After coming back from Weymouth this morning I dropped into Ferrybridge to see what was about. The tide was almost up to the visitors centre, which was great as all the waders were visible from just a short distance. A good total of 253 Dunlin and with them a single Sanderling, my first for the year. Just a bit further out in the water were 22 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a single Pale-bellied Brent Goose, also a new year tick.
Not many gulls about with a handful of Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls.
As I crossed over Portland Beach Road a flock of 23 Meadow Pipits flew over. On the Portland Harbour beach were 7 Skylarks and 4 more Meadow Pipits. Overhead an 8th Skylark was in full song, somewhere in the fog above me and a bit further along the beach there were 2 Oystercatchers.
By the Ferrybridge were 3 Red-breasted Mergansers fishing and preening.
A female Red-breasted Merganser...............
........and her mate.
The drake Red-breasted Merganser prepares to dive........
......whilst the female pops her head under the water to have a look for prey!!
There were two Sanderlings reported from here this morning. I could only find one.
A few of the 253 Dunlin here around midday.
A Sanderling and 3 Dunlin feeding on the shore-line, with a Skylark singing in the background.
Dunlin feeding in one of the creeks in front of the Chesil Beach Visitors Centre.
3 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls on the shore-line.
One of several Skylarks sheltering from the rain and howling gale on Portland Harbour beach.
An unusual sight a male Blackbird looking for food in amongst the seaweed in front of the visitors centre.
On the Portland Harbour beach were several Skylarks keeping out of the wind and rain.
Birds Recorded: 20 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Oystercatcher, 253 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 8 Skylark, 27 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Blackbird.
Wakeham
On the suet pellet feeders this morning the female Blackcap made a reappearance after being absent since. On the sunflower seed feeders up to 8 Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, 2 Great Tits and a Blue Tit.
I think this is most Goldfinches have had on the feeders. Not only were there these 4 but another 4 were waiting in the bushes.