30 Nov 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfields Butterfly Reserve, Church Ope Car Park, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle and Mermaid Track.

Today was a very cloudy & windy one and the strong south-easterly was blowing straight into Church Ope Cove. So it came as no surprise that the 2 overwintering Chiffchaffs had found shelter elsewhere. The only birds to brave the elements here were 5 Rock Pipits and the 1st winter Pied Wagtail. Today though was first time I saw a Wren on the beach. No doubt there will be many more as Winter approaches. Overhead were 2 Kestrels at opposite ends of the beach.

The only bit of shelter I found on my walk, was at the railway cuttings and along here was a large flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits. In amongst them was a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests and a Firecrest. Also here was a Redwing and several Blackbirds.

Penns Wood wasn't too bad and in amongst the 15 strong flock of Long-tailed Tits were 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests and a male Blackcap. Overhead was a Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail

Here are a few images from today:

What a stare from this Firecrest along the railway cuttings.

It was hard work in the wind today for the Rock Pipits and............

...........this 1st winter Pied Wagtail, as they struggled to find Kelp Flies on the beach

Well one thing is for sure and that is Kestrels are a lot steadier hovering than I am taking videos.

And finally what is wrong with some people. This Giant Viper's Bugloss in Penns Wood was doing okay, despite its odd shape, but some numpty decided to kick it over.

Here it is back in July. Sadly it won't be flowering next year.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 2 Kestrel, 20+ Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 35+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow and Chaffinch

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

29 Nov 19

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfields Butterfly Reserve, Church Ope Car Park, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane and Wakeham Wood

Another dry start to the day, though a bit cloudier than yesterday. Still no improvement on the bird front and today was the first time in weeks that I didn't see or hear a Firecrest.

Main highlights then were a male Blackcap in Penns Wood, a female Blackcap along Bumpers Lane, a Chiffchaff along the railway cuttings, where there were 6 Blackbirds feeding on the Cotoneaster berries, and a further 2 Chiffchaff at the back of the cove. As regards the latter 2 Chiffchaffs, they are both so different to each other. One is very yellow and the other greyer with a distinct white throat.

Here are my sightings this morning:

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 8 Long-tailed Tit and 6 Blackbirds.

Penns Wood: 1 Blackcap and 8 Long-tailed Tit

Church Ope Cove: 12 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail

Church Ope Cove Wood: 2 Chiffchaff

Bumpers Lane: 1 female Blackcap, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch

Also seen today a Common Green Shieldbug in Penns  Copse

Here are a few images from today:

This is Chiffchaff #1

The colour of this bird is quite olive green compared to............ 

..........Chiffchaff #2, which is distinctly different in colouration, a noticeable supercilium and though not visible here has a distinct white throat. The two birds were never together, but kept their distance from one another. Only one bird ever called, but I couldn't tell you which one.

Just 12 Rock Pipits on the beach today.

And the 1st winter Pied Wagtail. Also here was the adult Pied Wagtail and an adult Grey Wagtail.

In Penns Wood a male Blackcap. A female was also seen along Bumpers Lane.

A Common Green Shieldbug.........

..........which I didn't expect to see.

And finally Wakeham Railway Cuttings where the cotoneaster berries are going down a treat with the Blackbirds.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 12 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 22 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

28 Nov 19

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfields Butterfly Reserve, Church Ope Car Park, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood and Wakeham Wood

Well I never thought I would ever say this, but the bird watching is better in the rain. Well it was yesterday. Today was perfect weather-wise, but the best I could do was 2 Firecrests at the bottom of Penns Wood and 2 Chiffchaffs at the back of the cove.

The large flock of Long-tailed Tits from yesterday has vanished and the largest group I found today was just 5 birds along the railway cuttings, where there was also a single Goldcrest. Overhead a single Siskin passed by

On the beach there were 24 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Pied Wagtail. Out to sea 1 Cormorant.

Other than the Grey Wagtail on the beach there were 2 more birds, one under the bridge at Wakeham and another over Wakeham Wood.

Also about were 2 juvenile Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church and at the back of the cove on the Alexanders were 2 new snails for me on Portland a Strawberry Snail and a Kentish Snail. Both to be confirmed.

Here are a few images from today:

A better day for Rock Pipit numbers on the beach, with 24 recorded.

This Grey Wagtail looks a bit overawed by the huge number of Kelp Flies around it.

The 1st winter Pied Wagtail on the look out for its next snack.

Not many adult Wall Lizards about, but these juveniles........

...........seem quite happy to be out in the sun.

A possible Strawberry Snail, Trochulus striolatus

And hopefully I have this right, a Kentish Snail, Monacha cantiana

Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)

It wont be long now before the Japonica berries in Penns Wood are going to open up.

Way out to sea and these huge waves were rolling along and then breaking. I can only assume this was on Shambles Sandbank.


Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 24 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch

Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: 1 Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa), Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus) and a Kentish Snail (Monacha cantiana)

Ships Today
This is the British RNLI Lifeboat "13 04" just off Portland and heading back to Poole. More on this vessel Here.

This boat is the American Offshore Services 300 Class. Unfortunately out of the 3 vessels in this Class, none of them are showing up on the Marine Traffic Website despite the fact that it came out of Portland Harbour. So it is either "Hos Red Dawn", "Hos Red Rock" or "Hos Renaissance". More on these vessels Here.

