This afternoon I popped down to observatory and was rewarded with 2 Continental Coal Tits (Periparus ater ater) in the trees to the right of the drive as you drive in. A very difficult bird to see in the foliage, but their constant calling always ensured that you were at least looking in the right direction.
I've seen these in Germany when I lived there in the 80's but this is my first in the UK. In fact going by local knowledge, you are more likely to see Continental Coal Tits here on Portland than a British bird which is a real rarity.
A very difficult bird to photograph, I at least managed 1 shot of 1 of the birds in amongst the dense foliage.
Pennsylvania Castle Wood, St Andrew's Church and Church Ope Cove
Well the promised warm weather certainly arrived this morning and with it wall to wall blue skies. There was that slight southeasterly wind still, but in the sheltered spots it was very warm indeed.
Main highlight today was a wannabee Wood Warbler which turned out to be a very yellow Willow Warbler in Pennsylvania Castle Wood. Initially it was feeding in the shrub area just off the footpath here, but as I walked down towards it, it flew up into the Horse Chestnut tree in the Castle Grounds, where I lost it in the leafs. A little later it reappeared above me but no matter which position I watched it, I was always looking into the sun.
There were also several Chiffchaffs about with at least 3 singing. Other than that apart from 2 Meadow Pipits overhead there were very few birds about.
However on the butterfly front, this was very good with 8 Peacocks, 4 Commas and a male Clouded Yellow. The latter on the south facing slopes at Church Ope Cove, exactly where I saw them last on 24 Nov 17 Here.
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church a couple of Wall Lizards, several hoverflies and a few bees.
Here are a few images:
Not a brilliant photo I know, but a Willow Warbler in Penns Wood.
Also here a Blue Tit.
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church a Comma. There were 3 others here as well.
A Yellow-legged Mining-bee (Andrena flavipes)
Hoverfly - Syrphus torvus
Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
Wall Lizard
And a close-up
Birds Recorded: 1 Gannet, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Also seen: 2 Wall Lizards, 8 Peacock butterflies, 4 Commas, 1 Clouded Yellow, Yellow-legged Mining-bee (Andrena flavipes), Hoverfly (Syrphus torvus) and a Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)