track. A Herring Gull looks on.


Bees Recorded:
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) - Deceased

A deceased Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)


General Shots
:

Low cloud over Fancy's farm

And on the farm a couple of Wallaby's.

The view looking south from Tout Quarry

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Barn Owl Webcam
Lorton Meadows

17 Mar 24

Portland Castle Beach, Portland Marina and Portland Harbour

Highlights from along the esplanade, between the castle and the marina, were 2 Great Northern Divers, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, a female Black Redstart and 10 Chiffchaffs.

Birds Recorded:
2 Great Northern Diver
2 Red-breasted Merganser
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Black Redstart
10 Chiffchaff
Magpie
Carrion Crow

Two Great Northern Divers

And a close-up shot of.........

..........them both.

Cormorants, Herring Gulls and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls on the marina breakwater.

And a female Black Redstart next to Portland Castle Beach

Below are a few photos of Chiffchaffs feeding in amongst the Spurges (Euphorbia sp.).







Ships Today:

This a bit confusing as this Maltese Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Monjasa Provider" has lost the letters "Monj" on its starboard side. It is coming from Weymouth Bay to dock close to HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portland Harbour. More Monjasa Provider here and HMS Queen Elizabeth here.

This is the Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Tigris" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way from Portland to Rotterdam. More on this vessel here.


Aircraft Today:

This is the Royal Navy ZH846.........

.......Westland EH101 Merlin HM1 coming into land at.........

............HeliOperations, Portland to refuel.

Here it is taking off and then heading east.. More on this helicopter here.

16 Mar 24

Wakeham

Oh what a surprise it's raining again!!!!

You know what's coming.................

Razorbills at Portland Bill.

Toads in the "Bath" Pond.

A short clip of my first Small White of the year, with a musical background, to drown out the builders working in the new estate behind the Cottage.

One of at least nine Wheatears along Penns Weare.

A Scarce Fungus Weevil, Platyrhinus resinosus

A Fulmar on the Grove Cliffs








15 Mar 24

Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

It was a visit to Lodmoor this afternoon, but only a short walk down Beachdown Way, as the pathways were pretty wet.

Beachdown Way which runs down the west side of the reserve.

Main highlight was a Spoonbill which rose from the reedbeds and flew past me, before landing to the southeast corner of the reserve.

Other highlights were several Chiffchaffs singing from the hedgerows, along with a few Greenfinches. I have still yet to see or hear a Bullfinch this year.

Mammals Recorded:
2 Brown Rat

Birds Recorded:
5 Cormorant
5 Little Egret
1 Grey Heron
1 Spoonbill
6 Mute Swan
8 Canada Goose
8 Shelduck
Mallard
16 Gadwall
20+ Teal
5 Shoveler
Moorhen
Coot
7 Oystercatcher
1 Lapwing
10 Snipe
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
1 Common Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
6 Cetti's Warbler
7 Chiffchaff (All singing)
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A Little Egret

And a Spoonbill

A drake Teal

Two drake Shoveler flank a female

A pair of Oystercatchers on one of the floating nesting rafts

Two Snipe flying across the water, having just been spooked by a Carrion Crow which had landed between at least ten Snipe on one of the islands.

A Second-calendar year Black-headed Gull

Two adult gulls in full summer plumage. At the back is a Black-headed Gull with a Mediterranean Gull at the front.

And another adult Mediterranean Gull.

14 Mar 24

Wakeham

After yesterdays sad news, I had hoped that today I could have a nice walk with Ted, who I can tell is missing his old buddy. Unfortunately it rained for most of the day.

It was also another depressing day, as the Goldfinches pre-roost Sycamore Tree was chopped down, just a few houses down the street.

Another one bites the dust!!


13 Mar 24

Ferrybridge Sandflats

It was a sad day for all the family as we said goodbye to Benji. He had been suffering from Cushing's disease for several years and recently arthritis had set in. It wasn't an easy decision to make, but his quality of life was virtually non-existent.

We rescued Benji from a Puppy Farm almost 11 years ago, and I'm pleased to say it was closed down a few months later. After we said our goodbyes, Ted and I had a little walk to take it all in.

Birds Recorded on and around Ferrybridge:
1 Great Northern Diver
1 Little Egret
2 Red-breasted Merganser
8 Oystercatcher
10 Dunlin
2 Curlew/Whimbrel
12 Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
50+ Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
Magpie
Carrion Crow

A Great Northern Diver in The Fleet

Also in The Fleet were a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers. This is the drake.

An Oystercatcher keeping a wary eye on me and Ted.

A Curlew or Whimbrel. There was also........

............a second bird, with a few Turnstones for company.

Mediterranean Gulls heading up The Fleet.

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Benji

11 Apr 13 - 13 Mar 24















Farewell Benji. We will all miss you lots.