22 Aug 19

Portland Bill

A morning spent walking around The Hut Fields, The Bill, Top Fields and Culverwell. Lots of migrants recorded with the main highlights being: 8 Swift over the fields at Southwell where there were also 7 Wheatear. Another Wheatear was at at The Bill. 2 Yellow Wagtails made their way over Culverwell and landed in the cow and sheep field just up from the Obs.

Elsewhere their were parties of Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows overhead. The only warbler found was a Blackcap just north of Culverwell. And finally there was a huge flock of 100+ Goldfinch by the Higher Lighthouse.

Here are a few images from this morning:

The Lighthouse and Obelisk. Along the rocky cliffs here were Linnets, Rock Pipits and a lone Wheatear.

One of the dozen or so Linnets seem along the cliff top.

Also a few Rock Pipits about.

The Pulpit.

Just off the Bill a Gannet flies by.

In the quarry a Bunny sunbathing on the rocks (centre of frame)

A well chilled Bunny.

This Kestrel let me walk right up to it. Shame about the barbed wire.

A Small Heath. There were several along the coast path leading up to the West Cliffs.

One of the 3 Ravens along the West Cliff and slopes.

A great sight the humble House Sparrow. This mini flock seem to be doing quite well at the Southwell Barns.

A Goldfinch sporting a ring.

It took me awhile but eventually I managed to get a shot of this Wall Brown with its wings open.

In these fields just south of Southwell were 7 Wheatear

Wheatear

And another.

And one more.

Common Toadflax, Linaria vulgaris (also known as Yellow Toadflax and Butter-and-eggs)

Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata)

My feeble attempt at photographing a Swift

And finally 3 of the 8 Oystercatchers in the same field as the Yellow Wagtails were in. Sadly no photos of the Yellow Wags.

Mammals Recorded: 1 Bunny

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, 8 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 8 Swift, Skylark, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 3 Stonechat, 8 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 3 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, and 100+ Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, 1 Wall Brown, 5 Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, 1 Small Copper, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue.

Moths Recorded: 1 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 1 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: 4 Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) and 5 Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

Hoverflies Recorded: Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)

Ships Today

This is the Tanker "Stena Primorsk" flying the flag of Bermuda. It is on its way from Portland Harbour to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo vessel "Komet lll" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Newport to Southampton. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Danish Tanker "Tina Theresa" on its way from La Pallice, France to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo Vessel "Glovis Champion" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way from Bremerhaven, Denmark to Port of Spain, Trinidad Tobago. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.