Still very mild and definitely not conducive to any decent birdwatching, as the birds seemed to be spread out over the island. Both the wood and cove seem to do well when the temperature is hovering around freezing.
The woods were my first point of call and for the second day running no sign again of the Yellow-browed Warbler, but at least I managed 2 Firecrests this time, along with 3 Goldcrests, 5 Chaffinches and 12 Long-tailed Tits.
Has the Long-tailed Tit flock of 30+ now split up, or has the smaller one of 8 increased, either way the Yellow-browed Warbler wasn't with this one.
As I wandered down to the beach another Firecrest appeared on the lower slopes of the north cliff and as I was leaving there was another around the steps on the south cliff. All different birds. The biggest surprise though were the Rock Pipits. A couple of people, who were 100 metres in front of me, walked onto the beach and put up 43 Rock Pipits, which all headed south. As I walked onto the beach, so another 2 joined them. Impressive.
Only other birds here were 4 Wrens, 3 Wood Pigeons and a Herring Gull.
Here are a few photos from today.
A Grey Squirrel in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle
A Wood Pigeon on the north cliff of Church Ope Cove.
And another. Earlier 50+ birds came up the coastline and over Rufus Castle. Migrants!!
A tall Wren. Amazing to see this little bird stretching out.
Also 1 Grey Squirrel
Ferrybridge
On the way into Weymouth this morning there were 3 Great Northern Divers close in to the beach in Portland Harbour adjacent to the Portland Beach Road, plus 200+ Mediterranean Gulls in the Fleet on the other side.
Ferrybridge
On the way into Weymouth this morning there were 3 Great Northern Divers close in to the beach in Portland Harbour adjacent to the Portland Beach Road, plus 200+ Mediterranean Gulls in the Fleet on the other side.