On a very dull and wet morning it was nice to have so many birds in and around the garden to brighten up the day. The resident Robin was in good voice and the local House Sparrows and a lone Goldfinch were enjoying the sunflower seeds on the feeder.
Several Siskins landed in the trees at the back of the garden briefly, before flying off south. A Greenfinch was heard wheezing, a Goldcrest was foraging in the pyracantha and a Dunnock was in the newly dug vegetable plot.
Other local birds included 2 Carrion Crows, 2 Magpies, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, a Song Thrush and for the second day running a Pied Wagtail with an odd call that resembled a "screech". It must have a sore throat!
Late morning as the rain eased off, there were dozens of Skylarks passing overhead and a lot of Chaffinches calling.
Autumn is with us, 2 Redwings landed in the Sycamore at the back of the garden at 11:30am.
This afternoon a Blue Tit visited the feeders, a Collared Dove dropped in Bumpers Lane there were 40+ Meadow Pipits on the road.
What a murky miserable day, however.........
....and this Magpie are just as hungry.
An upside down Blue on the fatballs.
And a Collared Dove awaits his turn at the feeders.
A break in the weather and a quick trip down to the Portland Bid Observatory to see the same/another Red-breasted Flycatcher in the hut fields and maybe to see a Black Redstart.
Well I managed both, though the Black Redstart was really flighty. Having said that so was the Red-breasted Flycatcher which could well be another bird, with the other being at Broadcroft Quarry Here. Having said that there haven't been any reports of the RBF seen at Broadcroft today.
When I arrived there was a Peregrine circling the Obs lighthouse which it did 3 times, the first was a failed attempt at catching a Wood Pigeon, the other two just for fun I guess!
One of the birdwatchers staying at the Obs was kind enough to direct me to location of the flycatcher and within a few minutes there it was. Another very flighty bird that was using the Ivy clad Elders as cover, and then it would dart out catch an insect and then back into cover again. Very occasionally it would come out onto the branches of the dead Elders, but as I found out as I tried to photograph it, it would very quickly fly off to another location.
In flight a very easy bird to follow as it had two white outer tail feathers, reminiscent of Reed Bunting, and as it took off it was quite easy to track, in amongst the hoards of Chiffchaffs also feeding in this area.
The Black Redstart was really difficult to pin down. Several times I caught up with it, only to see it fly off to another hut field.
The Black Redstart was really difficult to pin down. Several times I caught up with it, only to see it fly off to another hut field.
Here are a few record shots in the appalling weather conditions. My poor camera took a right beating in the rain, but pulled through in the end.
Here in the scrub in the hut fields a Red-breasted Flycatcher.
A side profile
Head on
Another side profile
Out in the open a rare sight.
Though it did oblige again.
One of a thousand plus Linnets here at The Bill.
When it does decide to leave I should think it will take quite a few weeks to get to Portland, which will see it pass through the Panama Canal. More on this vessel Here.