24 Nov 17

Broadcroft Quarry Lane, The Cuttings, Penn's Weare, Church Ope Cove, Rufus Castle and Bumpers Lane

I know I've said it before, but what a difference a day makes. After the gale force winds of yesterday it was back to a pleasant sunny afternoon on the island. The birds might not have put in an appearance yesterday, but they certainly did today, with 7 Firecrests, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs sighted. Not only that the Little Owl was quite vocal again today from the small ravine just north of Bumpers Lane.

In fact this area around Bumpers was full of birds where I had 4 of the 7 Firecrests seen today, plus 8 Chaffinches, 2 Redwings and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The other Firecrests were 1 below The Cuttings and 2 down the steps from Rufus Castle to Church Ope Cove. Also at the Cuttings were 2 Blackcaps, whilst at Church Ope Cove there was also a Grey Wagtail and a Clouded Yellow butterfly!

Here are few images from today:

Just north of Bumpers Lane this ravine seems to be home to a Little Owl. Yet to see it!!

The Little Owl calling again. This the second time in a week I have heard it calling from here.

On the way down to Church Ope Cove I came across this small snail. I think its a Two Toothed Door Snail (Clausilia bidentata). More on this snail here.

One of the 7 Firecrests seen today. This one was along the steps down to Church Ope Cove.

Also here a Chiffchaff.

This is the bay today

Very calm a complete contrast to yesterday........

.......this was the beach yesterday.

There were quite a few Blackbirds about this male was watching me at Church  Ope Cove.

The steps up to Rufus Castle. On both sides here were 2 Firecrests, 1 Chiffchaff, several Long-tailed Tits and a few Goldcrests.

On the south facing cliff here at Church Ope Cove............

........a Clouded Yellow. Its certainly mild here on Portland.

I had hoped that having soaked up the sun's rays this Clouded Yellow would take off. But I think it had other ideas and remained motionless. In the end I gave up waiting and carried on my walk.

On the way back home the resident young male Kestrel was on the look out over Bumpers Lane........

.......it's not surprising the Kestrel likes it here with so many small birds to prey on. Including this Firecrest......

.....which took off and was heading straight down the camera lens.

Here another Firecrest poses for the camera.

A very pretty bird.......

.......but just look at that black band across its face.

And what a contrast a Goldcrest.

Just yellow and black stripes running over the head.

And a "clear" eye in comparison to the Firecrests black & white eye stripe.

And this was the spot where there were 4 Firecrests, 3 Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits and 5 Chaffinches. It doesn't look any different than any other location along here, but the brambles and buddleia must have been loaded with insects. There was such a feeding frenzy the crests and tits seemed oblivious to me standing right next to them.

A Wren meanwhile was just happy enough to soak up the Autumn sun.

Birds Recorded were: 2 Gannet, Shag, Cormorant, 2 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, 8+ Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Firecrest, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, 15+ Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Also 1 Clouded Yellow