Portland Bird Observatory and Culverwell
A late afternoon trip to the Obs was rewarded with a Firecrest in Culverwell, where there were also 3 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff. On the way to Culverwell from the Obs there were roughly 200 Great Black-backed Gulls in the paddocks to to the east of the main road. Also in amongst them at least 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
At The Obs I saw at least 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 of the 2 Yellow-browed Warblers now in the gardens.
In the Crown Estate Fields the Linnet numbers are really growing now with in excess of 500 birds. Also noted a large flock or should that be charm of 50+ Goldfinches.
Here are a few images from afternoon.
Just a handful of the Linnets over the Crown Estate Fields.
Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls
Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 1 Pheasant, 30+ Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 200+ Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Starling, 23 House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 500+ Linnet and 50+ Goldfinch.
Another windy day, but at least the overnight rain moved away by lunchtime. The lane was pretty quiet with just 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Robins and a Great Tit. However 400+ finches in two flocks of 100+ & 300+ was an unexpected surprise. The larger flock headed off towards Rufus Castle whilst the other towards Easton. From what I could make out the smaller flock was made up of Linnets.
Just a Herring Gull and 3 Jackdaws in the upper horse paddock.
The lower horse paddock is proving to be very popular with wheatears and chats at the moment, with 3 Wheatears (1 male, 2 females) and 3 Stonechats (2 males and a female) feeding in amongst the horses.
Whilst I was was watching them a Yellow Wagtail passed over, along with Grey Wagtail and 2 Siskins.
Here are a few images from today.
One of the male Stonechats.
And another.
The female Wheatear at the southern end of the lower horse paddock...........
........whilst to the north of the paddock this male and......
......and female.
One of the 11 Herring Gulls in the lower paddock, this one I believe is a 3rd Winter whilst...............
........this is an adult Winter.
This is a juvenile Pied Wagtail with the slight yellowish face.
Birds Recorded: 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 11 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 3 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 400+ Linnet and possibly other finches, 2 Siskin and Goldfinch.
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