Port and Wey: 19 Mar 18

Obs Garden, Lower Fields and Culverwell

Mid-afternoon I popped into the Observatory and then walked back along the road to Culverwell. Good numbers of Golden Plover here in the fields and with them Meadow Pipit, Skylarks, Redwing and Fieldfare. At Culverwell there was a Firecrest and whilst I was standing there a Snipe flew in briefly and then flew east across the fields. Later as I was leaving another bird was also flying about.

In the car park of the Obs was a very obliging Meadow Pipit, which I'm guessing was the same bird by the feeders, when I returned after my walk.

By the car park......

.....a Meadow Pipit......

......searches for food.

A Meadow Pipit takes shelter in the Obs garden

Whilst under the bird table a male Pheasant.

A Snipe comes into land at Culverwell.

Lots of Golden Plovers......

.....mainly females.....

...here's another one.

However there were a few males.....

.....and another.

Fortunately despite the low temperatures they are able to find worms.

Golden Plovers and 2 Starlings in flight.

Golden Plover

Golden Plovers

Also with the plovers a few Fieldfares.

This one has a feather out of place.

Here's another.

A Fieldfare feeding in the lower fields southeast of Culverwell. (Very windy as well)

This is its smaller cousin the Redwing.

A Redwing feeding in the lower fields southeast of Culverwell. (Still very windy as well)

The view north towards Durdle Door covered in snow.

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 1 Pheasant, 2 Oystercatcher, 200+ Golden Plover, 2 Snipe, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Skylark, 50+ Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 1 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

Ferrybridge

At around lunchtime I dropped into to Ferrybridge just as 2 Grey Plover flew off towards Portland. Apart from a Great Crested Grebe and Turnstone it was pretty quiet here.

One of the many Oystercatchers at the Ferrybridge

Close into shore a Great Crested Grebe.

And both together

Another Oystercatcher, this time on the exposed mud in Portland Harbour.........

....where there was also this Turnstone.

The view from Billy Winters towards a snowy Portland.

Birds Recorded: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 20+ Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 20+ Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Starling and 2 Linnet.

Wakeham

The male Blackcap was back again this morning and was on the both suet pellet and sunflower seed feeders.