3 Nov 17

Ferrybridge

I dropped in to Ferrybridge this afternoon to see the Red-breasted Mergansers and ended up with 26 in Portland Harbour and 4 in The Fleet. Also in the harbour 11 Turnstones and a dozen or more Mediterranean Gulls. I  met a couple of bird watchers who told me they had seen a Little Grebe under the road bridge. But by the time I'd got there it had disappeared.

In the Fleet lots of waders - Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Also here Little Egrets, 7 Oystercatchers and more Mediterranean Gulls.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

Small Mouth at Ferrybridge.

This angler has just caught a "School" Bass from Small Mouth using what looked like a Toby Lure. Nice to see him put it back to fight another day...

Just a few of the 26 Red-breasted Mergansers in Portland Harbour. there were 4 others in The Fleet.

A Cormorant Flies by

Quite a few Mediterranean Gulls in Portland Harbour

Here is an adult in flight note no black on wings.

Contrary to what you might read some Mediterranean Gulls do have black on their wing tips, especially as juveniles and 1st winters. However by 2nd and 3rd winter the wings are predominantly white though some birds still retain a small amount of black on the wing tips like this individual. More Here and Here.

In comparison to Mediterranean Gull here is an adult winter Black-headed Gull.

On the other side of Portland Road looking up The Fleet. No geese here this afternoon.

There have been 2 Bar-tailed Godwits here. Here's one not sure where the other was!!

A Little Egret "working" the shore line towards the road bridge.

It was doing quite well catching small fish in and around the sea weed and rocks.

A very majestic looking bird.

Here is a female Pied Wagtail. Quite grey in colour compared to her...

....mate who has more black on his back.

Birds Recorded were: Cormorant, 4 Little Egret, 30 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Oystercatcher, 12 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow and Starling.