20 Nov 17

Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Pools, Grove Cliff Top, East Weare, Penn's Weare and Bumpers Lane.

What a difference a day makes, yesterdays blue skies and windless conditions were replaced with strong southerlies and wall to wall cloud.

It certainly made bird watching difficult and the best I could do this afternoon were 2 Firecrests and a single Chiffchaff.

Today was more about raptors with a pair of Buzzards over East Weare and both Peregrine and Kestrel joining them. Elsewhere a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel over Bumpers Lane.

Only 1 winter thrush seen a Redwing making its way along East Weare.

Here are a few dismal images from a very dull day.

One of the two Common Buzzards along East Weare........

......and here's the other one

A Kestrel is also using a rocky outcrop as an observation platform.

The only bit of sun today out in the English Channel. If you blinked you missed it.

The one that got away. On the horizon this vessel heading west. Could not identify it using the Marine Traffic Site Here.

Birds recorded were: 1 Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 KestrelPeregrine Falcon, 1 OystercatcherHerring GullGreat Black-backed GullWood PigeonCollared DoveDunnockRobinBlackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 FirecrestGreat TitBlue TitWrenMagpieRook, Carrion CrowJackdaw, 2 RavenStarlingHouse SparrowChaffinch and Goldfinch.

Weymouth Bay - Naval Exercise

In Weymouth Bay this afternoon the Royal Navy were carrying out a "Captain Phillips" pirate attack on RFA Wave Knight. There were 3 ribs presumably carrying "troops" doing a mock attack on RFA Wave Knight. Also involved were a Royal Navy Merlin and Chinook helicopter. Very impressive.

Note
The reference to Captain Phillips is based on the true story of the Alabama being hijacked by Somali Pirates. Here's a trailer Here

More on RFA Wave Knight Here and Here

A Merlin hovers above RFA Wave Knight

On their way the "enemy". Three ribs presumably pretending to be pirates heading towards RFA Wave Knight.

One of the ribs at the stern, while another waits to move in.

The first exercise is now over.

The Merlin returns to Portland Harbour.

This looks like exercise number 2 with a Chinook now involved.

And the 3 ribs again "attacking" the bow.

The Chinook having finished its exercise heads off inland.

The siege is underway.


A not very good video of part of the "siege". It was so windy I was having trouble holding the camera still.