A late afternoon walk down to the cove via Penns Wood and main highlights were a Chiffchaff in Penns Wood and the overwintering Stonechat, 2 Black Redstarts and Pied Wagtail on the beach. No sign of the Grey Wagtail. Also present were 17 Rock Pipits and several Wrens.
At the southern tip of the cove were 2 Oystercatchers on the rocks, whilst out to sea 3 Kittiwakes passed by.
Here are a few images from this afternoon.
...........Black Redstart number 2. Apart from piece of interaction where one of the birds chased the other for a few seconds, they kept a good distance apart.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Kittiwake, Wood Pigeon, 17 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, 2 Black Redstart, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Here are a few images from this afternoon.
Black Redstart number 1 and...........
The male Pied Wagtail is still king of the beach, well until 15:50 when he flew off to roost.
Very cute and quite approachable, the Robin at the top of Penns Wood.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Kittiwake, Wood Pigeon, 17 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, 2 Black Redstart, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Dawn and I had a bit of sea fishing day to day, but alas apart from one bite we failed miserably. On the bird front though, there was a bit more excitement, especially with a large gathering of Red-breasted Mergansers, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls just off the beach parallel with the Portland Beach Road.
There must have been a good shoal fish close in, as all the birds were diving and splashing about in the water. It was quite a commotion. Unfortunately the deep draught of Star meant we couldn't get in close, so it was just a case of watching from afar. I estimated there were probably in the region of 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, but that could have quite easily been more.
Elsewhere in the harbour a pair of Brent Geese flew out to Weymouth Bay whilst sat on the breakwater were several Great Black-backed Gulls, a few Oystercatchers and a Raven. It was a real struggle to see any divers or grebes and the best we could was one Great Crested Grebe.
Back in Portland Marina there were more Oystercatchers, the resident Grey Heron in his usual spot and a few Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Cormorants sat on the breakwater here.
Here are a few images from today:
Very cold in that biting wind...............
..........and choppy waters.
Just the grebe seen today a Great Crested Grebe by the breakwater.
One of the may Great Black-backed Gulls here in Portland Harbour
Resting on the breakwater an Oystercatcher.
In fact there were quite a few on the breakwater and in Portland Marina as well.
Sometimes you just have to have sit down.
Very macabre a headless Grey Heron. Quite gruesome........
........or maybe not.
Ships Today
This is the British Warship "HMS Middleton". She is a Minesweeper and came into Weymouth Harbour today. More on this vessel here and here.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here