Portland Harbour
Now that's the way to spend Christmas Day, out in the boat and being entertained by a Bottle-nosed Dolphin as we were chugging around looking for divers and grebes.
Here are a few photos and videos of the friendly Portland Dolphin and Great Northern Diver. Sadly the light conditions were appalling so not the best videos or images.
This Bottle-nosed Dolphin was entertaining us as we chugged along in our boat. It swam alongside us and even "spoke" to us. Absolutely amazing.
Apparently his name is Danny and he's been here awhile.
Even swimming on its back.
What a lovely sight
The 2 Snowmen are Dawn and Kippy. Oh and Danny the Bottle-nosed Dolphin.
Just love the image on the Fishfinder as Danny swan under the boat.
This Great Northern Diver didn't seem to bothered by us coming up close to it in our boat. Every now and then it would dip its head under the water looking for its next meal.
That is some "dagger"
Another look under the water for another fish.
If I've got this right this is one of the 2 Black-necked Grebes we came across in the harbour.
There is a body somewhere!
A Razorbill just pottering around.
Not sure why it was in the harbour.
A very murky day but at least it wasn't raining as I headed off to Church ope Cove for my Christmas day walk.
Main highlights this morning were 2 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest in amongst a small party of Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits and Blue Tits as they made their way along the back of the cove.
On the beach it looks like the "Rock" Robin is ruling the patch, as there was no sign of the Black Redstart today. However along the huts the Stonechat and the "Hut" Robin seemed to be on good terms and were feeding almost at wing-tip with each other as they fed on the flies above them.
On the way back there were 3 Redwing behind the Wakeham back gardens.
A few photos from this morning:
One of the rock Pipits on the beach surrounded by Kelp Flies.
The Stonechat is still about, though the Black Redstart seems to have moved on.
One of the 2 Chiffchaffs.
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 8 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 19 Rock Pipit, 1 Raven, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Stonechat, 3 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Ships today
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On this day..........
2017Today's Sightings Here