This is a navy boat but yet again another vessel that isn't showing up on the Marine Traffic Website. A modern looking warship whatever it is.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

27 Nov 19

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfields Butterfly Reserve, Church Ope Car Park, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood and Wakeham Wood.

Yuck, just about sums up today's weather. And it was just shear luck if you managed to find some sort of shelter from the squally showers, being carried along on a stiff westerly wind. But as luck would have it, one of the heavy showers stopped the progress of the Long-tailed Tits in Penns Wood as they also sort shelter.

And the bonus was that in amongst them, was the Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 female Blackcap, 2 Firecrests, 3 Goldcrests and several Great Tits & Blue Tits. The only drawback though was that I had to keep the camera in the bag, but to be honest it actually made a nice change to have the bins in my hand and not the camera.

Elsewhere there were 2 Firecrests along Wakeham Railway Cuttings and another at the back of the cove.

Here are my bird sightings from today:

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 1 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit and overhead 1 Raven

Penns Wood: 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest and 30+ Long-tailed Tit

Church Ope Cove: 5 Rock Pipit

Church Ope Cove Wood: 1 Firecrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit and 2 Ravens.

Here are a few images from today:
Just the 5 Rock Pipits on the beach again.

I think they call this a record shot. A Firecrest at the back of the cove.

A little more obliging was this Goldcrest feeding...........

............along the Railway Cutting at Wakeham.

A busy bird and not that easy to keep track of it.

A Grey Squirrel in Penns wood.

Also in the wood was this Sycamore branch covered in Coral Spot, Nectria cinnabarina

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 5 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, 5 Firecrest, 41+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 3 Raven, House Sparrow and Chaffinch

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Ships Today

This is the Cargo Ship "Fri River" battling the waves south of The Bill.

It is flying the flag of the Bahamas and is on its way from Brunsbuettel (Denmark) to Waterford (Ireland). More on this vessel Here.

This is the container ship "NYK Remus" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Antwerp to Savannah (Georgia, USA). More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Crude Oil Tanker "British Reliance" on its way from Bilbao (Spain) to Rotterdam (Holland) via Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

26 Nov 19

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfields Butterfly Reserve, Church Ope Car Park, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood and Wakeham Wood.

Highlights today were a bit thin on the ground and the best I could find was a Chiffchaff and 2 Firecrests in Penns Wood, and 2 Chiffchaffs at the back of the cove.

The "Eastern" Lesser Whitethroat appears to have moved on, and there was no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler or the large number of crests seen of late. Where have they all gone!!

The only excitement today was a Raven being mobbed by 3 Carrion Crows over Penns Wood and a fly-by Fulmar just off Church Ope Cove.

Here is a breakdown of the birds I recorded today

Penns Wood: 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 12 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Raven overhead

Church Ope Cove: 5 Rock Pipit and a Pied Wagtail. Out to sea a Fulmar headed south

Church Ope Cove Wood: 2 Chiffchaff

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 15+ Long-tailed Tit. Overhead 2 Siskin

Wakeham Wood: 1 Stock Dove and 5 Long-tailed Tit

Also noted today there was a bit more activity around the Common Wasp nest which appeared "dead" yesterday. The German Wasp nest is busy as ever and if I've got this right I found my first ever Girdled Snail on Portland. The latter a snail first introduced to England in 1950. more below.

Here are a few images from today:

Synchronised flying a Raven on the left and a Carrion Crow

A change of formation.

In fact there wasn't anything friendly about this encounter. This Carrion Crow plus 2 others close by, were not happy about this Raven being on their patch and is it circled over Penns Wood was subjected to a continuous bombardment. The claws on the Carrion above just show you they meant business. Eventually the Raven got the message and headed off down the island.

Just 4 Rock Pipits on the beach today and no sign of the Meadow Pipit here yesterday.

The 1st winter Pied Wagtail looks to be overwintering here.

Always nice to get something a bit different even if...............

..............its just a Fulmar.

As the light began to fade so the Robins at the top of Penns wood began. This is Robin#1..........

............singing away. But as you can hear there is another Robin singing close by.

And here it is Robin#2 singing just 30 feet from Robin#1. However after..........

.............just a few more notes it was off chasing the Robin#1.

It lands in the same spot as Robin#1 but he's long gone. This will carry on for awhile yet and eventually their winter territories will be sorted. Well see!!

This German Wasp leaves its nest within the grounds of St Andrew's Church. The Common Wasp nest at the back of the cove showed a bit more life today as one individual left as I watched on.

This is the invasive Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella) which I came across in the grounds of St Andrew's Church. It is a common Mediterranean species and was introduced to England in 1950 where it was first found in Devon in 1950. It can now be found as far north as the Midlands.

The Japonica berries in Penns Wood are about to burst open.

If I have got this right these little white mushrooms are Ramariopsis kunzei and will eventually grow into coral-like fronds, giving it its English name of Ivory Coral, White Coral or Coral Mushroom. More on this mushroom Here and Here. Just as note of warning though, I'm not a mushroom or fungi expert so if you find a similar looking mushroom, please do not attempt to eat it, just in case it isn't edible.

Mammals Recorded: 3 Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, Herring Gull, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 27+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 2 Siskin and Goldfinch

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)