4 Mar 18

Church Ope Cove and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

For the first time in days the sun came out on Portland and a great opportunity to see what was about after Storm Emma. Main highlights were a male Blackcap and 2 Redwings (my first this year) in Penn Wood and on the beach, briefly at Church Ope Cove, a male Black Redstart. Unfortunately the redstart didn't hang about for long, as the waves crashing onto the beach were sending up clouds of spray which it wasn't impressed with.

Also on the beach were 12 Rock Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail and 3 Wrens. Whilst just out in the breakers were up to 50 Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

Here are a few images from this morning.

In amongst the Ivy and the branches a male Blackcap soaks up the sun.
 
This Blackcap has been in Pennsylvania Castle Woods for a few weeks now.



A bit of welcome sun for this male Blackcap.

A grab shot of one of the 2 Redwings in Penn Wood just before it flew off.

And here's the other Redwing.


A very short video of one of the two Redwings at Penn Wood today.

On the beach at Church Ope Cove a male Grey Wagtail. You can just about make out his black bib.


This male Grey Wagtail was very busy on the beach chasing flies.

A male Pied Wagtail

A Rock Pipit on look out duties.

All clear....


All the Rock Pipits here on the beach were really close to waters edge.

The waves rolling in from the east.


An usual sight here on the beach at Church Ope Cove, the waves crashing in from the east. The prevailing wind on Portland is normally South-westerlies, but when its from the east there is a real swell. Maybe it will undercover the boat winch which disappeared from sight just after Boxing Day Here.

Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 12 Rock Pipit, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, RobinBlack RedstartBlackbird, 2 Redwing, Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.