12 Oct 17

Penn's Weare

Another evening walk, this time with the sun out and a light southerly wind blowing. A lot more smaller birds about with at least 12 Robins, 10 Wrens, 8 Chiffchaffs, 3 Great Tits, 2 Blue Tits, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails, 2 Swallows and a female Whinchat/Stonechat. I can't make up my mind on the latter!

Not too many bees about, well it was late. Just a couple of Honey Bees, a Bumblebee sp. and 2 Common Drone Flies.

A few big boats about with an American cargo boat out of Portland Harbour called the Independence II on its way to Baltimore in Maryland North America. ETA 21 Oct. More on this Cargo Boat Here

Another vessel the CSCL Star was a lot further out in the channel and flying the flag of Hong Kong. It left Southampton this afternoon as is expected to arrive in Piraeus, Greece on 19 Oct. More on this vessel Here.

The other vessel noted coming out of Portland Harbour was the Wight Sky part of the Wightlink ferry service to Southampton.. More on this vessel Here

 I have a dilemma, my first thought was a female Whinchat and then....

........the seeds of doubt crept in......

....and I'm now thinking female Stonechat. ID'ing made really difficult by photographing into the sun. If anyone would like to put me out of my misery, please feel free!!!

A Cormorant heading south, one of 5 seen heading in the same direction. 

Common Drone Fly

And in flight....

A Honey Bee

Independence II out of Portland Harbour and......

......on its way to Baltimore, USA

The CSCL Star on its way to Greece

Wight Sky on its way to Southampton

Rufus Castle

Birds recorded between 17:00 - 18:30 were: 5 Cormorant, 5 Herring Gull, 8 Great Black-backed Gull, 20+ Wood Pigeon, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Robin, 1 Whinchat/Stonechat, 8 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 10 Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, 1 Chaffinch, 20+ Linnet and 15 Goldfinch.