The last of the gale force winds of Storm Brian began to ease off this morning, though not completely. I think they they got to around 65mph here on Portland, but this morning it was just a stiff breeze.
So it was off to the East Weare to see if anything was about. I'm really pleased I did as there were quite a few birds still sheltering here. The main highlights were a Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest just below the climbers cliff, where there were also Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, a Song Thrush and Blackbirds. I right little hotspot!
On top of the cliff there were just the 4 Stonechats an adult male, a 1st-winter male and 2 females.. Also here a few Meadow Pipits feeding on the ground. A Redwing was along Broadcroft Lane and another in Bumpers Lane Quarry. Overhead at least 8 Siskins in small parties of 2 to 3.
Images from this morning Here:
A male Stonechat
A 1st-winter male Stonechat
As above
A female Stonechat
And another female.
A Rock Pipit!! Nope a Meadow Pipit on a rock....
This is how you normally see them, low to the ground.
However this one was very obliging.......
....and came up to me!!
A female Blackcap with her reddish cap.
Here is one of the 2 male Blackcaps
Great to see that the Ivy Bees are still out, albeit just two of them along the cliffs.
A Common Drone Fly.
A wasp sp.
As with the wasp, I had to use flash to photograph this Marmalade Hoverfly
A Fox in Bumpers Lane Quarry.
The RNLI Lifeboat took a trip out to the "Races".......
.......and certainly found some big waves.
After going around The Bill it..........
......eventually came around and headed back to Weymouth.
Birds Recorded today: 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 8+ Skylark, 12+ Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, 10+ Robin, 4 Stonechat, 12+ Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 30+ Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 50+ Linnet, 8 Siskin and 7 Goldfinch.
Also about: 1 Fox, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Ivy Bees, 1 Common Drone Fly, 1 Marmalade Hoverfly
The Obs Quarry and Hut Fields
I had hoped to catch a glimpse of the Wryneck seen at the Quarry yesterday evening, but having sat there from 3:25pm - 4:25pm I gave up and had a walk around the scrubland where I'd seen the Red-breasted Flycatcher a couple of days ago. No sign of the flycatcher, probably blown right back inland after Storm Brian. Instead there were 3 Firecrests, 4 Chiffchaffs and a female Blackcap.
To be confirmed, but it looks like I had female Serin land in a dead Elder, not more than 10 feet away from where I was standing. As I was watching the Firecrests a finch-like bird flew across in front of me into the Elder. Unfortunately the sun was behind it and I didn't have a chance to adjust the camera. Instead I took 2 quick shots before it flew off. The original images are just silhouettes, but a bit of enhancement in PhotoShop and its quite clearly a finch-like bird, most likely a female Siskin, but it looked bigger and was probably a House Sparrow.
Note
Oh well after consultation with Martin Cade at the Obs it turns out it was a female House Sparrow, which I did think originally but perhaps had hoped was something a bit more special. Having said that House Sparrows are in decline so I'm not disappointed at all, but pleased that there are still quite a few here on Portland.
Note
Oh well after consultation with Martin Cade at the Obs it turns out it was a female House Sparrow, which I did think originally but perhaps had hoped was something a bit more special. Having said that House Sparrows are in decline so I'm not disappointed at all, but pleased that there are still quite a few here on Portland.
I thought I had this Firecrest in the centre of the frame. Obviously not.......
....a bit better this time.
My mystery bird which I was hoping would be a Serin......
Here is the original image.
