15 Feb 18

Church Ope Cove


A quick trip down to Church Ope Cove via Penn Wood and despite the sunny conditions, the Wall Lizards and butterflies weren't showing themselves today. Main highlight was a Firecrest behind the beach huts along with 2 Goldcrests. Apart from that it was pretty quiet though I did come across 2 Common Drone Flies basking in the sun. well they were until an isolated hail storm came over Portland and they plus me took shelter.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

The "gold" crest is enough to tell you that this isn't a Firecrest but a Goldcrest. Though I did find one in amongst the Hebe.

No butterflies today but this Common Drone Fly was out.........

....as was this one.

A Kestrel has one eye on me as I walk up Bumpers Lane

And here's a short video of the Kestrel just before the hail stone began to fall.

Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.


Also 2 Common Drone Flies.

Ships today


This the Maltese ship, Neptune Aegli on its way to Bristol from Southampton. More on this Vehicles Carrier Here


Wakeham

At long last some sun and the female Blackcap was up early this morning sharing her suet pellets with a Blue Tit. The Blackcap has been visiting the back garden for 17 days now and has been a welcome sight whatever the weather. A Pied Wagtail was heard overhead and 2 Chaffinches were in the Cherry tree.

Also about a Chiffchaff calling from Bumpers Lane. What with one on Tuesday in Reap Lane and another this morning at Portland Castle, could there be a small influx of Spring birds arriving!!

This is day 17, I wonder how many more days this female Blackcap will be visiting the feeders in the back garden.

And now for something different, the female Blackcap on top of one of the other feeders.

A Blue Tit has taken a liking to the suet pellets.

One of the Robins on the Fat Balls.

A Great Tit on the sunflower seed feeder. Looks like I'm going to have to top it up.

This another Great Tit, a male this time with his distinct thick black band running down from his throat to his lower body.

The female Blackcap on the suet pellet feeder. Briefly a Great Tit appears in the top left hand corner of the and then a Blue Tit joins the Blackcap on the feeder.

A trio of birds on the feeder a Great Tit, female Blackcap and a Blue Tit.

Note: It looks like there a few Chiffchaffs are just starting to show up on the island and a little further afield it looks like the Cuckoos are on the move from their African wintering grounds. Three on the move are Selborne HereVictor Here and PJ Here