An hour or so spent walking around the Portland Bird Observatory. Biggest highlight was a huge flock of 400+ Linnet in the Crown Fields opposite the observatory. Every time I looked the flock just seemed to get bigger and bigger. An Oystercatcher was very obliging as it sat on the rocks just off from the beach huts and there were several Wheatear in the fields just up from the Obs, with a very dark coloured individual.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
Just a few of the 100's of Linnets............
........and more.........
........and even more.
A few broke away and landed 100 metres from me.
A Cormorant working........
.......its way along the shoreline.
And then it was off.
I'm pretty sure this is a Shag having a stretch.
A very confiding Oystercatcher.
A quick drink......
...up onto the high ground......
......and then off.
A Wheatear.
And another.
This one is so different though....
.....a very dark individual!
A Meadow Pipit with a leg ring.
The waves crashing into the rocks.
SD Victoria an offshore Supply Ship. More on this vessel Here
Birds Recorded: 5 Cormorant, 2 Kestrel, 1 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, 43 Great Black-backed Gull, 30 Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 Skylark, 40+ Swallow, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 8 Wheatear, Blackbird, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 400+ Linnet and Goldfinch.
Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Wood
Main highlights this morning were a pair of Stonechats above the cliffs behind Bumpers Lane, at least 5 Siskins with 2 travelling at speed with a small flock of Swallows, also a Tree Pipit over and a continuous stream of Swallows and Meadow Pipits all heading south. It must quite congested at The Bill, unless of course they are continuing their journeys over the Channel!
Great to see a few butterflies out in the sun and what a great view I had of a Clouded Yellow heading north as I was walking down the steps alongside Rufus Castle, where there was also a Painted Lady on the Ivy.
A few images from this morning:
A pipit in a tree. Sadly not a Tree Pipit, but a Meadow Pipit that stopped very briefly before heading south again. A Tree Pipit did pass over later.
Quite a few fishing boats just a few metres off the East Weares. A few small fish being caught from what I could see through the binoculars.
Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 100+ Swallow, 1 Tree Pipit, 50+ Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 10+ Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 5 Siskin and Goldfinch.
Butterflies: 1 Clouded Yellow, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Large White, 1 Painted Lady and 2 Speckled Wood.
Also 1 Wall Lizard, Ivy Bees, Honey Bees, Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri) and Common Droneflies
Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Wood
Main highlights this morning were a pair of Stonechats above the cliffs behind Bumpers Lane, at least 5 Siskins with 2 travelling at speed with a small flock of Swallows, also a Tree Pipit over and a continuous stream of Swallows and Meadow Pipits all heading south. It must quite congested at The Bill, unless of course they are continuing their journeys over the Channel!
Great to see a few butterflies out in the sun and what a great view I had of a Clouded Yellow heading north as I was walking down the steps alongside Rufus Castle, where there was also a Painted Lady on the Ivy.
A few images from this morning:
One of several Chiffchaffs in Bumpers Lane this morning.
The lane seems to be quite popular.....
.......with more here than I've seen anywhere else on the island.
I guess there are lots of insects along this stretch of trees and bushes.
A female Stonechat.......
......and her mate.
He posed very nicely for the camera.
and another view.
A short video of the male Stonechat on another windy day here on Portland
Yep my favourite an Ivy Bee
Not an Ivy Bee but a Honey Bee coming into land.
A Pied Hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri
Common Dronefly
A Wasp sp.
Bluebottle Fly, Calliphora vomitoria
A Painted Lady, a little to far away for a decent shot.
A Red Admiral
Just the one Wall Lizard seen in the grounds of St Andrews Church.
Ted sporting his new waterproof jacket.
The "Races" just of the Bill.
A nice silhouette of the Border Patrol boat heading out to sea, with a Meadow Pipit above.
Later it returned to Portland Harbour.
Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 100+ Swallow, 1 Tree Pipit, 50+ Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 12 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 10+ Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 5 Siskin and Goldfinch.
Butterflies: 1 Clouded Yellow, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Large White, 1 Painted Lady and 2 Speckled Wood.
Also 1 Wall Lizard, Ivy Bees, Honey Bees, Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri) and Common Droneflies