13 Mar 18

East Weare, Penn Weare, Church Ope Cove and Pennsylvania Castle Wood.

I'm not sure what I was expecting on this walk, the possibility of a Wheatear or two moving their way up Portland. That didn't happen but 2 Chiffchaffs along here at least showed there was some Spring visitors along this stretch of the coast.

On the Grove Cliffs it looks like at least one pair of Fulmar's have returned. There appeared to be 2 birds on a ledge and a third bird trying to land, but after repeated attempts it gave up and moved further along the cliff.

Other highlights were a Peregrine over Rufus Castle, where there was also a very obliging Kestrel which came quite close, and still enough as it was hovering for me to take a couple of videos.

There were a few Common Drone Flies about, a Peacock butterfly and a solitary Wall Lizard in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

A good day for raptors........

......this Kestrel was over Bumpers Lane.

And this Peregrine Falcon was over Rufus Castle.

Another Kestrel this time on the north cliff of Church Ope Cove.

And after a short break was back hovering over the short grass.

A real master at hovering.

A Herring Gull does a bit of sunbathing.

Whilst on the rocks a pair of Herring Gulls are in for a shock......

......as a large wave engulfs them.

These two Herring Gulls seemed to be enjoying the waves crashing over them!!!

Up on the slope the view across Weymouth Bay from the grounds of St Andrew's Church where.....

.....there was a Wall Lizard out in the Spring sun.

Always nice to see lizards out basking in the sun.

A few Common Drone Flies about today, this one.....

and another on the Hebes.

Birds Recorded: 3 Fulmar, Cormorant, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 8 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 4 Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Also 4 Common Drone Fly, 1 Peacock Butterfly and a Wall Lizard.

Ships Today

This the Liberian Crude Oil Tanker, the SCF Alpine. It arrived in Weymouth Bay last night from Fawley in the Solent. More on this vessel Here.