Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Silklake Quarry, Bumpers Lane, The Cuttings, Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east), Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Meadows and Old Quarry Lane
It was another long walk today, to stretch my legs and to build up a bit of stamina.
Main highlights in that ever-present strong south-easterly, were a male Stonechat on the butterfly reserve and videoing a Kestrel hovering. I was quite pleased with the latter.
Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel Herring Gull 1 Stock Dove Wood Pigeon Dunnock Robin 1 Stonechat Blackbird Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
This Kestrel was at eyelevel...........
...........as it hovered over Penns Weare.
A Stock Dove in Silklake Quarry.
A Robin in one of the gardens at the back of Wakeham.
A male Stonechat in the butterfly reserve. There was no sign of the female.
These four Starlings are still sporting their Winter colours.
Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc. Feral pigeon
Plants:
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis)
Hawkweed Oxtongue (Picris hieracioides)
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
The Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) along Broadcroft Quarry Lane is just coming flower
If I have ID'd this correctly then this is Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis). It is also known as Kenilworth Ivy, Coliseum Ivy, Oxford Ivy, Mother of Thousands, Pennywort and Wandering Sailor. Phew, so many alternative names!!!
And another plant which is still in flower was.......
............this hawkweed, which I believe is Hawkweed Oxtongue (Picris hieracioides)
Ted:
And before you ask, that is Ted's head looking towards Silklake Quarry. Still doesn't look right though!!!
Aircraft Today:
This is a Cirrus SR22 on its way..............
............from Guernsey to the UK and back. More on this aircraft here.
This is an AT75 twin-engine turboprop aircraft on.............
..............its way from Bristol to Jersey. More on this aircraft here.
Chesil Beach Visitors Centre and Ferrybridge Sandflats
It was perfect timing, as I parked up at the Chesil Beach Visitors Centre. High tide was around 9:30am and I arrived at 11:30am, just as a few sandflats were beginning to show as the tide began to recede.
Main highlights were 60+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, close to the visitors centre where was also a pair of Stonechats.
Birds Recorded: 60+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese
2 Oystercatcher
3 Ringed Plover
30+ Dunlin
5 Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Rock Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
2 Stonechat
Magpie
Carrion Crow
1 Raven
Starling
1 Greenfinch
Below are a few photos and videos of the Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Ferrybridge today.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Oystercatchers...............
...................and another one.
From top to bottom.
Oystercatcher
Turnstone
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Three Ringed Plovers
Three Dunlin.
Mediterranean Gulls of different ages.
A well camouflaged Skylark in amongst the scrub.
And a Rock Pipit. Thank you to Ed Wilson for pointing out that this is not a Meadow Pipit, which I am used to seeing at Ferrybridge.
A male Stonechat photographed through the windscreen of the car.
Ted:
I know Ted, I haven't taken your lead off. But there are signs that say all dogs should be on leads at all times.
It was a day spent at home with an hour sat in the back garden watching the world go by. Today I was joined by a Dunnock, the first I have seen in the back garden this year.
But where was the "resident" Robin!! I did hear one singing a several gardens down, but there was no sign of the one that has been here for quite a few months.
Much later a Little Owl was heard calling from around Bumpers Lane at 23:05. All I've got to do now is see one!!
Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove and Rufus Castle
It was a change of scenery today, with a walk down to Church Ope Cove. However it appears that no one is allowed to visit the cove, because of recent rock falls. Dorset Council have placed an order prohibiting the use of the footpath, and anyone caught doing so will face a fine up to £1000.
So my walk was somewhat shortened, but I was still able to note 4 Grey Seals in the surf, plus my first Peregrine Falcon of the year as it headed south down the island.
Mammals Recorded: 4 Grey Seal
In the surf at the cove were 4 Grey Seals.
Here are two together.
Birds Recorded: 1 Peregrine Falcon Herring Gull Wood Pigeon Dunnock Robin Blackbird Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw 2 Raven Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
And my first Peregrine Falcon of the year.
And a Raven being harassed by Carrion Crows over the cove.
